A Call for the United States to Accelerate the Implementation of Reliever Combination Inhaled Corticosteroid-Formoterol Inhalers in Asthma

Krings et al discuss the call for the US to accelerate the implementation of reliever combination inhaled corticosteroid-formoterol inhalers in asthma. To make meaningful progress for most asthma patients, improvement in access and adherence to the backbone of asthma treatment, an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)-containing treatment, is required. Unfortunately, in the US, high inhaler costs and poor maintenance ICS adherence remain widespread challenges. The reasons for these challenges include patient reluctance to use corticosteroid-containing medications when well, continuous introduction by pharmaceutical companies of new and expensive inhalers, and the episodic nature of asthma itself, wherein patients often deem regular.