JOPIC
Journal of Pulmonology and Intensive Care

The JoPIC is an independent-unbiased, peer-reviewed, and open-access journal of current national and international issues and reviews for original clinical and experimental research, interesting case reports, surgical techniques, differential diagnoses, editorial opinions, letters to the editor, and educational papers in pulmonology, thoracic surgery, occupational diseases, allergology, and intensive care medicine.

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Original Article
The effect of medication adherence on symptom control, airway inflammation and exacerbations in asthmatics
Abstract
Aims: In Asthma patients with good compliance to treatment, symptoms, functional and inflammatory parameters are expected to be at normal levels. In our study, the effect of treatment compliance on asthma symptom control, airway inflammation, and attacks within 6 months in asthmatic patients was investigated.
Methods: 113 patients who have been diagnosed with asthma for at least 6 months and were under inhaler treatment were included in the study. Respiratory function tests, asthma control test (ACT) and Morisky 8 items medication adherence scale (MMAS-8) were performed and exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) levels were measured. After 6 months, patients were questioned about any asthma exacerbations in this 6 months period.
Results: According to ACT, 57.5% of patients were not under control. 49.6% of patients had poor medication adherence according to MMAS-8. 24.1% of patients had high FENO levels. There was no association between MMAS-8 scores and FENO levels (p=0.34 r=-0.091). There was positive correlation between ACT and MMAS-8 scores (r=0.371 p=0.001). ACT scores were higher in patients with low FENO levels (p = 0.01). 11 asthmatics experienced asthma exacerbation during 6 months follow-up period. Medication adherence was not found to be a significant factor for exacerbations, however baseline ACT scores and FEV1 values were lower in patients who experienced asthma attacks (r= -0.107, p = 0.002).
Conclusion: As a result, our study demonstrated that medication adherence determined by MMAS-8 is an important factor of asthma symptom control.

Keywords : Asthma control, adherence, airway inflammation, exacerbations

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Article available in :
Volume 3, Issue 3, 2025
Page : 64-69
https://doi.org/10.51271/JOPIC-0061
Article Information
Received : 14 Tem 2025
Accepted : 12 Ağu 2025
Published : 20 Ağu 2025
Corresponding Author :

Tuğba Akkale: Department of Occupational Diseases, Ankara Gazi Mustafa Kemal Occupational and Environmental Diseases Hospital, Ankara, Turkiye

[email protected]
Citation : Akkale T, Badoğlu M, Mammadova S, Oğuzülgen İK, Türktaş H. The effect of medication adherence on symptom control, airway inflammation and exacerbations in asthmatics. J Pulmonol Intens Care. 2025;3(3):64-69.

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