Two decades of stable polypharmacy rates in asthma care, despite persistent disparities

The prevalence of polypharmacy among U.S. adults with asthma has remained stable over the past 2 decades, with no significant changes in trends across different levels of asthma severity or control, according to a study.

Utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the study used joinpoint regression analysis to explore overall trends and variations by asthma severity and control.

The findings indicate an average annual percent change in polypharmacy of 1.02%, with no significant changes across different levels of asthma severity (mild, moderate, severe) or asthma control (good, poor). Factors such as age, gender, race, health insurance coverage, income, number of healthcare visits, smoking history, and asthma severity were identified as influencing polypharmacy rates.

Despite the overall stability, disparities persist, particularly in relation to asthma severity and control status. These results highlight the ongoing need for personalized medication management better to address the diverse needs of individuals with asthma and improve overall care.
Reference

Hung CT, Liu DC, Chou KT, Kao YH. Trends in polypharmacy among U.S. adults with asthma, 2001-2020. J Asthma. 2024;1-18. doi: 10.1080/02770903.2024.2391446. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39120956.