Inappropriate inhaled corticosteroid prescribing in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

The Australian National Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) guidelines recommend that inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) be reserved for patients with a post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1 ) less than 50% predicted and those who experience ≥2 exacerbations in 12 months. In total, 707 COPD patients were identified from the lung function test database at our tertiary hospital; 52.4% of patients with a post-bronchodilator FEV1 ≥50% were prescribed an ICS. Significant discordance exists between guideline recommendations and inhaler prescription.