More than 1 in 3 patients referred to a specialty asthma clinic for poorly controlled asthma did not fill inhaled steroid prescriptions appropriately more than 50% of the time according to a study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Interestingly, none of the patients were suspected by the doctors as non-compliant prior to their referral and none of the patients admitted non-compliance as the reason for their poorly controlled asthma. Non-compliance was discovered in reviewing pharmacy records in a single payer system of health care.

Medication compliance is not a one size fits all problem. Some patients have concerns about side effects and other patients have difficulties in obtaining medications. What is painfully clear from this study is that many asthmatics, even ones with really poorly controlled asthma, are not doing a good job of taking medications that are known to be beneficial.

What do you think? Why do poorly controlled asthmatics have a hard time being compliant? What do you think we can do better? Leave a comment and let the asthma community know what you think.

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