Near-fatal asthma: a population-based study of risk factors

GEMA 5.3. Spanish Guideline on the Management of Asthma

The Spanish Guideline on the Management of Asthma, better known by its acronym in Spanish GEMA, has been available for more than 20 years. Twenty-one scientific societies or related groups both from Spain and internationally have participated in the preparation and development of the updated edition of GEMA, which in fact has been currently positioned as the reference guide on asthma in the Spanish language worldwide. Its objective is to prevent and improve the clinical situation of people with asthma by increasing the knowledge of healthcare professionals involved in their care. Its purpose is to convert scientific evidence into simple and easy-to-follow practical recommendations. Therefore, it is not a monograph that brings together all the scientific knowledge about the disease, but rather a brief document with the essentials, designed to be applied quickly in routine clinical practice. The guidelines are necessarily multidisciplinary, developed to be useful and an indispensable tool for physicians of different specialties, as well as nurses and pharmacists. Probably the most outstanding aspects of the guide are the recommendations to: establish the diagnosis of asthma using a sequential algorithm based on objective diagnostic tests; the follow-up of patients, preferably based on the strategy of achieving and maintaining control of the disease; treatment according to the level of severity of asthma, using six steps from least to greatest need of pharmaceutical drugs, and the treatment algorithm for the indication of biologics in patients with severe uncontrolled asthma based on phenotypes. And now, in addition to that, there is a novelty for easy use and follow-up through a computer application based on the chatbot-type conversational artificial intelligence (ia-GEMA).

Should we apply a treatable traits approach to asthma care?

OBJECTIVE

To explore the evidence for adopting a "treatable traits" approach to asthma management.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar.

STUDY SELECTIONS

The above-mentioned databases were searched for randomized, controlled phase III or IV trials of adults containing the word "asthma" in the title published in the previous 10 years and for all articles containing the title words "treatable AND trait(s)," "asthma AND biomarker(s) OR smoking OR obesity OR laryngeal OR management" published within the previous 5 years. Articles were excluded if they were not published in English. Our search identified 257 articles for consideration. We also manually searched the reference lists of studies identified and searched the websites of the British Thoracic Society, European Respiratory Society, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, and Global Initiative for Asthma for specific guidance related to asthma management.

RESULTS

The "treatable traits" are described within 3 domains of pulmonary, extrapulmonary, or behavioral and lifestyle traits. We consider whether treatment should be targeted toward these traits where they are present in asthma patients, based on currently available evidence, rather than increasing treatment in response to symptoms in line with current step-up, step-down asthma management guidelines.

CONCLUSION

We advocate that a treatable traits approach should be applied more broadly to the assessment and management of inadequately controlled asthma, rather than a step-up, step-down approach based on patient symptoms. This approach should be focused on the 2 treatable pulmonary traits of T_H2 inflammation and airflow obstruction along with smoking cessation, in the first instance.

Short-acting beta-2 agonist prescription patterns and clinical outcomes in Chinese patients with asthma: an observational study in mainland China for the SABINA programme

Objectives:

The SABINA CHINA study aimed to determine prescription data for asthma medication with a focus on SABA and ICS in a representative population of patients with asthma in China.

Methods:

SABINA China was a multicentre, observational, cross-sectional study with data collected retrospectively from a convenience sample of 25 tertiary centres across China. Patients (age ⩾ 12 years) with ⩾3 consultations/year were enrolled. Data were collected on clinical characteristics, asthma severity, and symptom control (as per GINA 2017), treatment and history of severe exacerbations over the past year. SABA over-prescription was defined as ⩾3 SABA canisters/year. Descriptive statistics are presented.

Results:

Between March and August 2020, 498 patients were included in the outcome analysis. Mean (SD) age was 48.7 (15.0) years, 57.9% were female and 91% had moderate-to-severe asthma (n = 453). Overall, 12.5% (n = 62) and 26.4% (n = 131) of patients had uncontrolled and partly controlled asthma, respectively. SABA add-on was prescribed to 20.3% (n = 101) of patients; one patient with moderate-to-severe asthma was prescribed SABA-alone. SABA over-prescription in the overall population was 4.0% (n = 20; all with moderate-to-severe asthma) and 19.8% (20/101) among those prescribed SABA add-on. In the mild asthma group, 50% (n = 22) were prescribed ICS/LABA and 43.2% (n = 19) were prescribed LTRA. Among those with moderate-to-severe asthma, 97.4% (n = 441) were prescribed ICS/LABA and 55.0% (n = 249) were prescribed LTRA. Approximately 30% of patients (n = 149) experienced ⩾1% and 6.6% (n = 33) ⩾3 severe exacerbations in the preceding year; mean annual number of severe exacerbation/patient was 0.6 (1.2). Among those prescribed SABA add-on, ICS/LABA and LTRA (non-mutually exclusive groups due to overlapping prescriptions), 54.5%, 29.9%, and 35.3% had ⩾1 severe exacerbations, respectively.

Conclusion:

Among patients with predominantly moderate-to-severe asthma managed in tertiary care and were prescribed SABA, 1 in 5 received ⩾3 canisters/year. Fewer patients who received ICS/LABA prescriptions experienced annual exacerbations than those prescribed SABA add-on.

Association of Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease With County Health Disparities in New York State

IMPORTANCE

Chronic lower respiratory disease (CLRD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, which imposes a considerable burden on individuals, families, and societies. The association between county-level health disparity and CLRD outcomes in New York state needs investigation.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the associations of CLRD outcomes with county-level health disparities in New York state.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

In this cross-sectional study, CLRD age-adjusted hospitalization for 2016 and mortality rates from 2014 to 2016 were obtained from the New York state Community Health Indicator Reports provided by the New York state Department of Health. County Health Rankings were used to evaluate various health factors to provide a summary z score for each county representing the county health status and how that county ranks in the state. Data analysis was performed from November 2020 to March 2021.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The main outcomes were age-adjusted hospitalization and mortality rates for CLRD. The z score was calculated from the County Health Rankings, which includes subindicators of health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors, and physical environment. Pearson r and linear regression models were estimated.

RESULTS

During the study, 60 335 discharges were documented as CLRD hospitalizations in 2016 and 20 612 people died from CLRD from 2014 to 2016 in New York state. After adjusting for age, the CLRD hospitalization rate was 27.6 per 10 000 population, and the mortality rate was 28.9 per 100 000 population. Among 62 counties, Bronx had the highest hospitalization rate (64.7 per 10 000 population) whereas Hamilton had the lowest hospitalization rate (6.6 per 10 000 population). Mortality rates ranged from 17.4 per 100 000 population in Kings to 62.9 per 100 000 population in Allegany. County Health Rankings indicated Nassau had the lowest z score (the healthiest), at -1.17, but Bronx had the highest z score (the least healthy), at 1.43, for overall health factors in 2018. An increase of 1 point in social and economic factors z score was associated with an increase of 17.6 hospitalizations per 10 000 population (β = 17.61 [95% CI, 10.36 to 24.87]; P < .001). A 1-point increase in health behaviors z score was associated with an increase of 41.4 deaths per 100 000 population (β = 41.42 [95% CI, 29.88 to 52.97]; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this cross-sectional study, CLRD outcomes were significantly associated with county-level health disparities in New York state. These findings suggest that public health interventions and resources aimed at improving CLRD outcomes should be tailored and prioritized in health disadvantaged areas.

[Description of the use of inhaled rescue medication in an asthmatic population treated in the Primary Care clinics. UMI-ASMA Study]

OBJECTIVE

To describe the quantitative use of inhaled rescue medication in an asthmatic population treated in the Primary Care clinics, and secondly to determine its possible relationship as regards other variables associated with control.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

An observational, descriptive study was conducted on a randomised sample of all the asthmatic patients with more than one year of onset, and coming from 17 Primary Care catchment areas. 1 year observation period. The data collected included sociodemographic variables and characteristics of the asthma, such as the use of short-acting beta-agonists (SABA) and level of control as regards its frequency of use, the use of inhaled control medication (ICM), number of hospital exacerbations, smoking habits, and availability of an action plan. The data were obtained from the clinical history and the computerised prescription modules.

RESULTS

A total of 442 asthmatic patients were included (59.5% female), with a mean age of 45.4 years. The total number of SABA containers prescribed in one year per patient was between 0 and 25 containers, with a mean of 4.26 (SD=4.1). Only 46.6% showed a regular use of an ICM. The number of SABA containers prescribed to patients with an intermittent use of an ICM was significantly higher than those patients that used it regularly (P=.001). There was an association between the number of exacerbations and the number of SABA containers prescribed (Spearman correlation coefficient=0.474, P<.001), as such that the higher the number of containers prescribed there was also a higher number of hospitalised asthmatic exacerbations.

CONCLUSIONS

A considerable number of asthmatics in the sample had elevated prescriptions for SABA inhalers and within the defined quantitative ranges of at least a partially or poor-controlled asthma. There is a positive relationship between the overuse of SABA and the intermittent use of the ICM, the same as with hospital exacerbations, smoking, and the lack of a written action plan..

The Global Initiative for Asthma 2019 recommendation for mild asthma - A critique

Recognising that mild asthmatics are at risk of exacerbations and mortality, the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) issued an updated strategy in 2019. This was premised on two studies culminating in their recommendation that mild asthma should be treated by using a combination of a rapid and long-acting beta 2 agonist and an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) administered as required. Their rationale is, however, debatable, as the studies actually showed that regular daily ICS administration was more effective for a number of asthma control endpoints. A patient-driven treatment strategy is also questionable, as there are a number of concerns about behaviour of patients suffering from asthma and perception of airway narrowing that should trigger medication intake but in fact does not do so. These deficiencies also influence a similar maintenance and reliever treatment (MART) approach that would be suboptimal. Intermittent ICS regimens are also inferior when compared to regular treatment. Not all asthmatics respond to the same dose of ICS. The best way to manage asthma is by adopting a step-up ICS approach, to encompass varying disease severity, with a long-acting beta agonist taken on a daily basis, ideally in a single combination inhaler.

Management of severe asthma exacerbation: guidelines from the Société Française de Médecine d'Urgence, the Société de Réanimation de Langue Française and the French Group for Pediatric Intensive Care and Emergencies

BACKGROUND

The French Emergency Medicine Society, the French Intensive Care Society and the Pediatric Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine French-Speaking Group edited guidelines on severe asthma exacerbation (SAE) in adult and pediatric patients.

RESULTS

The guidelines were related to 5 areas: diagnosis, pharmacological treatment, oxygen therapy and ventilation, patients triage, specific considerations regarding pregnant women. The literature analysis and formulation of the guidelines were conducted according to the Grade of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology. An extensive literature research was conducted based on publications indexed in PubMed™ and Cochrane™ databases. Of the 21 formalized guidelines, 4 had a high level of evidence (GRADE 1+/-) and 7 a low level of evidence (GRADE 2+/-). The GRADE method was inapplicable to 10 guidelines, which resulted in expert opinions. A strong agreement was reached for all guidelines.

CONCLUSION

The conjunct work of 36 experts from 3 scientific societies resulted in 21 formalized recommendations to help improving the emergency and intensive care management of adult and pediatric patients with SAE.

Asthma and Food Allergy: Which Risks?

Over the past few decades, an increase in the prevalence of asthma and food allergy has been observed in the pediatric population. In infants, food sensitization, particularly to egg, has increased the risk of developing allergic asthma. This is even more likely if sensitization to food allergens occurs early within the first few years of life. It is indeed known that both diseases may be present simultaneously in the pediatric population, but coexistence may negatively influence the severity of both conditions by increasing the risk of life-threatening asthmatic episodes as well as food-related anaphylaxis. Therefore, an accurate clinical and phenotype characterization of this high-risk group of children with both asthma and food allergy and a more aggressive management might lead to reducing related morbidity and mortality. The aim of this review is to provide an updated overview on the close link between food allergy and asthma and their negative mutual influence.

The Saudi Initiative for Asthma - 2019 Update: Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma in adults and children

This is the fourth version of the updated guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma, developed by the Saudi Initiative for Asthma (SINA) group, a subsidiary of the Saudi Thoracic Society. The main objective of the SINA is to have guidelines that are up to date, simple to understand, and easy to use by healthcare workers dealing with asthma patients. To facilitate achieving the goals of asthma management, the SINA panel approach is mainly based on the assessment of symptom control and risk for both adults and children. The approach to asthma management is now more aligned for different age groups. The guidelines have focused more on personalized approaches reflecting better understanding of disease heterogeneity with integration of recommendations related to biologic agents, evidence-based updates on treatment, and role of immunotherapy in management. The medication appendix has also been updated with the addition of recent evidence, new indications for existing medication, and new medications. The guidelines are constructed based on the available evidence, local literature, and current situation at national and regional levels. There is also an emphasis on patient–doctor partnership in the management that also includes a self-management plan.

Emotionally triggered asthma and its relationship to panic disorder, ataques de nervios, and asthma-related death of a loved one in Latino adults

OBJECTIVE

Research has demonstrated high comorbidity between asthma and panic disorder (PD). Less is known about the relationship between asthma and the Latino cultural idiom of distress of ataques de nervios, as well as the role that psychosocial stressors play. The current study tested the hypotheses that Latino asthma patients who experience PD, ataques de nervios, and/or asthma-related death of a loved one endorse greater psychological triggers of asthma, greater perceived impact of asthma triggers, and greater difficulty controlling such triggers than do those without these conditions.

METHODS

Data originated from an interview conducted prior to a randomized controlled trial in which 292 Latino adults with self-reported asthma were recruited from outpatient clinics in the Bronx, NY. The PRIME-MD Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) was used to screen for PD symptoms, while the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I) was used to confirm diagnosis of PD. Lifetime history of ataques de nervios and asthma-related death of a loved one were based upon self-report. Asthma triggers were examined using the Asthma Trigger Inventory (ATI).

RESULTS

PD, ataques de nervios, and asthma-related death of a loved one each predicted a higher frequency of psychological asthma triggers, controlling for gender and comorbid medical conditions. Participants with PD also reported greater impact of asthma triggers than those without PD, while no significant differences in perceived control were observed.

CONCLUSION

Providers should screen for PD, ataques de nervios, and asthma-related death of a loved one in Latino asthma patients, given their observed association with emotionally triggered asthma.

Asthma, Food Allergy, and How They Relate to Each Other

The association between atopic diseases is well known, and previous research has shown that having one atopic disease can predispose to having another. The link between asthma and food allergy has been well researched, but the exact relationship between the two atopic conditions is not fully understood. Food allergic infants are at increased risk for the development of asthma and are at risk of food-induced asthmatic episodes and also anaphylaxis. Having a diagnosis of both food allergy and asthma has also been shown to have an effect on the severity of a patient's disease including being at greater risk of severe asthmatic episodes. Therefore, understanding the relationship between these two conditions in order to treat and manage these children safely is crucial to clinicians.

Use of biologics to treat acute exacerbations and manage disease in asthma, COPD and IPF

A common feature of chronic respiratory disease is the progressive decline in lung function. The decline can be indolent, or it can be accelerated by acute exacerbations, whereby the patient experiences a pronounced worsening of disease symptoms. Moreover, acute exacerbations may also be a marker of insufficient disease management. The underlying cause of an acute exacerbation can be due to insults such as pathogens or environmental pollutants, or the cause can be unknown. For each acute exacerbation, the patient may require medical intervention such as rescue medication, or in more severe cases, hospitalization and ventilation and have an increased risk of death. Biologics, such as monoclonal antibodies, are being developed for chronic respiratory diseases including asthma, COPD and IPF. This therapeutic approach is particularly well suited for chronic use based on the route and frequency of delivery and importantly, the potential for disease modification. In recent clinical trials, the frequency of acute exacerbation has often been included as an endpoint, to help determine whether the investigational agent is impacting disease. Therefore the significance of acute exacerbations in driving disease, and their potential as a marker of disease activity and progression, has recently received much attention. There is also now a need to standardize the definition of an acute exacerbation in specific disease settings, particularly as this endpoint is increasingly used in clinical trials to also assess therapeutic efficacy. Moreover, specifically targeting exacerbations may offer a new therapeutic approach for several chronic respiratory diseases.

Medical and Social Determinants of Health Associated with Intensive Care Admission for Asthma in Children

RATIONALE

Risk factors for severe asthma exacerbations in children requiring admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) may occur in variety of medical, environmental, economic, and socioeconomic domains.

OBJECTIVES

We sought to characterize medical and sociodemographic risk factors among children who required admission to the intensive care unit for asthma.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the Greater Cincinnati Asthma Risk Study, a population-based, prospective, observational cohort of children admitted for treatment of acute asthma or bronchodilator-responsive wheezing. Data collected on 774 children included race, socioeconomic status, allergen sensitization, environmental exposures, psychosocial strain, and financial hardship. Analyses compared children admitted to the ICU to those admitted to a medical inpatient unit.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

One hundred sixty-one (20.9%) children required admission to intensive care. There was no difference in sex, race, insurance status, caregiver educational level, income, financial strain, psychological distress, or marital status between the ICU and non-ICU cohorts. Risk for medication nonadherence assessed by parent report was not different between groups. Although previous hospital admission or emergency department visit history did not differ between the groups, prior ICU admission was more common among those admitted to the ICU at the index admission (27 vs. 16%, P = 0.002). Children requiring intensive care admission were more likely to be sensitized to multiple aeroallergens. Exposure to cigarette smoke (measured as salivary cotinine), although a risk factor for hospital admission, was negatively associated with risk of ICU admission.

CONCLUSIONS

Social and economic risk factors typically predictive of increased asthma morbidity, including exposure to tobacco smoke, were not associated with ICU admission among a population of children admitted to the hospital for treatment of acute asthma. Intrinsic disease factors, including allergic sensitization, may be more important predictors of ICU admission.

Patient stratification and the unmet need in asthma

Asthma is often described as an inflammatory disease of the lungs and in most patients symptomatic treatment with bronchodilators or inhaled corticosteroids is sufficient to control disease. Unfortunately there are a proportion of patients who fail to achieve control despite treatment with the best current treatment. These severe asthma patients have been considered a homogeneous group of patients that represent the unmet therapeutic need in asthma. Many novel therapies have been tested in unselected asthma patients and the effects have often been disappointing, particularly for the highly specific monoclonal antibody-based drugs such as anti-IL-13 and anti-IL-5. More recently, it has become clear that asthma is a syndrome with many different disease drivers. Clinical trials of anti-IL-13 and anti-IL-5 have focused on biomarker-defined patient groups and these trials have driven the clinical progression of these drugs. Work on asthma phenotyping indicates that there is a group of asthma patients where T helper cell type 2 (Th2) cytokines and inflammation predominate and these type 2 high (T2-high) patients can be defined by biomarkers and response to therapies targeting this type of immunity, including anti-IL-5 and anti-IL-13. However, there is still a subset of T2-low patients that do not respond to these new therapies. This T2-low group will represent the new unmet medical need now that the T2-high-targeting therapies have made it to the market. This review will examine the current thinking on patient stratification in asthma and the identification of the T2-high subset. It will also look at the T2-low patients and examine what may be the drivers of disease in these patients.

Severe or life-threatening asthma exacerbation: patient heterogeneity identified by cluster analysis

BACKGROUND

Severe or life-threatening asthma exacerbation is one of the worst outcomes of asthma because of the risk of death. To date, few studies have explored the potential heterogeneity of this condition.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the clinical characteristics and heterogeneity of patients with severe or life-threatening asthma exacerbation.

METHODS

This was a multicentre, prospective study of patients with severe or life-threatening asthma exacerbation and pulse oxygen saturation < 90% who were admitted to 17 institutions across Japan. Cluster analysis was performed using variables from patient- and physician-orientated structured questionnaires.

RESULTS

Analysis of data from 175 patients with severe or life-threatening asthma exacerbation revealed five distinct clusters. Cluster 1 (n = 27) was younger-onset asthma with severe symptoms at baseline, including limitation of activities, a higher frequency of treatment with oral corticosteroids and short-acting beta-agonists, and a higher frequency of asthma hospitalizations in the past year. Cluster 2 (n = 35) was predominantly composed of elderly females, with the highest frequency of comorbid, chronic hyperplastic rhinosinusitis/nasal polyposis, and a long disease duration. Cluster 3 (n = 40) was allergic asthma without inhaled corticosteroid use at baseline. Patients in this cluster had a higher frequency of atopy, including allergic rhinitis and furred pet hypersensitivity, and a better prognosis during hospitalization compared with the other clusters. Cluster 4 (n = 34) was characterized by elderly males with concomitant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although cluster 5 (n = 39) had very mild symptoms at baseline according to the patient questionnaires, 41% had previously been hospitalized for asthma.

CONCLUSIONS & CLINICAL RELEVANCE

This study demonstrated that significant heterogeneity exists among patients with severe or life-threatening asthma exacerbation. Differences were observed in the severity of asthma symptoms and use of inhaled corticosteroids at baseline, and the presence of comorbid COPD. These findings may contribute to a deeper understanding and better management of this patient population.

Effect of smoking status on the efficacy of the SMART regimen in high risk asthma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The optimal management of people with asthma with a significant smoking history is uncertain. The aim of this study was to determine whether the efficacy/safety profile of single combination inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)/long acting beta-agonist (LABA) inhaler maintenance and reliever therapy is influenced by smoking status.

METHODS

We undertook secondary analyses from an open-label 24-week randomized study of 303 high risk adult asthma patients randomized to budesonide/formoterol 200/6-µg-metred dose inhaler for maintenance (two actuations twice daily) and either budesonide/formoterol 200/6-µg-metred dose inhaler one actuation ('single ICS/LABA maintenance and reliever therapy (SMART)' regimen) or salbutamol 100 µg 1-2 actuations for symptom relief ('Standard' regimen). Smoking status was classified in to three groups, as 'current', 'ex' or 'never', and a smoking/treatment interaction term tested for each outcome variable. The primary outcome variable was number of participants with at least one severe exacerbation.

RESULTS

There were 59 current, 97 ex and 147 never smokers included in the analyses. The smoking status/treatment interaction term was not statistically significant for any of the outcome measures. With adjustment for smoking status, the number of participants with severe exacerbations was lower with the SMART regimen (OR 0.45, 95% CI: 0.26-0.77, P = 0.004; P value for interaction between smoking status and treatment 0.29).

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the favourable safety/efficacy profile of the SMART regimen applies to patients with high risk asthma, irrespective of smoking status.

The Saudi Initiative for Asthma - 2016 update: Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma in adults and children

This is an updated guideline for the diagnosis and management of asthma, developed by the Saudi Initiative for Asthma (SINA) group, a subsidiary of the Saudi Thoracic Society. The main objective of SINA is to have guidelines that are up to date, simple to understand and easy to use by nonasthma specialists, including primary care and general practice physicians. SINA approach is mainly based on symptom control and assessment of risk as it is the ultimate goal of treatment. The new SINA guidelines include updates of acute and chronic asthma management, with more emphasis on the use of asthma control in the management of asthma in adults and children, inclusion of a new medication appendix, and keeping consistency on the management at different age groups. The section on asthma in children is rewritten and expanded where the approach is stratified based on the age. The guidelines are constructed based on the available evidence, local literature, and the current situation in Saudi Arabia. There is also an emphasis on patient-doctor partnership in the management that also includes a self-management plan.

Questions relating to premenstrual asthma

The study of asthma in fertile women needs to consider its potentially recurrent exacerbation in a specific phase of the menstrual cycle. Premenstrual asthma (PMA) refers to the deterioration of asthma in some women of fertile age during the premenstrual phase. Prevalence varies considerably according to studies (11%-47.44%) mainly because there is no standardized definition of the illness. There is a possible link between PMA and premenstrual syndrome, which is a set of physical and psychic manifestations that occur in some fertile women during the same premenstrual phase. This relation has been widely studied but there are still several unknowns. PMA etiopathogeny is not known. It involves possible causes such as hormonal variations in the premenstrual phase, the coexistence of atopy, variations during the cycle in substances related to inflammation, like LTC4 leukotrienes, catecholamines, E2 and F2α prostaglandins and certain cytokines. Also considered are psychological factors related to this phase of the menstrual cycle, a high susceptibility to infection or increased bronchial hyperreactivity prior to menstruation. Yet no factor fully explains its etiology, consequently no specific treatment exists. Researchers have investigated hormones, anti-leukotrienes, prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors, diuretics, phytoestrogens and alternative therapies, but none has been shown to be effective.

Trigger factors in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a single-centre cross-sectional survey

INTRODUCTION

The presence of trigger factors may help to distinguish asthma from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Knowing and avoiding trigger factors for both asthma and COPD can facilitate the design of comprehensive management programmes that can aid disease control. This study aimed to describe the relative frequency and range of various trigger factors in asthma and COPD.

METHODS

We conducted a telephone-based survey involving asthma and COPD patients on follow-up at a university hospital in Singapore.

RESULTS

A total of 779 asthma patients and 129 COPD patients participated in this study. Among these patients, 93.8% of those with asthma and 42.6% of those with COPD had trigger factors (p < 0.001). The median number of trigger factors was greater among asthma patients than among those with COPD (3 vs. 0, p < 0.001). Trigger factors found to be significantly more prevalent among asthma patients compared to those with COPD include tobacco smoke, alcohol, upper respiratory tract infections, incense smoke, perfume, laughter, a dusty environment, air-conditioning, heavy rain, heavy traffic fumes, citrus fruits, gastro-oesophageal reflux, household pets, flowers/pollen, medications and psychological triggers. Trigger factors that were not previously described, such as bathing, fatigue, insufficient sleep, crowded places and overeating, were also reported.

CONCLUSION

Trigger factors, although found in both groups of patients, were more common among asthma patients. Knowledge of these trigger factors may be useful in distinguishing between the two diseases and optimising disease management.

Pathologic Findings in Fatal and Nonfatal Asthma

Asthma is a common disease in the population and fatal asthma cases are not rare. Patients with fatal asthma not infrequently die outside of hospitals and become forensic cases. The pathologic features of asthma are very variable, but fatal asthma is always characterized by extensive mucous plugs in the airways and lungs that tend to remain inflated when the chest is opened. Other microscopic features that may be seen in asthma include increased amounts of airway smooth muscle, marked thickening of airway basement membranes, goblet cell hyperplasia, and various patterns of airway inflammation including eosinophils, neutrophils, and lymphocytes. Absent a history, a presumptive diagnosis of fatal asthma can be made in a patient whose lungs are hyperinflated and demonstrate numerous mucous plugs in the large airways, and this is usually accompanied by a markedly thickened basement membrane in the large airways on microscopic examination, but the possibility that the fatal asthma attack was precipitated by exogeneous factors such as drugs, fumes, or irritants should be borne in mind.

Role of comorbid conditions in asthma hospitalizations in the south of France

BACKGROUND

Reasons for asthma hospitalizations are dynamic and complex. Comorbid conditions are important contributors to most chronic diseases today. We aim to characterize and describe risk factors associated with hospitalizations due to asthma in the Languedoc-Roussillon region (France) in 2009.

METHODS

Programme de Médicalisation des Systèmes d'Information (PMSI) data records from 2009 were sorted using selected International Classification of Diseases (ICD10) codes eliciting three groups of asthma hospitalizations according to acute severity. All available data including demographics, comorbid conditions, past hospitalizations either related or unrelated to asthma, seasonality and distance to medical facilities were used to compare the subjects within the three groups.

RESULTS

One thousand two hundred and eighty-nine hospitalizations due to asthma exacerbation were found, concerning 1122 patients. We observed significant differences within the groups, using univariate analysis, concerning duration of hospitalizations (mean ± SD, 4.9 ± 5.9 days vs 6.4 ± 6.8 vs 15.8 ± 16.8, P < 0.001), deaths (percentage, 0.03% vs 1.50% vs 9.20%, P < 0.001) and numbers of comorbid conditions (0.80 ± 0.95 vs 0.75 ± 0.97 vs 1.74 ± 1.36, P < 0.001). Recurrent admissions for asthma during the period 2006-2008 were significantly more frequent in the more severe group (1.93 ± 3.91 vs 2.56 ± 4.47 vs 2.81 ± 3.97, P = 0.006). In the multivariate model, age and number of comorbid conditions were independently associated with severe hospitalizations and deaths.

CONCLUSIONS

Asthma hospitalizations can be appropriately assessed using PMSI coding databases. In this study, age and the presence of comorbid conditions are the major risk factors for asthma hospitalizations and deaths.

Characteristics of asthma patients admitted to an intermediate respiratory care unit

INTRODUCTION

Intermediate respiratory care units (IRCU) provide continuous monitoring and non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) in patients with severe respiratory failure who are usually admitted to intensive care units (ICU). The usefulness of IRCU in managing severe asthma exacerbations has never been evaluated.

METHODS

Clinical data were prospectively and systematically compiled from patients admitted to the IRCU with a principal diagnosis of bronchial asthma exacerbation. We assessed therapeutic failure (intubation or exitus) and patient evolution up until 6 months after discharge compared with a group of patients admitted to a conventional hospital ward, paired for age and sex, and with the same principal diagnosis.

RESULTS

A total of 74 asthma patients were included (37 admitted to IRCU and 37 to the hospital ward) with a mean age (±SD) of 58±20, who were predominantly women (67%), with previous diagnosis of asthma and persistent asthma treatment. The main cause of admittance to the IRCU was severe respiratory failure. The patients who were admitted to the IRCU presented more radiological affectation (alveolar infiltrates) and had significantly higher pCO(2). Ten patients admitted to the IRCU required NIMV. There were no differences between the two groups regarding either therapeutic failure or the 6-month follow-up after discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with severe asthma exacerbations can be managed in an IRCU while avoiding hospitalization in an ICU and demonstrating a prognosis similar to milder exacerbations treated in conventional hospital wards.

β2-adrenergic receptor haplotype linked to intubation and mechanical ventilation in children with asthma

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Children with asthma and respiratory failure comprise a small but significant subset of children with acute asthma. In addition to clinical and historical factors that have been associated with respiratory failure, there may also be genetic factors that predispose some asthmatic children to intubation and mechanical ventilation. However, this has not previously been assessed in this population. We hypothesized that genetic polymorphisms of the β(2)-adrenergic receptor (ADRβ(2)) are associated with intubation and mechanical ventilation in children with asthma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed genotyping of the ADRβ(2) in a pooled cohort of 104 children admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with a severe asthma exacerbation between 2002 and 2008. Genotype of the ADRβ(2) was compared with intubation for respiratory failure.

RESULTS

At amino acid position 16, 33% (n = 34) of children were homozygous for the glycine allele (Gly16Gly), 15% (n = 16) were homozygous for the arginine allele (Arg16Arg), and 52% (n = 54) were heterozygous (Arg16Gly). At amino acid position 27, 54% (n = 56) of children were homozygous for the glutamine allele (Gln27Gln), 8% (n = 8) were homozygous for the glutamic acid allele (Glu27Glu), and 38% (n = 40) were heterozygous (Gln27Glu). The haplotypes at these positions were Arg16Gly-Gln27Gln (29%, n = 30), Arg16Gly-Gln27Glu (22%, n = 23), Gly16Gly-Gln27Glu (16%, n = 17), Arg16Arg-Gln27Gln (16%, n = 17), Gly16Gly-Gln27Gln (9%, n = 9), and Gly16Gly-Glu27Glu (8%, n = 8). Twelve children in this cohort were intubated for respiratory failure. Intubation was not associated with age, obesity, race/ethnicity, or NHBLI asthma classification. However, children with the Arg16Gly-Gln27Gln haplotype were significantly more likely to be intubated and mechanical ventilated (OR = 4.2; 95% CI = 1.2-14.5; p = .036) than children with other haplotypes of the ADRβ(2). When examining the subset of intubated children, those with the Arg16Gly-Gln27Gln haplotype trended towards longer ICU length of stay (329 ± 270 vs. 124 ± 57 hours; p = .09), but this was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with the Arg16Gly-Gln27Gln haplotype of the ADRβ(2) were four times more likely to be intubated and mechanically ventilated during severe asthma exacerbations. Genetic factors may influence the development of a more severe asthma phenotype during acute exacerbations.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis in near-fatal asthma patients in Salvador, Brazil

OBJECTIVE

To determine the frequency of near-fatal asthma in a group of severe asthma patients, as well as the clinical characteristics and prognosis of these patients within a one-year follow-up period.

METHODS

A prospective study involving 731 low-income patients with severe asthma treated at a referral outpatient clinic located in the city of Salvador, Brazil. The patients were submitted to spirometry at admission, received medications for asthma, and were monitored regarding the frequency of asthma exacerbations during the follow-up period. A subsample of 511 patients also completed questionnaires regarding asthma symptoms and asthma-related quality of life.

RESULTS

Of the 731 patients studied, 563 (77%) were female. The median age was 47 years, and 12% were illiterate. Most of the patients had rhinitis, and 70 patients (10%) reported near-fatal asthma prior to admission. Of these 70 patients, 41 (59%) reported having been intubated previously. The patients reporting a history of near-fatal asthma at admission were more likely to have asthma exacerbations during the follow-up period and to respond poorly to therapy than were those not reporting such a history. At the end of the follow-up period, the scores on the two questionnaires were similar between the two groups of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The frequency of near-fatal asthma was high in this group of low-income patients with severe asthma. The patients with a history of near-fatal asthma had a worse prognosis than did those without such a history, although both groups had received the same kind of treatment. Curiously, the intensity of symptoms and the quality of life at the end of the study were similar between the two groups.

Beyond the guidelines: fatal and near-fatal asthma

While asthma is extremely common, fatal and near fatal asthma is rare and often preventable if there is early recognition of symptom progression and appropriate intervention. In the past decade, asthma mortality has progressively declined in association with the widespread use of inhaled corticosteroids and asthma care plans. Management of life threatening asthma requires patient education to ensure the proper use of medications and to enable the patient to recognize when additional therapy for poorly controlled asthma is required. There is some evidence that suggests that the overly aggressive use of asthma medications when treating a severe exacerbation may contribute to morbidity. Because of the risks of air trapping and barotrauma associated with partial airway obstruction, it is best to avoid mechanical ventilation if possible but when this is used, low tidal volumes, longer exhalation times, and permissive hypercarbia can minimize these risks. There is the promise that a better understanding of asthma immunology and severe asthma "phenotypes" will lead to better prevention and therapy.

Escitalopram for severe asthma and major depressive disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled proof-of-concept study

BACKGROUND

Depression is common in asthma and may be a risk factor for asthma-related morbidity and mortality. However, minimal data are available on depression treatment in asthma. Previously, we reported greater sustained depression remission and less oral corticosteroid use in asthma patients treated with citalopram.

METHOD

A 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, proof-of-concept trial of escitalopram was conducted in 26 outpatients with asthma requiring at least one course of oral corticosteroids in the prior 12 months and major depressive disorder (MDD) with baseline Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) scores of ≥ 20.

RESULTS

Total evaluable sample (n = 25) showed significant baseline to exit reduction in HAM-D and Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report (IDS-SR) scores, with no significant between-group differences, although the findings favored escitalopram. Depression remission on the HAM-D, from week 1 to exit, showed a trend (P = 0.06) favoring escitalopram. Relative risk for remission at week 12 was 6.5 with an estimated remission rate of 39.1% with escitalopram and 6.0% with placebo. Between-group differences in oral corticosteroid use were not significant. Changes in Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) correlated significantly with changes in IDS-SR in the escitalopram, placebo, and combined sample groups (τ = 0.49-0.60, P < 0.05) and with changes in HAM-D only in placebo and combined groups (τ = 0.38-0.58, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Medium effect sizes and a remission trend were observed favoring escitalopram over placebo on depression measures. Changes in self-reported depressive symptoms correlated with changes in asthma symptoms. A larger trial is needed to confirm the findings from this pilot study.

[Management of acute asthma]

INTRODUCTION

All patients with asthma are at risk of exacerbations. Mortality is often associated with failure to identify patients at risk and/or to appreciate the severity of acute episode, resulting in inadequate initial treatment, delay in referring to emergency care and inappropriate hospitalization rates, including delayed transfer to intensive care units. This review focuses on the management of acute severe and near fatal asthma.

STATE OF ART

Lung mechanics and cardiopulmonary interactions associated with airflow obstruction explain the physical presentation and severity criteria for exacerbations. The past and recent medical history, the initial evaluation of severity and the assessment of response to treatment direct the in-hospital management: emergency department visit, transfer to ward or intensive care unit. In any cases, the goals of therapy are summarized as oxygenation, repetitive inhalations of bronchodilators and early administration of systemic corticosteroids. Mechanical ventilation is required in a few patients with near fatal attacks resulting in asphyxia or progressive exhaustion despite maximal therapy. Controlled hypoventilation with permissive hypercapnia is the best strategy to avoid barotrauma. The role of adjunctive therapies, mainly halogenated agents and heliox, is discussed.

PERSPECTIVES AND CONCLUSION

During the last decade, asthma related mortality has decreased in France (<1000/year). The majority of deaths occur at home or during transport to the hospital but some deaths occur suddenly. Most deaths could be preventable if one adopts the approach that every exacerbation is potentially fatal. This practice should be more vigorously included in patient and general practitioner educational programs.

Asthma diagnosis and management

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease that is commonly seen in the emergency department (ED). This article provides an evidence-based review of diagnosis and management of asthma. Early recognition of asthma exacerbations and initiation of treatment are essential. Treatment is dictated by the severity of the exacerbation. Treatment involves bronchodilators and corticosteroids. Other treatment modalities including magnesium, heliox, and noninvasive ventilator support are discussed. Safe disposition from the ED can be considered after stabilization of the exacerbation, response to treatment and attaining peak flow measures.

Asthma exacerbations: origin, effect, and prevention

Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease, affecting up to 10% of adults and 30% of children in the Western world. Despite advances in asthma management, acute exacerbations continue to occur and impose considerable morbidity on patients and constitute a major burden on health care resources. Respiratory tract viruses have emerged as the most frequent triggers for exacerbations in both children and adults; however, the mechanisms underlying these remain poorly understood. More recently, it has become increasingly clear that interactions might exist between viruses and other triggers, increasing the likelihood of an exacerbation. In this article we begin with an overview of the health, economic, and social burden that exacerbations of asthma carry with them. This is followed by a review of the pathogenesis of asthma exacerbations, highlighting the various triggers responsible and multiple interactions that exist between them. The final section first addresses what preventative measures are currently available for asthma exacerbations and subsequently examines which of the new treatments in development might lessen the burden of exacerbations in the future.

Smoking and nonsmoking asthma: differences in clinical outcome and pathogenesis

Cigarette smoking in asthma is frequently present and is associated with worsening of symptoms, accelerated lung-function decline, a higher frequency of hospital admissions, a higher degree of asthma severity, poorer asthma control and reduced responsiveness to corticosteroids. Furthermore, it is associated with reduced numbers of eosinophils and higher numbers of mast cells in the submucosa of the airway wall. Airway remodeling is increased as evidenced by increased epithelial thickness and goblet cell hyperplasia in smoking asthmatics. The pathogenesis responsible for smoking-induced changes in airway inflammation and remodeling in asthma is complex and largely unknown. The underlying mechanism of reduced corticosteroid responsiveness is also unknown. This article discusses differences between smoking and nonsmoking asthmatics regarding the clinical expression of asthma, lung function, response to corticosteroids, airway inflammation and remodeling processes. Possible pathogenetic mechanisms that may explain the links between cigarette smoking and changes in the clinical expression of asthma will be discussed, as well as the beneficial effects of smoking cessation.

Factors associated with the development of severe asthma exacerbations in children

BACKGROUND

Asthma exacerbations are one of the most common causes of hospitalization in children and account for approximately 10,000 intensive care unit (ICU) admissions per year in the United States. Despite the prevalence of this disease in children, the factors associated with the development of these severe exacerbations are largely unknown.

METHODS

A retrospective case-control study was conducted involving all eligible children admitted to the hospital with asthma for a 1-year period. Potential associated factors and outcomes of children admitted to the ICU with a severe exacerbation (cases) were compared to those of children with acute asthma admitted to the ward (controls).

RESULTS

A total of 188 children were hospitalized with asthma during the study period, 57 (30%) of whom required admission to the ICU. There were no differences in age, gender, or race between cases and controls. Children admitted to the ICU were significantly more likely to have an allergy or irritant-triggered exacerbation than children admitted to the ward (OR 3.9; 95% CI 1.9-8.2; p = .0003). Additionally, children in the ICU had a significantly shorter duration of illness before being admitted to the hospital compared to those admitted to the ward (1.7 ± 2.3 vs. 3.4 ± 4.8 days; p = .002).

CONCLUSIONS

In this retrospective review, severe asthma exacerbations in children are associated with a more rapid onset of symptoms and are more likely to be associated with allergens or irritants, supporting the importance of atopy in this population.

Parental psychosocial stress and asthma morbidity in Puerto Rican twins

BACKGROUND

Little is known about paternal psychosocial factors and childhood asthma.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to examine the link between maternal and paternal psychosocial stress and asthma outcomes in young children.

METHODS

Parents of 339 pairs of Puerto Rican twins were interviewed individually about their own psychosocial stress and about asthma in their children at age 1 year and again about their child's asthma at age 3 years. Fathers were asked about symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and antisocial behavior. Mothers were asked about depressive symptoms. Outcomes assessed in children included recent asthma symptoms, oral steroid use and hospitalizations for asthma in the prior year, and asthma diagnosis. Generalized estimated equation models were used for the multivariate analysis of parental psychosocial stress and asthma morbidity in childhood.

RESULTS

After multivariable adjustment, paternal PTSD symptoms, depression, and antisocial behavior were each associated with increased asthma symptoms at age 1 year (eg, odds ratio, 1.08 for each 1-point increase in PTSD score; 95% CI, 1.03-1.14). Maternal depressive symptoms were associated with an increased risk of asthma hospitalizations at age 1 year. At age 3 years, maternal depressive symptoms were associated with asthma diagnosis and hospitalizations for asthma (odds ratio for each 1-point increase in symptoms, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.00-1.36). In an analysis combining 1- and 3-year outcomes, paternal depression was associated with oral steroid use, maternal depressive symptoms were associated with asthma hospitalizations and asthma diagnosis, and parental depression was associated with hospitalizations for asthma.

CONCLUSIONS

Both paternal and maternal psychosocial factors can influence asthma morbidity in young Puerto Rican children.

Depressed children with asthma evidence increased airway resistance: "vagal bias" as a mechanism?

BACKGROUND

Depression is prevalent in pediatric asthma, and implicated in asthma morbidity and mortality. Pathways linking stress, depression, and asthma are unknown.

OBJECTIVES

To examine, under controlled laboratory conditions, pathways by which depressive states affect airway function via autonomic dysregulation.

METHODS

Participants were 171 children with asthma, age 7 to 17 years, presenting to an emergency department for asthma exacerbation. Forty-five children with asthma and high depressive symptoms (D) were contrasted with 45 with low/no depressive symptoms (ND). Depressive symptoms, asthma disease severity, vagal and sympathetic reactivity to film stressors, airflow (FEV1), and airway resistance were compared between the groups. A subgroup with greater airway reactivity (nonmedicated FEV1<80% predicted) was also studied. Correlations among variables were examined for the entire sample.

RESULTS

Groups did not differ in demographics, disease severity, medications, or adherence. The D group with FEV1<80% predicted showed greater airway resistance throughout all conditions (P = .03), and vagal bias in the film stressors. The D group's vagal response was significant for the sad stimuli: family distress/loss (P = .03), dying (P = .003), and death (P = .03). The ND group showed sympathetic activation to sad stimuli: lonely (P = .04) and dying (P = .04). Depressive symptoms were correlated with respiratory resistance (r = .43; P = .001) and vagal bias in scene 3 (r = .24; P = .03), and vagal bias (scene 3) was correlated with postmovie airway resistance (r = 0.39; P = .004).

CONCLUSIONS

Children with asthma and depressive symptoms manifest vagal bias when emotionally stressed. Those with depressive symptoms and FEV1<80% manifest greater airway resistance. Depression, vagal bias, and airway resistance were intercorrelated for the full sample.

The impact of smoking on clinical and therapeutic effects in asthmatics

Smoking is associated with poor symptom control and impaired therapeutic responses in asthma. A total of 843 patients with asthma were recruited. The patients received treatment for 1 yr according to the severity of their asthma. We compared the forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1), the ratio of FEV1 to forced vital capaity (FVC), atopy, total IgE, emphysema on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), the number of near-fatal asthma attacks, and physiological fixed airway obstruction between the smoking and nonsmoking groups. The study population consisted of 159 (18.8%) current smokers, 157 (18.7%) ex-smokers, and 525 (62.5%) nonsmokers. Although the prevalence of atopy was not different between the smoking and nonsmoking groups, the total IgE was higher among the smokers than the nonsmokers. Compared with the nonsmoking group, the smokers had a lower FEV1 % predicted and forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% of FVC. A greater prevalence of emphysema and a significantly higher number of asthmatic patients with fixed airway obstruction were detected in the smoking versus nonsmoking group. The 37.5% of asthmatic patients who were former or current smokers showed decreased pulmonary function and increased IgE, emphysema on HRCT, and fixed airway obstruction, indicating that smoking can modulate the clinical and therapeutic responses in asthma.

[Is asthma still a life-threatening disease?]

After a substantial augmentation in the mid-1980s, mortality from asthma stabilized in France as in the other industrialized countries, probably because of ever more appropriate health care utilization and treatment. In 2004, there were 1099 death in metropolitan France with a principal cause listed as asthma (last published data), for a crude rate of 1.8 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. Despite the fact that fewer people are dying of asthma, several studies show an excess of all-cause mortality among people with asthma compared with people without asthma. The prevalence of severe asthma does not appear to have diminished, and clinical data show that severe asthma remains potentially fatal, because of resistant phenotypes, among other reasons. Other investigations are necessary to determine the trends in the prevalence of severe asthma and to understand the nonrespiratory mortality of asthma patients. Vigilance and surveillance of severe asthma must be maintained.

Lessons from the clinical course of IgE-mediated cow milk allergy in Israel

Cow milk and milk products are the most common food products consumed in Israel; rates of allergy to cow milk exceed those of peanuts in infants and children. The aim of the present study was to evaluate retrospectively the clinical features and natural course of immunoglobulin (Ig) E-mediated cow milk allergy (CMA) in Israel. Data of children diagnosed with CMA from 1995 to 2003, were collected regarding age at first and most recent reactions, symptoms and signs, family history of atopy, other allergic diseases, emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and treatment. Patients with transient CMA were compared to those with persistent CMA (> or =3 yr old). The study group consisted of 105 patients, 43 with transient CMA (age range: 0.48-11 yr). The remaining 62 patients (age range: 3-16.5 yr) did not achieve tolerance to cow milk during the follow-up period. No differences were found between the groups in mean age and symptoms and signs at the first allergic reaction and family history of atopy. Patients with persistent CMA had a higher rate of asthma than patients with transient CMA (61.2% vs. 18.6%, p < 0.001). Fifty patients with persistent CMA had 137 subsequent allergic reactions after diagnosis, 25% of the reactions were due to oral milk challenge at the clinic and 75% due to accidental exposure, of which 13% required an emergency department visit and 8%, hospitalization. Only 19% of the reactions were treated with epinephrine injection. In conclusion, in our experience, less than half of the children diagnosed with IgE-mediated CMA during 9 yr, outgrew it. The patients with persistent CMA have a higher prevalence of asthma compared with the general population or to children with transient CMA. The high number of recurrent allergic reactions due to accidental exposure and the low rate of epinephrine usage in these patients point to a need for better education of patients and their families.

[Characteristics of mild asthma: clinical signs and medication use. Position statement of the Mild Asthma Working Group (174)]

OBJECTIVE

To update on the state of knowledge in mild asthma (intermittent and persistent mild asthma, according to the GINA classification) review the literature, and the position statement of the French Mild Asthma Working Group.

METHODS

The French Mild Asthma Working Group (11 lung specialists, 4 paediatricians, 1 pharmacologist, and 1 general practitioner) selected, analysed, and summarised the literature on the descriptive epidemiology, physiopathology, clinical signs, and management of mild asthma. The position of the working group on the descriptive epidemiology (causal factors excluded) and the nature of the bronchial inflammation has been presented in a previous article. The present article focuses on the clinical features of mild asthma and the use of medication for it.

RESULTS

Mild asthma was more frequent, more symptomatic, and less well controlled in children than in adults. Its generally benign evolution may in some (<10%) cases be complicated by severe episodes. Patients with mild persistent asthma require controller medication every day: permanent low-dose inhaled corticosteroid monotherapy is the reference foundation treatment for persistent mild asthma.

CONCLUSIONS

The present findings should help clinicians and guide them in their approach to managing this condition.