We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Evidence of off‐label inhalation therapy on pediatric asthma practice in Japan.
- Authors
Oishi, Kenji; Inage, Eisuke; Kojima, Mayuki; Yamada, Hiromichi; Tanaka, Yuko; Yoneyama, Toshiyuki; Yamazaki, Susumu; Honjo, Asuka; Baba, Yosuke; Kudo, Takahiro; Ohtsuka, Yoshikazu; Endo, Akifumi; Nakabayashi, Yosuke; Oyama, Shoichi; Shimizu, Toshiaki
- Abstract
Background: In Japan, many asthma inhalers do not have formal approval for use in the pediatric population because of the lack of domestic data. In real‐world settings, however, numerous off‐label medications are prescribed. Currently, the nature of off‐label prescriptions of asthma inhalers on pediatric patients in Japan remains unclear. Methods: Using public open‐source national medical claims data, we investigated the real‐world descriptive epidemiology of off‐label prescriptions for asthma inhalers for pediatric patients. We obtained the number of off‐label prescriptions of formulations for patients aged 0–14 years from anonymously summarized prescription data for a 7‐year period starting from April 2014. The actual prescription numbers and their chronology over time were then analyzed. Results: In 2019, 143,439 asthma inhalers were used off label in children and adolescents. Overall, 96.1% were inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) or long‐acting beta stimulants (LABAs), and 3.9% were high‐dose ICS. Of ICSs and LABAs, 18.8% were off‐label prescriptions. The total number of off‐label ICS/LABA prescriptions and their percentage relative to the overall formulations gradually decreased but a notable disparity was observed among inhaler types. Conclusions: There was a surprisingly large number of off‐label prescriptions of asthma inhalers in the pediatric population in Japan. The proper use of ICSs/LABAs and expansion of insurance coverage should be advocated to reduce off‐label use.
- Subjects
JAPAN; DRUG therapy for asthma; ADRENERGIC beta agonists; ADRENOCORTICAL hormones; COMBINATION drug therapy; RESEARCH methodology; PEDIATRICS; BRONCHODILATOR agents; NEBULIZERS &; vaporizers; TREATMENT effectiveness; COMPARATIVE studies; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; RESEARCH funding; INHALATION administration; MEDICAL prescriptions; OFF-label use (Drugs); EPIDEMIOLOGICAL research; CHILDREN
- Publication
Pediatrics International, 2023, Vol 65, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
1328-8067
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/ped.15595