Background: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are extensively used to treat asthma, and more recently, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Oropharyngeal disorders represent the most frequent side effect of these drugs, which may have a negative impact on adherence.
Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of oropharyngeal disorders in users of ICS in a real-life setting and investigate the factors associated with their occurrence.
Methods: For this observational cross-sectional study, general practitioners and pulmonologists were contacted and asked to include patients suffering from asthma or COPD treated by ICS. Physicians collected data during a medical examination. A multivariate regression model for the occurrence of oropharyngeal disorders was constructed.
Results: A total of 1778 physicians included 6740 patients. The mean (SD) age was 51.3 (18.5) years, 44.0% had no smoking history, and the ICS indication was asthma in 63.9% of subjects. Of the study subjects, 52.3% used beclometasone (43.4% without a long-acting ss(2)-agonist, LABA); 22.1% used budesonide (18.8% with a LABA), and 25.6% used fluticasone (19.3% with a LABA in a single inhaler). One-third (34.7%) of subjects suffered from at least one oropharyngeal disorder; the most frequently reported were hoarseness, tingling, mouth irritation, and reddening. Multivariate regression analysis found that the factors positively associated with oropharyngeal disorders were COPD indication [odds ratio (OR) 1.600; 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) 1.391, 1.839], nominal daily dose (OR = 1.388; 95% CI 1.227, 1.569), decreased adherence (OR = 1.318; 95% CI 1.104, 1.574) and the use of fluticasone (OR = 1.176; 95% CI 1.008, 1.372), whereas those negatively associated were the absence of smoking history (OR = 0.837; 95% CI 0.742, 0.945), increased adherence (OR = 0.663; 95% CI 0.581, 0.755), and beclometasone use (OR = 0.630; 95% CI 0.543, 0.732).
Conclusions: The high prevalence of oropharyngeal disorders and the association of adherence with these must be taken into account by prescribers, especially in patients suffering from COPD, a relatively new group of ICS users.