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A Modified Prescription-Event Monitoring Study to Assess the Introduction of Seretide Evohaler™ in England

An Example of Studying Risk Monitoring in Pharmacovigilance

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Abstract

Introduction: Monitoring was required for the introduction of non-chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propellants in metered dose inhalers (MDIs) to ensure that there were no unexpected adverse events due to the new products. A postmarketing surveillance study has been conducted to evaluate the introduction of the MDI Seretide Evohaler™ (hydrofluoroalkane-134a inhaler containing salmeterol and fluticasone propionate).

Objectives: To summarise the modified prescription-event monitoring (PEM) study conducted to evaluate the introduction of Seretide Evohaler™ and discuss the relevance of this type of study towards pharmacovigilance risk-management planning.

Methods: Modified PEM methodology was used to examine the introduction of Seretide Evohaler™ into general practice in England. Patients were identified from the first National Health Service prescriptions dispensed in England for Seretide Evohaler™. One postal questionnaire was sent to the prescribing doctor, requesting demographic information, severity of the indication, concomitant medication for this condition, smoking history, event data 3 months prior to and 3 months after the first prescription for Seretide Evohaler™ and also reason for stopping if it had been stopped. Pregnancies, deaths and selected events were followed up. Incidence density ratios were calculated to compare event rates 3 months prior to and 3 months after the introduction of Seretide Evohaler™. A matched cohort analysis examined oral corticosteroid use and hospital admissions between the pre-and post-exposure periods.

Results: The cohort comprised 13 464 patients prescribed Seretide Evohaler™, with a response rate of 62%. There was no significant difference in the length of courses of oral corticosteroid use when the pre-and post-exposure periods were compared. A matched cohort analysis showed there was no increase in the use of oral corticosteroids (relative risk [RR] 0.95; 95% CI 0.90, 0.99) or hospital admissions in the post-exposure period (RR 0.87; 95% CI 0.73, 1.04). When the number of patients with events were compared for the periods 3 months before and 3 months after exposure, fewer events were reported in the post-exposure period. There were 64 patients who experienced adverse events within an hour of using Seretide Evohaler™, including one report of paradoxical bronchospasm and one of myocardial infarction with fatal outcome that were both assessed as possibly related to treatment.

Discussion: The results of the study suggest that the introduction of Seretide Evohaler™ was generally well tolerated. The modified methodology has allowed a comparison of the event rates before and after the introduction of this CFC-free inhaler into general practice.

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Notes

  1. 1The use of trade names is for product identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement.

  2. 2Doses are stated as salmeterol/fluticasone propionate.

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Acknowledgements

The Drug Safety Research Unit (DSRU) is an independent charity (No. 327206) that works in association with the University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK. It receives unconditional donations from pharmaceutical companies. The companies have no control over the conduct or the publication of the studies conducted by the DSRU. The DSRU has received such funds from GlaxoSmithKline.

Dr Shakir used to be an employee of GlaxoSmithKline. The other authors have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this study.

We would like to thank all the staff at the DSRU who contributed to the study. We thank the general practitioners who have participated in this study, without whose general support prescription-event monitoring would not be possible. We also thank the Prescription Pricing Division of the National Health Service Business Services Authority for their important participation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Drug Safety Research Unit, Bursledon Hall, Blundell Lane, Southampton, Hampshire, S031 1AA, UK

    Michael J. Perrio, Lynda V. Wilton & Saad A. W. Shakir

  2. University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK

    Lynda V. Wilton & Saad A. W. Shakir

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  1. Michael J. Perrio
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  2. Lynda V. Wilton
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  3. Saad A. W. Shakir
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Correspondence to Michael J. Perrio.

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Perrio, M.J., Wilton, L.V. & Shakir, S.A.W. A Modified Prescription-Event Monitoring Study to Assess the Introduction of Seretide Evohaler™ in England. Drug-Safety 30, 681–695 (2007). https://doi.org/10.2165/00002018-200730080-00005

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