9. A comparative pharmacotherapeutic study of inhalers used in the management of asthma in south west Nigeria

This study was carried out at Oluyoro Catholic Hospital, Oke-Ofa, Ibadan, Nigeria. Retrospective and prospective studies were carried out to compare the pharmacotherapeutic efficacy of three anti asthmatic inhalers. The retrospective study involved 120 medical records of asthmatic patients studied. Seventy two (72) (60%) were in-patients while 48 (40%) were out-patients. Eighty four (84) (70%) patients were on Inhalers with oral anti asthmatic drugs with 9 (10.7%) on Esiflo Inhaler, 72 (85.7%) on Salbutamol inhaler and 3 (3.6%) were on Beclomethasone inhaler. Prospective study was carried out with questionnaires administered to 40 asthmatic patients with 100% respondents. 28 (70%) were on oral anti asthmatic drugs, while 12 (30%) were on inhalers combined with oral anti asthmatic drugs. Eighteen (18) of the 40 respondents volunteered to participate in the retrospective study involving Salmeterol/Fluticasone, Salbutamol and Beclomethasone inhalers. After 60 min, those on Esiflo inhaler had highest PEF values of 280L/min followed by those on Becotide inhaler with PEF value of 240L/min and those on Ventolin with the least PEF value of 220L/min. After 24 h the patient on Esiflo inhalers used the medication once with PEF increase to 320L/min followed by those on Becotide inhalers who used the medication twice with PEF increased to 290L/min and patients on Ventolin inhalers used the medication twice with PEF increased to 280L/min.