Strategies to enhance adherence to asthma treatment: a literature review

Abstract

Asthma is a disease with a high worldwide prevalence, high morbidity and low level of control, associated with low adherence. In addition to the high social impact, the cost of uncontrolled asthma is very high, but this cost can be significantly reduced with adequate control of the disease. As adherence, in chronic treatments that involve special techniques for administration, is a challenge, it is often necessary to resort to strategies that facilitate the achievement of objectives. Thus, this study analyzed the most used strategies, in different countries, to improve patient adherence to asthma treatment. For this, a narrative review was carried out. The databases used were PubMed, LILACS and Cochrane. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 32 articles were identified. In these, 9 strategies were identified, and the most cited were: Applications, Electronic Messages/Reminders and Pharmaceutical Interventions. All showed positive results in the studied population, despite the costs and problems with the use of some of these strategies. It is believed that these data can help in choosing the most appropriate strategies for each reality, and that they can, therefore, contribute to the reduction of asthma complications and improve the treatment and quality of life of these patients.