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Mustafa SS, Huang J, Perrotta K, Chambers C, Namazy J. COVID-19 and Pregnancy: Interrelationships With Asthma and Allergy. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY. IN PRACTICE 2023; 11:3597-3604. [PMID: 37604428 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2023.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Pregnant individuals are at higher risk of complications from respiratory viruses such as coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19). Altered lung function, vaccine hesitancy, and resistance to taking necessary medications because of a lack of safety data in pregnancy make this population especially vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19. Like many medical conditions, the treatment of allergic conditions, including asthma and allergic rhinitis, were affected during the pandemic, with decreased numbers of in-person visits and interruptions in medical treatment. There were initially no data to allow pregnant women with asthma know whether the condition put them at higher risk of complications from COVID-19. There are now increasing data for the efficacy and safety of vaccines for COVID-19 in at-risk populations, including pregnant women. Vaccine studies show no increased risk for spontaneous abortion, congenital anomalies, or pregnancy complications. Furthermore, infants of individuals vaccinated during pregnancy have been shown to obtain protective antibodies via the placenta, providing protection against COVID-19 after birth. Although overall risks are low, pregnant women who become infected with COVID-19 are at higher risk for maternal and pregnancy complications. Antiviral treatment is available for pregnant women with mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19, with reassuring safety data to date. Dexamethasone is the mainstay of inpatient therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Shahzad Mustafa
- Rochester Regional Health, Rochester, NY; Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY.
| | | | - Kirstie Perrotta
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, Calif
| | - Christina Chambers
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, Calif
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Lee E, Rhee EH, Kim K, Kim HS, Kim WK, Song DJ, Park JS, Yoo Y, Suh DI, Jung S, Yoon JS, Lee SW, Kim JT, Lim DH, Baek HS, Shin M, Kwon JW, Jang GC, Seo JH, Woo SI, Kim HY, Shin YH, Lee JS, Yang HJ, Yu J. Frequency of exacerbation and degree of required asthma medication can characterize childhood longitudinal asthma trajectories. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2023; 131:444-450. [PMID: 37302526 DOI: 10.1016/j.anai.2023.05.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To the best of our knowledge, there have been no investigations of longitudinal asthma trajectories based on asthma exacerbation frequency and medications required for asthma control in children. OBJECTIVE To investigate longitudinal asthma trajectories based on the exacerbation frequency throughout childhood and asthma medication ranks. METHODS A total of 531 children aged 7 to 10 years were enrolled from the Korean childhood Asthma Study. Required asthma medications for control of asthma from 6 to 12 years of age and asthma exacerbation frequency from birth to 12 years of age were obtained from the Korean National Health Insurance System database. Longitudinal asthma trajectories were identified on the basis of asthma exacerbation frequency and asthma medication ranks. RESULTS Four asthma clusters were identified: lesser exacerbation with low-step treatment (8.1%), lesser exacerbations with middle-step treatment (30.7%), highly frequent exacerbations in early childhood with small-airway dysfunction (5.7%), and frequent exacerbations with high-step treatment (55.6%). The frequent exacerbations with high-step treatment cluster were characterized by a high prevalence of male sex, increased blood eosinophil (counts) with fractional exhaled nitric oxide, and high prevalence of comorbidities. The highly frequent exacerbation in early childhood with small-airway dysfunction cluster was characterized by recurrent wheeze in preschool age, with high prevalence of acute bronchiolitis in infancy and a greater number of family members with small-airway dysfunction at school age. CONCLUSION The present study identified 4 longitudinal asthma trajectories on the basis of the frequency of asthma exacerbation and asthma medication ranks. These results would help clarify the heterogeneities and pathophysiologies of childhood asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Hee Rhee
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Center, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyunghoon Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hwan Soo Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo Kyung Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae Jin Song
- Department of Pediatrics, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Soo Park
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Yoo
- Department of Pediatrics, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong In Suh
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungsu Jung
- Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Sun Yoon
- Department of Pediatrics, Chung-Ang University Gwang-Myeong Hospital, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Won Lee
- Department of Precision Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Tack Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae Hyun Lim
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hey Sung Baek
- Department of Pediatrics, Hallym University Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Meeyong Shin
- Department of Pediatrics, Soonchunhyang University School of Medicine, Bucheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Won Kwon
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Gwang Cheon Jang
- Department of Pediatrics, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, Ilsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju Hee Seo
- Department of Pediatrics, Dankook University Hospital, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Il Woo
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung Young Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Youn Ho Shin
- Department of Pediatrics, Gangnam CHA Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju Suk Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Changwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeon-Jong Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Center, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jinho Yu
- Department of Pediatrics, Childhood Asthma Atopy Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Namazy JA, Schatz M. Chronic Management of Asthma During Pregnancy. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am 2023; 43:65-85. [PMID: 36411009 DOI: 10.1016/j.iac.2022.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Asthma is one of the most common potentially serious medical problems to complicate pregnancy. Optimal management of asthma during pregnancy is thus important for both mother and baby. Treating asthmatic women requires understanding the effects of pregnancy on the course of asthma, and, conversely, the effects of asthma on pregnancy outcomes. Successful management also requires an understanding the barriers to asthma control in this population of patients. Evidence has shown that it is essential that the allergist-immunologist, obstetrician, and patient work as a team during pregnancy to achieve optimal maternal and neonatal outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Namazy
- Department of Allergy and Immunology, Scripps Clinic, 7565 Mission Valley Road Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92108, USA.
| | - Michael Schatz
- Department of Allergy and Immunology, Kaiser Permanente, San Diego, CA, USA
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Abstract
Background: Asthma is a frequent and potentially life-threatening disease that complicates many pregnancies. There are extensive data with regard to the diagnosis and treatment of asthma during pregnancy. Medical providers require an up-to-date summary of the critical aspects of asthma management during pregnancy. Objective: This review aimed to summarize the available data from clinical trials, cohort studies, expert opinions, and guideline recommendations with regard to asthma in pregnancy. Methods: A search through PubMed was conducted by using keywords previously mentioned and MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terminology. Clinical trials, observational studies, expert opinions, guidelines, and other reviews were included. The quality of the studies was assessed, and data were extracted and summarized. Results: Asthma worsens in ∼40% of pregnant women, which can be associated with maternal and fetal complications. Physiologic changes in the respiratory, cardiovascular, and immune systems during pregnancy play a critical role in the manifestations of asthma. The diagnosis and the treatment of asthma are similar to that of patients who are not pregnant. Nonetheless, concern for fetal malformations, preterm birth, and low birth weight must be considered when managing pregnant patients with asthma. Importantly, cornerstones of the pharmacotherapy of asthma seem to be safe during pregnancy. Conclusion: Asthma in pregnancy is associated with adverse outcomes. Roadblocks to management include associated comorbidities, medication nonadherence, atopy, lack of education, and smoking habits. These need to be acknowledged and addressed for successful asthma management during pregnancy.
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Eke AC. An update on the physiologic changes during pregnancy and their impact on drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenomics. J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol 2021; 33:581-598. [PMID: 34881531 DOI: 10.1515/jbcpp-2021-0312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
For many years, the medical community has relied in clinical practice on historic data about the physiological changes that occur during pregnancy. However, some newer studies have disputed a number of assumptions in these data for not being evidence-based or derived from large prospective cohort-studies. Accurate knowledge of these physiological changes is important for three reasons: Firstly, it facilitates correct diagnosis of diseases during pregnancy; secondly, it enables us to answer questions about the effects of medication during pregnancy and the ways in which pregnancy alters pharmacokinetic and drug-effects; and thirdly, it allows for proper modeling of physiologically-based pharmacokinetic models, which are increasingly used to predict gestation-specific changes and drug-drug interactions, as well as develop new knowledge on the mode-of-action of drugs, the mechanisms underlying their interactions, and any adverse effects following drug exposure. This paper reviews new evidence regarding the physiologic changes during pregnancy in relation to existing knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahizechukwu C Eke
- Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Namazy JA, Schatz M. Contemporary management and treatment strategies for asthma during pregnancy. Expert Rev Respir Med 2021; 15:1149-1157. [PMID: 34058955 DOI: 10.1080/17476348.2021.1935243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Asthma is one of the most common conditions that afflict pregnant women. Because uncontrolled asthma in pregnancy affects both maternal and offspring outcomes, careful attention to maintaining control of asthma symptoms throughout pregnancy is of critical importance.Areas Covered: Using a search of PUBMED/MEDLINE for 'asthma and pregnancy,' this article will review the current literature regarding epidemiology and course of asthma in pregnancy, the effects of uncontrolled asthma on both the mother and offspring, and provide an overview of the management, both non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic, of asthma in pregnancy.Expert Opinion: There is a lack of adequate safety information for most medications taken during pregnancy. Future research might allow better methods to predict which women will experience worsening during pregnancy. For now, surveillance systems like pregnancy registries or observational cohort studies can provide safety information for medications used during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A Namazy
- Department of Allergy and Immunology, Scripps Clinic, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Michael Schatz
- Department of Allergy, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, San Diego, CA, USA
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Kim NE, Lee S, Kim BY, Hwang AG, Shin JH, Yang HJ, Won S. The nationwide retrospective cohort study by Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service proves that asthma management decreases the exacerbation risk of asthma. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1442. [PMID: 33446854 PMCID: PMC7809363 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81022-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Medical costs have recently increased in South Korea due to the rising rate of asthma. Primary clinics serve an important role in asthma management, as they are the first stop for patients presenting with symptoms. The Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) in South Korea has assessed asthma-management quality since 2013, but studies are lacking on whether these assessments have been performed properly and contribute toward reducing asthma exacerbations. Therefore, we investigated whether the HIRA’s quality assessments have decreased asthma exacerbations using national health insurance claims data from 2013 to 2017 of 83,375 primary-clinic and 15,931 tertiary-hospital patients with asthma. These patients were classified into four groups based on disease severity according to the monthly prescribed amount of asthma medication using K-means clustering. The associations between HIRA assessments and asthma exacerbation were analyzed using a generalized estimating equation. Our results showed that exacerbation odds gradually decreased as the HIRA assessments progressed, especially in the mild-severity group, and that exacerbation risk among patients with asthma decreased in the order of assessment grades: “Unsatisfactory,” “Satisfactory,” and “Tertiary.” Therefore, we may conclude that asthma exacerbations may decrease with high quality asthma management; appropriate quality assessment could be helpful in reducing asthma exacerbations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nam-Eun Kim
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sanghun Lee
- Department of Medical Consilience, Graduate School of Dankook University, Jukjeon, Korea
| | - Bo Yeon Kim
- Healthcare Review and Assessment Committee, Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, Wonju, Korea
| | - Ae Gi Hwang
- Chronic Disease Assessment Division, Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, Wonju, Korea
| | - Ji Hyeon Shin
- Quality Assessment Management Division, Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, Wonju, Korea
| | - Hyeon-Jong Yang
- SCH Biomedical Informatics Research Unit, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Korea. .,Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Center, Department of Pediatrics, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
| | - Sungho Won
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. .,Interdisciplinary Program of Bioinformatics, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea. .,Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
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Abstract
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency (A1AD) is a hereditary condition characterized by low levels of circulating alpha-antitrypsin (AAT) in plasma. It is the best understood genetic risk factor for the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The diagnosis of A1AD is under-recognized. While there is a significant heterogeneity in disease presentation in relation to the severity of symptoms and prognosis, it is not uncommon for young individuals, including pregnant women to already have moderate to advanced lung disease at the time of diagnosis. Reductions in AAT levels may have unique implications for a gravid patient beyond that of lung disease. Care of the pregnant A1AD patient with chronic lung disease follows the principles of care for the management of airways disease in general with control of symptoms and reduction in exacerbation risk the main tenets of treatment. The effect of A1AD and augmentation in pregnancy has not been studied and thus care is reliant on expert opinion and clinical experience. Providers caring for pregnant patients with A1AD should consider referral to health care systems and providers with specific expertise in A1AD. Ultimately the decision is left to the individual patient and their physician to weigh the risk benefit of cessation or continuation of therapies. In this review, we present the perinatal course of a woman with A1AD and review the available literature pertaining to AAT and pregnancy and discuss the clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nate T Gaeckle
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Laurel Stephenson
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Ronald A Reilkoff
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Asthma affects up to 13% of pregnancies worldwide and has a varying and unpredictable clinical course during pregnancy. Pharmacological asthma treatment is recommended; however, studies show that some pregnant women with asthma cease their medication in early pregnancy. There is likely a large unmet disease burden arising from asthma in pregnancy. RECENT FINDINGS Antenatal and asthma guidelines lack sufficient information on asthma management in pregnant women, and implementation of the current guidelines seems inadequate. Prescription databases provide evidence of cessation of asthma medication during pregnancy on a population level. Population-based databases also provide evidence of rare adverse perinatal outcomes. The risk of childhood asthma in the offspring of women with asthma is reduced by adequate control of maternal asthma during pregnancy. Vitamin D sufficiency during pregnancy could also reduce the risk of childhood asthma. SUMMARY The findings of this review demonstrate the need for improved asthma and antenatal guidelines regarding asthma management during pregnancy, and the need of adequate implementation of these guidelines. Furthermore, adequate asthma control during pregnancy is needed to reduce the risk of childhood asthma. To maintain asthma control, prepregnancy medication should be continued throughout pregnancy and adjusted according to the current treatment steps if required.
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Robijn AL, Jensen ME, McLaughlin K, Gibson PG, Murphy VE. Inhaled corticosteroid use during pregnancy among women with asthma: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Exp Allergy 2019; 49:1403-1417. [PMID: 31357230 DOI: 10.1111/cea.13474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Revised: 07/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies demonstrate the prescription rate for inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) decreases in early pregnancy, possibly increasing exacerbation risk. This could be related to non-adherence to prescribed asthma medication or medication cessation by the patient or doctor. ICS use during pregnancy has not previously been summarized in a systematic review. OBJECTIVE The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the use of ICS during pregnancy among asthmatic women, specifically: (1) the prevalence of use, (2) changes of use during pregnancy compared with pre-pregnancy and (3) medication adherence among ICS users. METHODS We systematically searched literature in Embase, MEDLINE, CINAL and Cochrane, using terms related to asthma, pregnancy and medication use. All English articles reporting ICS among pregnant women with asthma were included. Prevalence, changes in ICS use during pregnancy and ICS adherence were pooled using STATA (version 15.0, StataCorp USA). RESULTS A total of 4237 references were retrieved in the initial search. Screening and review led to the inclusion of 52 articles for one or more aims (Aim 1: N = 45; Aim 2, N = 13; and Aim 3, N = 5). The pooled prevalence of ICS use during pregnancy was 41% (95%CI 36%-45%); 49% (95%CI 44%-55%) in Europe, 39% (95%CI 32%-47%) in Australia and 34% (95%CI 27%-41%) in North America. In eight prescription databases, ICS prescription rates lowered in the first trimester of pregnancy, compared with pre-pregnancy, increased in the second trimester and decreased in the third trimester. Five studies reported ICS adherence among pregnant women, using four measures of self-reported non-adherence. In two comparable studies, pooled ICS non-adherence was 40% (95%CI 36%-44%). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of ICS use among pregnant women with asthma is 41% and varies widely between countries and continents, and prescription rates for ICS change throughout pregnancy. More studies are needed to investigate ICS adherence during pregnancy in women with asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annelies L Robijn
- Priority Research Centre Grow Up Well, School of Medicine and Public Health, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Megan E Jensen
- Priority Research Centre Grow Up Well, School of Medicine and Public Health, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Karen McLaughlin
- Priority Research Centre Grow Up Well, School of Medicine and Public Health, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Peter G Gibson
- Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia.,Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Vanessa E Murphy
- Priority Research Centre Grow Up Well, School of Medicine and Public Health, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
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Martinez-Moragón E, Romero-Falcón A, García-Rivero JL. Algorithm for the management of asthma in pregnant women: a protocol to optimize processes in healthcare. Expert Rev Respir Med 2017; 11:1003-1012. [PMID: 29016232 DOI: 10.1080/17476348.2017.1391094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Asthma is the most common chronic disease in pregnant women. Its evolution during pregnancy could improve, stay the same or worsen, especially in cases where there is a loss of clinical control. This can lead to maternal and fetal hypoxia with serious adverse perinatal outcomes. Areas covered: This article reviews physiological modifications in pregnancy, effects of pregnancy on asthma, and possible consequences on fetus development. Furthermore, it reviews evidence on assessment and both pharmacological and non-pharmacological management of asthma in pregnant and breastfeeding women as well as in acute exacerbations. Electronic databases, such as PUBMED, were searched for terms pregnan* or perinat* or obstet* and breastfeeding or asthma or wheeze, as well as a book published by the present authors. Expert commentary: A patient-centered multidisciplinary approach, where the respiratory specialists have a key role in assessing and achieving control, as well as the education interventions for self-monitoring and adherence are at least as important as adequate pharmacological treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Auxiliadora Romero-Falcón
- b Unidad de Asma. Unidad Médico-Quirúrgica de Enfermedades Respiratorias , Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío , Sevilla , Spain
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