Prescription and use of inhaled medication in patients with asthma and COPD: Baseline-data of an adherence-Intervention-study

Abstract

Background: In Swiss adults, prevalence of asthma and COPD is around 7%. To date, asthma and COPD are not curable but treatable respiratory diseases. The burden of each disease among patients is high and people affected are frequently hospitalised due to exacerbations. This is associated with accelerated lung function decline, increased mortality and reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, there are numerous reasons for the lack of disease control in asthma and COPD patients. It is repeatedly associated with non-adherence to guidelines regarding treatment recommendation on the part of the health care provider and with poor inhalation technique and/or non-adherence to the prescribed treatment plan by the patient.