The ALPACA study: (In)Appropriate LAMA prescribing in asthma: A cohort analysis

E.J Baan,C.E Hoeve,M De Ridder,L Demoen,L Lahousse,G.G Brusselle,K.M.C Verhamme

doi:10.1016/j.pupt.2021.102074

Abstract

IntroductionSince long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA) are only indicated as add-on therapy in subjects with moderate-to-severe asthma, there are concerns whether LAMA monotherapy is associated with worse asthma control. AimTo study the prevalence of LAMA monotherapy and its potential association with severe asthma exacerbations (SAE) in patients with asthma. MethodsA cohort study (2007–2017) in the IPCI primary care database, in asthma patients aged 6–50, using LAMA during follow-up. Respiratory prescriptions were retrieved from the electronic medical records based on ATC code. Asthma treatment periods were created and categorized as LAMA mono, dual (LAMA + ICS), or triple therapy (LAMA + ICS + LABA). Relative rates (RR) of SAE, adjusting for patient characteristics, were estimated to compare treatments. ResultsFrom a total of 66,508 asthma patients, 1236 (1.9%) LAMA users were identified. Median age was 41 years, 65.9% were females. LAMA users were responsible for 3596 LAMA treatment periods of which 1390 (38.7%) were LAMA monotherapy, 553 (15.4%) dual therapy and 1653 (46.0%) triple therapy. The RR of SAE during LAMA monotherapy compared to dual therapy was 1.5 (95% CI 0.6–3.8). In patients alternating between mono and dual therapy (but never triple therapy), the RR for LAMA monotherapy increased to 5.7 (95% CI 1.4–23.6). ConclusionsThis observational study shows that when LAMA is prescribed, it is often prescribed without concurrent ICS (LAMA monotherapy). LAMA monotherapy was associated with an increased risk of exacerbations when not used concurrently with ICS. This emphasizes the importance that LAMA should never be prescribed without concomitant ICS use in patients with asthma.

Highlights

Since long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA) are only indicated as add-on therapy in subjects with moderate-to-severe asthma, there are concerns whether LAMA monotherapy is associated with worse asthma control
Since most evidence on the use of LAMA in asthmatic patients is based on tio tropium, tiotropium is currently the only LAMA indicated for use in asthma
We describe real-life prescription patterns of LAMA therapy in asthmatic patients

Summary

Introduction

Since long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA) are only indicated as add-on therapy in subjects with moderate-to-severe asthma, there are concerns whether LAMA monotherapy is associated with worse asthma control. LAMA monotherapy was associated with an increased risk of exacerbations when not used concurrently with ICS. This emphasizes the importance that LAMA should never be prescribed without concomitant ICS use in patients with asthma. Trials have shown that LAMA - as an add-on to ICS in uncontrolled asthma - reduces the risk of an asthma exacerbation and improves lung function, but no significant effect on asthma control questionnaires or quality of life has been observed [3,4]. The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) recommends the use of tiotropium in step 4 and 5 of asthma treatment, as an add-on treatment only, when asthma control cannot be achieved with a combination of ICS and LABA [1]

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