Characteristics of asthma patients overprescribed short-acting beta-agonist (SABA) reliever inhalers stratified by blood eosinophil count in North East London - a cross-sectional observational study.

Many patients being over-prescribed SABA are non-eosinophilic with a low exacerbation frequency suggesting disproportionately high SABA prescription compared to other asthma control markers. Potential reasons for high SABA prescription in these patients include repeat prescription (being dispensed but not taken) and use of SABA for non-asthma breathlessness (eg, breathing pattern disorders with anxiety). Further research is needed into management of SABA overuse in patients without other markers of uncontrolled asthma.