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Simms-Williams N, Nagakumar P, Thayakaran R, Adderley NJ, Hotham R, Mansur AH, Nirantharakumar K, Haroon S. Risk factors for asthma-related hospital and intensive care admissions in children, adolescents and adults: a cohort study using primary and secondary care data. BMJ Open Respir Res 2024; 11:e001746. [PMID: 38692709 PMCID: PMC11086188 DOI: 10.1136/bmjresp-2023-001746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Asthma remains a common cause of hospital admissions across the life course. We estimated the contribution of key risk factors to asthma-related hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions in children, adolescents and adults. METHODS This was a UK-based cohort study using linked primary care (Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum) and secondary care (Hospital Episode Statistics Admitted Patient Care) data. Patients were eligible if they were aged 5 years and older and had been diagnosed with asthma. This included 90 989 children aged 5-11 years, 114 927 adolescents aged 12-17 years and 1 179 410 adults aged 18 years or older. The primary outcome was asthma-related hospital admissions from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2019. The secondary outcome was asthma-related ICU admissions. Incidence rate ratios adjusted for demographic and clinical risk factors were estimated using negative binomial models. Population attributable fraction (PAF) was estimated for modifiable risk factors. RESULTS Younger age groups, females and those from ethnic minority and lower socioeconomic backgrounds had an increased risk of asthma-related hospital admissions. Increasing medication burden, including excessive use of short-acting bronchodilators, was also strongly associated with the primary outcome. Similar risk factors were observed for asthma-related ICU admissions. The key potentially modifiable or treatable risk factors were smoking in adolescents and adults (PAF 6.8%, 95% CI 0.9% to 12.3% and 4.3%, 95% CI 3.0% to 5.7%, respectively), and obesity (PAF 23.3%, 95% CI 20.5% to 26.1%), depression (11.1%, 95% CI 9.1% to 13.1%), gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (2.3%, 95% CI 1.2% to 3.4%), anxiety (2.0%, 95% CI 0.5% to 3.6%) and chronic rhinosinusitis (0.8%, 95% CI 0.3% to 1.3%) in adults. CONCLUSIONS There are significant sociodemographic inequalities in the rates of asthma-related hospital and ICU admissions. Treating age-specific modifiable risk factors should be considered an integral part of asthma management, which could potentially reduce the rate of avoidable hospital admissions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Prasad Nagakumar
- Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
- Institute of Inflammation and Ageing University, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Rasiah Thayakaran
- University of Birmingham Institute of Applied Health Research, Birmingham, UK
| | - Nicola J Adderley
- University of Birmingham Institute of Applied Health Research, Birmingham, UK
| | - Richard Hotham
- University of Birmingham Institute of Applied Health Research, Birmingham, UK
| | - Adel H Mansur
- Institute of Inflammation and Ageing University, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | | | - Shamil Haroon
- University of Birmingham Institute of Applied Health Research, Birmingham, UK
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Modi S, Norris MR, Nguyen V, Bower R, Craig TJ, Al-Shaikhly T. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Allergen Immunotherapy Prescription for Allergic Rhinitis. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY. IN PRACTICE 2023; 11:1528-1535.e2. [PMID: 36736954 PMCID: PMC10164679 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2023.01.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Racial and ethnic differences exist in the severity of various atopic diseases including allergic rhinitis (AR). Patients of under-represented races and ethnicities may be subjected to disparate subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy (SCIT) prescription practices. OBJECTIVE To explore the racial and ethnic disparities in the use of SCIT among patients with AR. METHODS In this retrospective matched cohort study, we used the TriNetX US Collaborative Network, a multicenter electronic health record-based database to identify patients with AR 18 years and older. Patients were grouped according to their racial and ethnic identification. Study groups were matched for baseline demographics, atopic comorbidities, heart diseases and utilization of β-blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. The proportion of patients of under-represented racial and ethnic groups started on SCIT was contrasted to the non-Hispanic White cohort. RESULTS We identified 1,038,000 patients with AR; the mean age (±standard deviation) at the index was 49.7 (±16.1) years, and 64.6% were female. Ethnicity information was available from 87.3% of patients, and the majority (92.3%) were non-Hispanic. Over a 3-year observation period, fewer Black patients (relative risk [RR], 0.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.33-0.48) and Hispanic patients (RR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.64-0.99) were started on SCIT compared with non-Hispanic White patients. The proportions of Asian patients who were initiated on SCIT tended to be lower when compared with non-Hispanic White patients (RR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.47-1.009). CONCLUSIONS In the United States, differences in SCIT prescription exist between Black and Hispanic patients relative to White patients. Barriers to treatment should be explored and mitigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunjay Modi
- Department of Medicine, Section of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Matthew R. Norris
- Department of Medicine, Section of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Victoria Nguyen
- Department of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Robert Bower
- Department of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Timothy J. Craig
- Department of Medicine, Section of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Taha Al-Shaikhly
- Department of Medicine, Section of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States
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Anderson WC, Banzon TM, Chawes B, Papadopoulos NG, Phipatanakul W, Szefler SJ. Factors to Consider in Prescribing Asthma Biologic Therapies to Children. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY. IN PRACTICE 2023; 11:693-701. [PMID: 36646381 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2022.12.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The increasing availability of biologics, both by expanding age indications and by development of new therapies, provides additional options to treat children and adolescents with severe asthma. However, the evidence for these biologics in these populations is limited compared with that for adult studies. As such, before initiation of therapy, possible alternative therapies that can also provide asthma control, confirmation of the diagnosis of asthma, management of comorbidities, and assessment of adherence should be explored. The choice of a biologic should be a shared decision-making process between providers and families, balancing biologic efficacy, goals of care, administration, and ability to treat multiple conditions. Response to treatment should be periodically evaluated not only to ensure an ineffective treatment is not continued but also to consider when to potentially discontinue therapy should it be beneficial. The utilization of biologics in children and adolescents with severe asthma also leads to unanswered questions on their role in disease remission and long-term outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- William C Anderson
- Section of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colo.
| | - Tina M Banzon
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - Bo Chawes
- COPSAC, Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Wanda Phipatanakul
- Division of Asthma, Allergy, Dermatology, Rheumatology, Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass
| | - Stanley J Szefler
- Section of Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, Breathing Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colo
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Demoly P, Liu AH, Rodriguez Del Rio P, Pedersen S, Casale TB, Price D. A Pragmatic Primary Practice Approach to Using Specific IgE in Allergy Testing in Asthma Diagnosis, Management, and Referral. J Asthma Allergy 2022; 15:1069-1080. [PMID: 35996427 PMCID: PMC9392458 DOI: 10.2147/jaa.s362588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Asthma afflicts an estimated 339 million people globally and is associated with ill health, disability, and early death. Strong risk factors for developing asthma are genetic predisposition and environmental exposure to inhaled substances that may provoke allergic reactions. Asthma guidelines recommend identifying causal or trigger allergens with specific IgE (sIgE) testing after a diagnosis of asthma has been made. Allergy testing with sIgE targets subpopulations of patients considered at high risk, such as those with frequent exacerbations, emergency visits or hospitalizations, or uncontrolled symptoms. Specific recommendations apply to preschool children, school-age children, patients with persistent or difficult-to-control asthma, patients needing oral corticosteroids or high-dose inhaled steroids, patients seeking understanding and guidance about their disease, and candidates for advanced therapies (biologics, allergen immunotherapy). Allergen skin testing is common in specialized settings but less available in primary care. Blood tests for total and sIgE are accessible and yield quantifiable results for tested allergens, useful for detecting sensitization. Results are interpreted in the context of the patient’s clinical presentation, age, and relevant allergen exposures. Incorporating sIgE testing into asthma management adds objective information to identify specific allergies and can guide personalized treatment plans, which reinforce patient-doctor communication. Test results can also be used to predict exacerbations and response to therapies. Additional diagnostic information can be gleaned from (i) eosinophil count ≥300 μL, which significantly increases the odds of having exacerbations, and emerging eosinophil biomarkers (eg, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin), which can be measured in plasma or serum samples, and (ii) fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), with values ≥25 ppb regarded as the cutoff for diagnosis, evaluating inhaled corticosteroid response, and of probable response to anti-IgE, anti-IL4 and anti-IL5 receptor biologics. Referral to asthma/allergy specialists is warranted when the initial diagnosis is uncertain, and when asthma symptoms, impairment, or exacerbations are repeated or severe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Demoly
- Division of Allergy, Department of Pulmonology, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, Montpellier, France.,IDESP Inserm, University, Hospital of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Andrew H Liu
- Airway Inflammation, Resilience & the Environment (AIRE) Program, Breathing Institute, Section of Pediatric Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine, Children's Hospital Colorado, Professor of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Adjunct Professor of Pediatrics, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA
| | | | - Soren Pedersen
- GINA Program, Department of Pediatrics, Kolding Hospital, Kolding, Denmark
| | - Thomas B Casale
- Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), McLean, VA, USA.,Department of Medicine and Pediatrics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - David Price
- Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, Singapore
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Asthma and Allergy: Unravelling a Tangled Relationship with a Focus on New Biomarkers and Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073881. [PMID: 35409241 PMCID: PMC8999577 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Asthma is a major driver of health care costs across ages. Despite widely disseminated asthma-treatment guidelines and a growing variety of effective therapeutic options, most patients still experience symptoms and/or refractoriness to standard of care treatments. As a result, most patients undergo a further intensification of therapy to optimize symptom control with a subsequent increased risk of side effects. Raising awareness about the relevance of evaluating aeroallergen sensitizations in asthmatic patients is a key step in better informing clinical practice while new molecular tools, such as the component resolved diagnosis, may be of help in refining the relationship between sensitization and therapeutic recommendations. In addition, patient care should benefit from reliable, easy-to-measure and clinically accessible biomarkers that are able to predict outcome and disease monitoring. To attain a personalized asthma management and to guide adequate treatment decisions, it is of paramount importance to expand clinicians' knowledge about the tangled relationship between asthma and allergy from a molecular perspective. Our review explores the relevance of allergen testing along the asthma patient's journey, with a special focus on recurrent wheezing children. Here, we also discuss the unresolved issues regarding currently available biomarkers and summarize the evidence supporting the eosinophil-derived neurotoxin as promising biomarker.
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Li H, Zhang Q, Wang J, Gao S, Li C, Wang J, Zhang S, Lin J. Variability of Type 2 inflammatory markers guiding biologic therapy of severe asthma: A 5-year retrospective study from a single tertiary hospital. World Allergy Organ J 2021; 14:100547. [PMID: 34611471 PMCID: PMC8463912 DOI: 10.1016/j.waojou.2021.100547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Currently, biotherapy is mainly administered to treat patients with severe asthma with the Type 2 (T2) inflammation phenotype. The variability of T2 inflammatory markers remains poorly understood. Objective We aimed to describe the individual distributions of different biomarkers at varying thresholds and their variation patterns in participants with severe asthma. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the data of participants who had completed 2 or more fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and peripheral blood eosinophil counts in our centre within 5 years. The individual distribution of biomarkers (blood or sputum eosinophils, FeNO, and serum total IgE) with repeated measurements at different thresholds was analysed. The varied patterns of biomarkers were analysed by cluster analysis. Results A total of 241 eligible participants were screened. Through long-term longitudinal multiple measurements, we found that approximately 50% of severe asthmatics had blood eosinophil levels fluctuating around the threshold defined by biological agents. FeNO persisted at levels >19.5 ppb or 25 ppb in more than half of patients; about 30% of participants crossed this threshold. In our centre, 47.4% of participants consistently exceeded sputum eosinophils >3%, and 47.4% of patients crossed this threshold. Approximately 66.7% of participants had more than 50% alterations of serum total IgE, and 98.1% of participants continued to have IgE levels greater than 30 IU/mL. We used cluster analysis to classify variability and levels of FeNO and blood eosinophils and identified 4 patient clusters. Cluster 1 can be summarised as T2 severe asthma with low blood eosinophil levels and stability. Cluster 2 can be summarised as asthma with continuous increase and small fluctuations in various T2 inflammatory markers. Cluster 3 can be summarised as a non/low-T2 inflammatory phenotype. Cluster 4 can be summarised as a stable, moderate T2 inflammatory phenotype. Conclusion We identified the distributions and variable patterns of the T2 inflammatory markers currently used to guide asthma biotherapy in clinical practice. The longitudinal comprehensive multiple assessments of T2 inflammatory markers provide support for initiating biologic therapy patients with severe asthma whose biomarker levels vary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongwen Li
- Peking University China-Japan Friendship School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing, China.,Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Qing Zhang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.,Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jingru Wang
- Peking University China-Japan Friendship School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing, China.,Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Shengnan Gao
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.,Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Chunxiao Li
- Peking University China-Japan Friendship School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing, China.,Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jianxin Wang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.,Graduate School of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Shuhua Zhang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.,Graduate School of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jiangtao Lin
- Peking University China-Japan Friendship School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing, China.,Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
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Prevention and Outpatient Treatment of Asthma Exacerbations in Children. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY-IN PRACTICE 2021; 9:2567-2576. [PMID: 34246433 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2021.03.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Acute exacerbations cause significant morbidity and mortality in children with asthma worldwide. Although exacerbations can be minor and transient, in some children they are recurrent and significantly adversely impact quality of life. Children with frequent exacerbations account for a disproportionate amount of unscheduled care in nonprimary health facilities. Frequent exacerbators are often prescribed controller medications, but poor adherence is common. Major predictors for asthma exacerbations include genetic, social, comorbid, biological, and environmental factors. Although virus infections are a key trigger for exacerbations, other environmental factors also significantly increase risk. A previous exacerbation is a major risk factor for future exacerbations and thus identifies children to target for prevention of future episodes. In this review, we discuss both modifiable and fixed factors associated with asthma exacerbations, how to assess children for risk, and which pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions may be of benefit. Finally, we review the current evidence around treatment within the outpatient setting for an emerging exacerbation.
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