Comparison of side effects of short-acting inhaled bronchodilators in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Abstract Background: Excessive use of short-acting inhaled bronchodilators indicates poor asthma control and adverse health outcomes. The research aims to study the side effects of short-acting inhaled bronchodilators in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Study design:Retrospective, cross-sectional observational study, location. Study: Patients admitted to the Internal Thoracic Division, Damascus Hospital (Al-Mujtahid Hospital), in Damascus, Syria. Duration of the study: 4 years between 2020 and 2024. Inclusion criteria: All patients with asthma and obstructive pulmonary disease admitted to the Internal Thoracic Division, Damascus Hospital (Al-Mujtahid Hospital) whose ages range from 18 to 80 years. Exclusion criteria: Patients with other chronic lung diseases (cancers, tuberculosis), patients taking long-acting bronchodilators, patients taking systemic bronchodilators, patients with cachexia. Data analysis was performed using SPSS-28 software. Results: Patients’ ages ranged from 18 to 18 years. -80 years, and the most common age group is 60-80 years, and 61% of patients are male. Headaches, nervous tension, lack of appetite, pharyngeal pain, stomach pain, and muscle spasms were most common among patients treated with short-acting beta-2 analogues, with rates of 82.6% and 75%. 66.6%, 82.6%, and 80%, respectively, while hand tremors, allergic reaction, vomiting, runny nose, agitation, and contractile convulsions were more common in patients treated with short-acting antimuscarinics, with rates of 100%, 66.7%, 100%, 100%, 100%, 100%, respectively. Conclusion: The use of short-acting bronchodilators was accompanied by a group of side effects, as headache and pharyngeal pain were common in all types, while stomach pain, muscle spasms, nervous tension, and lack of appetite were common in those who used to short-act beta agonists, and allergic reaction, hand tremors, and vomiting. Rhinorrhea, irritability, and constriction were more common among patients using short-acting antimuscarinics, and the occurrence of symptoms was associated with increasing dose and duration of use.