Table 2 Use of specific anti-asthmatic drugs (expressed as the number of distinct patients treated with at least one prescription) during the 6 months after the start of Dupilumab (post-intervention period), during the corresponding 6 months of the prior year (pre-intervention period) and during the 6 months preceding the start of Dupilumab (wash-out period)
From: Effectiveness and economic impact of Dupilumab in asthma: a population-based cohort study
Specific anti-asthmatic drug therapy | Pre-intervention period | Post-intervention period | Absolute (%) reduction | p-value† |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Beta-2 agonists | ||||
Short acting | 59 (33.5%) | 22 (12.5%) | 37 (62.7%) | < 0.001 |
Long acting | 1 (0.6%) | 1 (0.6%) | 1.00 | |
Extra-long acting | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | – | |
Beta-2 agonists + inhaled Corticosteroids | 141 (80.1%) | 103 (58.5%) | 38 (27.0%) | < 0.001 |
Beta-2 agonists + antimuscarinic agents | 4 (2.3%) | 2 (1.1%) | 2 (50.0%) | 0.410 |
Beta-2 agonists + antimuscarinic agents + inhaled Corticosteroids | 1 (0.6%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (100.0%) | 0.317 |
Inhaled Corticosteroids | 33 (18.8%) | 9 (5.1%) | 24 (72.7%) | < 0.001 |
Antimuscarinic agents (short acting) | 6 (3.4%) | 2 (1.1%) | 4 (66.7%) | 0.153 |
Antimuscarinic agents (long acting) | 31 (17.6%) | 22 (12.5%) | 9 (29.0%) | 0.180 |
Anti-leukotrienes | 47 (26.7%) | 27 (15.3%) | 20 (42.6%) | 0.009 |
Others | 2 (1.1%) | 1 (0.6%) | 1 (50.0%) | 0.562 |
Wash-out period | Post-intervention period | Absolute (%) reduction | p-value† | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Beta-2 agonists | ||||
Short acting | 20 (11.4%) | 22 (12.5%) | − 2 (− 10.0%) | 0.742 |
Long acting | 0 (0%) | 1 (0.6%) | − 1 (–) | 0.317 |
Extra-long acting | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | ||
Beta-2 agonists + inhaled Corticosteroids | 118 (67.1%) | 103 (58.5%) | 15 (12.7%) | 0.098 |
Beta-2 agonists + antimuscarinic agents | 1 (0.6%) | 2 (1.1%) | − 1 (− 50.0%) | 0.562 |
Beta-2 agonists + antimuscarinic agents + inhaled Corticosteroids | 1 (0.6%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (100.0%) | 0.317 |
Inhaled Corticosteroids | 18 (10.2%) | 9 (5.1%) | 9 (50.0%) | 0.072 |
Antimuscarinic agents (short acting) | 1 (0.6%) | 2 (1.1%) | − 1 (− 50.0%) | 0.562 |
Antimuscarinic agents (long acting) | 21 (11.9%) | 22 (12.5%) | − 1 (− 4.8%) | 0.871 |
Anti-leukotrienes | 36 (20.5%) | 27 (15.3%) | 9 (25.0%) | 0.211 |
Others | 1 (0.6%) | 1 (0.6%) | 0 (0.0%) | 1.000 |