Evaluation of XXXX control by inhaled corticosteroids in general practice in Thailand.

@entity1 @entity2544 @entity565 @entity4185 @entity2263
BACKGROUND: @entity4185 ( @entity4185 ) is the main treatment of @entity565 but the clinical data of its efficacy is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of @entity4185 alone or combined with controllers other than LABA for persistent @entity565 in Thailand. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 1,206 @entity1 with persistent @entity565 and was conducted at 38 hospitals across Thailand between May and November, 2009. @entity1 were enrolled if they were >12 years old, had persistent @entity565 , receiving @entity4185 with/without controllers other than long-acting @entity2263 -agonists (LABA) for at least 3 months, and smoked <10 packs-year. RESULTS: Of 1,206 @entity1 , 78.4% were females, age 49.4    13.8 years old, 89.3% were nonsmokers, the median duration of illness was 11 years, the median duration of @entity4185 treatment was 20.4 months, and the mean dose of @entity4185 was 738    258 microgram per day. The top three medications prescribed in combination to @entity4185 were short-acting @entity2263 - agonist inhalers, @entity2544 , and short-acting @entity2263 - agonist tablets. The mean Asthma Control Test (ACT) score was 19.2   4.4. The percentage of successful @entity565 control (ACT >=  20) was 53.5% (95%CI: 50.7 to 56.3). The rate per @entity1 per year of emergency room visits and all urgent health care visits were 0.98 and 1.28. CONCLUSIONS: In clinical practice, @entity1 using @entity4185 alone or combined with @entity2544 or short-acting b2 agonists had a low percentage of @entity565 control and a high number of urgent care visits. @entity4185 either alone or combined with @entity2544 or short-acting b2 agonists is not sufficient.
