Background Short-acting β2-agonists (SABA) overuse is associated with asthma morbidity and mortality. The SABA use IN Asthma (SABINA) program aimed to describe the global use of SABA in patients with asthma. SABINA III study was a cross-sectional study covering 24 countries. Methods We performed statistical analysis of the Russian population (618 patients recruited in 12 centers) from the SABINA III study. In this study in patients aged ≥12 years, data on disease characteristics and asthma treatments were collected using real-time electronic case report forms. Patients were classified by asthma severity and control according to the 2017 GINA. All variables (asthma severity and control, number of severe exacerbations, SABA and other medications use) were analyzed descriptively only, no hypothesis was tested. Results Majority of the study population consisted of patients with moderate/severe asthma (78.5%), while mild asthma was seen in 21.5%. Asthma was uncontrolled in 36.1% of patients and partly controlled in 33.5%. More than 80% of patients were treated with ICS/LABA fixed-dose combination. Almost half of all patients (47.0%) had at least 1 severe exacerbation in the previous 12 months. SABA over-prescription (≥3 canisters per year) was seen in 37% of patients. The frequency of SABA over-prescription was similar in patients with mild (35%) and moderate/severe (38%) asthma. SABA was purchased over-the-counter (OTC) in the past 12 months by 30.1% of all patients, and 14% purchased ≥3 canisters of SABA per year. About 91% of patients who purchased SABA OTC already received prescriptions for SABA, of whom 59% were prescribed ≥3 canisters per year. Conclusion Russia is seeing very high level of SABA over-prescription. This is potentially associated with poor asthma control and frequent severe exacerbations. Over-prescription may serve as the main cause for SABA overuse in Russia. To reduce SABA overuse and improve overall asthma control in Russia, it is necessary to educate not just the patients but also the doctors, while actively implementing up-to-date asthma treatments.

Short-acting β2 -agonists (SABA) overuse is associated with negative outcomes in asthma patients. There is a lack of actual data about patterns of SABA overuse in the Russian population with asthma.The aim. To investigate patterns of SABA overuse in the Russian population with asthma.Methods. Data from the Russian population of “SABA use IN Asthma (SABINA) III” study were analyzed. SABINA III was a cross-sectional observational study covering 24 countries. Adults and adolescents with a documented diagnosis of asthma for at least 12 months were enrolled in the study. Data on disease characteristics and asthma treatments during previous 12 months were collected using real-time electronic case report forms and were analyzed with methods of descriptive statistics.Results. Majority of the Russian population (n = 618) consisted of patients with moderate/ severe asthma (78.5%). Asthma was uncontrolled or partly controlled in 70% of patients. SABA over-prescription (≥ 3 canisters per year) was seen in 37% of patients. The frequency of SABA over-prescription was similar in patients with mild (35%) and moderate/severe (38%) asthma. SABA was purchased over-the-counter (OTC) in the past 12 months by 30% of all patients, while 14% purchased ≥ 3 canisters of SABA per year. More than 90% of patients who purchased SABA OTC, already received prescriptions for SABA, of whom 59% were prescribed ≥ 3 canisters per year.Conclusion. Russia is faced with very high level of SABA overuse. Over-prescription is the main cause for SABA overuse. To reduce SABA overuse, it is necessary to educate both patients and doctors, and actively implement up-to-date asthma treatments.

The article highlights the main activities of the National Medical Research Center of pulmonology of the Sechenov University, Ministry of Health of Russia. The main results of clinical, analytical and educational activities are outlined. The prospects for the development of the pulmonological service of the Russian Federation, current problems and their solutions are determined.

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Aim. Patients with mild asthma may experience severe exacerbations. This analysis was conducted to investigate regional peculiarities of mild asthma population in Russia. Materials and methods. The SYGMA2 is a double-blind multinational study involving adult patients with mild asthma (n=4176). We conducted an open-label descriptive analysis of the baseline characteristics of the Russian group (n=579) of SYGMA2 trial comparing to SYGMA2 population from other countries. The subanalysis was descriptive only, and no hypothesis were tested. Results. The Russian population of patients with mild asthma was comparable to the rest of countries in terms of demographic characteristics, smoking status and duration of asthma. The spirometric parameters in the Russian group was slightly worse than in the other population. At the study entry 48% of Russian patients had symptom control on maintenance therapy, but 52% were uncontrolled on short-acting bronchodilators. While in other countries this ratio was inverse (55/45%). More patients with mild asthma in the Russian group had at least one severe exacerbation in the previous year (30.1% vs 20.7% in other countries). Conclusion. We revealed a delayed prescription of controller therapy and overuse of short-acting bronchodilators in the Russian group of mild asthma patients, that may increase risk of asthma non-control and severe exacerbation.