Asthma Adherence Pathway Improves Dulera Adherence

Implementation of the Asthma Adherence Pathway among treatment physicians helped to improve adherence to Dulera (mometasone furoate, formoterol fumarate dihydrate inhalation; Merck) and improved asthma control, according to data from a late-breaker study presented at the 2017 AAAAI Annual Meeting.

According to Andrew G Weinstein, MD, developer of the Asthma Adherence Pathway, the pathway is a program in which payers enroll patients in order to improve asthma outcomes. The program uses an online survey to determine unique issues and concerns for each patient. Physicians can access this information in order to modify management or treatment strategies.  The program also provides strategies for physicians to address adherence issues. 

Dr Weinstein and colleagues randomized a cohort of 26 patients with a mean age of 45 years into an intervention group and a control group. Patients in both groups had poor asthma control at the time of study enrollment, based on Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) results. Patients in the intervention group completed the Asthma Adherence Pathway in order to identify barriers to adherence. The intervention group was also monitored for Dulera adherence using a SmartInhaler and dose counter.

Study results showed that average Dulera adherence was 82% among the intervention group. The researchers also found that compared to the control group, ACQ scores had greater decrease in the intervention group (-1.00 vs -.05), indicating greater asthma control in the intervention group. 

“Treatment physicians implementing Asthma Adherence Pathway were successful in promoting Dulera adherence for [the intervention] group and improving [their] asthma control compared to subjects in the [control] group,” Dr Weinstein and colleagues concluded. —David Costill