Pharmaceutical treatment strategies for childhood asthma

Components of asthma control and treatment response of individual control criteria in children: analysis of the PEACE study

BACKGROUND

The aim of asthma management is to achieve and maintain clinical control. Control data for children is sparse.

OBJECTIVE

This analysis evaluated factors associated with not achieving well-controlled (WC) asthma using data from a study in 548 children with uncontrolled asthma.

METHODS

Post hoc analysis of factors affecting the probability of not achieving WC asthma in children receiving salmeterol/fluticasone propionate 50/100 µg bd (SFC) or montelukast 5 mg od (MON), included: reasons for patients failing the asthma control criteria; achievement of overall asthma control; time course of improvement in individual outcomes and composite score; factors associated with not achieving WC asthma.

RESULTS

The proportion of patients failing individual control criteria at baseline was: β2-agonist rescue use: 96%, peak expiratory flow (PEF): 91%, symptoms: 78%, and night-time awakenings: 66%. Most patients failed the composite control score for more than one reason with 482 (99%), 387 (80%), and 249 (52%) failing 2, 3, or 4 control criteria, respectively. Overall asthma control was achieved by 166 (59%) patients in the SFC group and 96 (36%) in the MON group (P < 0.001). Time course of control differed between individual control components with symptoms responding most rapidly and PEF most slowly. Factors significantly influencing the probability of not achieving WC asthma were treatment with MON, country, and night-time awakenings at baseline, treatment being the most important.

CONCLUSION

Different outcomes improve at different rates. Assessment of one or a few outcomes over-estimates the level of asthma control. An overall composite score in combination with the proportion of patients failing on three or more criteria seemed to most accurately reflect the level of control. Compared with SFC treatment, MON was three times less likely to result in good asthma control.

Emergency presentation and management of acute severe asthma in children

Acute severe asthma is one of the most common medical emergency situations in childhood, and physicians caring for acutely ill children are regularly faced with this condition. In this article we present a summary of the pathophysiology as well as guidelines for the treatment of acute severe asthma in children. The cornerstones of the management of acute asthma in children are rapid administration of oxygen, inhalations with bronchodilators and systemic corticosteroids. Inhaled bronchodilators may include selective b2-agonists, adrenaline and anticholinergics. Additional treatment in selected cases may involve intravenous administration of theophylline, b2-agonists and magnesium sulphate. Both non-invasive and invasive ventilation may be options when medical treatment fails to prevent respiratory failure. It is important that relevant treatment algorithms exist, applicable to all levels of the treatment chain and reflecting local considerations and circumstances.