目的：研究顯示在許多國家氣喘病人吸入型類固醇(ICS, inhaled corticosteroids)之使用不足，而吸入型短效乙型阻斷劑(SABA, short-acting β-agonists)使用過多。我們先前之研究發現台灣氣喘病
人二者之使用均不足，此研究之目的在於重新評估台灣氣喘病人吸入劑之治療近年來是否改善。
方法：本研究使用全民健康保險研究資料庫，其資料為從2000 年元月至2006 年12 月，0.2%之門診抽樣檔。藥物依據解剖治療化學分類系統(Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification
System)分類，分析氣喘病人吸入劑之使用率，與不同科別醫師對吸入劑處方之影響。所述分析均使用SAS 9.1 版統計套裝軟體進行。
結果：總共有39,377 病人符合氣喘診斷，其中8,460 (21.48%)至少使用一劑抗氣喘吸入劑。吸入劑之使用率從2000 年之16.06%逐漸上升至2006 年之24.71%；ICS+LABA 合併劑之使用率從2002 年之2.09%顯著上升至2006 年之13.18%。隨著ICS+LABA 合併劑使用之增加，ICS 及吸入型LABA 均下降。吸入型SABA 從2000 年之7.80%下降至2006 年之7.11%。小兒科醫師開出大部份之抗氣喘藥物處方(28.46-38.27%) ， 但胸腔內科醫師開立大部份之吸入劑(32.05-40.57%)。
討論：本研究顯示從2000 年至2006 年台灣整體抗氣喘吸入劑之使用有增加傾向，而ICS/LABA固定合併型吸入劑之使用，在引進台灣後即顯著上升。

Object:The purpose of this study was to assess the use of inhalers for the treatment of asthmatics in Taiwanbetween 2000 and 2006.
Methods:Referring to the data of the period from January 2000 to December 2006 from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan, the percentage of inhaler users among all asthma patients in Taiwan was analyzed. Drugs were classified according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) Classification System. The Cochran-Armitage test for trend was used to determine if there were a trend in prescribing rates of inhalers. All analyses were conducted by SAS 9.1 statistical software.
Results:A total of 39,377 patients met the criteria for asthma (ICD-9-CM code: 493.xx), and of these 8,460 (21.48%) were prescribed at least 1 canister of inhaled anti-asthmatic drugs. The percentage of the total number of inhaler users increased gradually from 16.06% in 2000 to 24.71% in 2006. The users of fixed combination inhalers ICS/LABA  ramatically increased from 2.09% in 2002 to 13.18% in 2006. With increased use of ICS/LABA, the use of both LABA and ICS decreased over time. Inhaled SABA decreased from 7.80% in 2000 to 7.11% in 2006. Pediatricians accounted for most of the anti-asthmatic prescriptions (28.46%-32.38%) in the research period. However, pulmonologists prescribed the majority of inhaler prescriptions (35.14%-41.21%).
Conclusion:Our study indicated a significant upward trend of total inhaler use during the study period. We also found that the use of fixed combination inhalers of ICS/LABA increased dramatically after both drugs were introduced into Taiwan.