No abstract

We report an evidence-based ICS dose-dependent reduction in growth velocity in prepubescent school-aged children with mild to moderate persistent asthma. The choice of ICS molecule (mometasone, ciclesonide or fluticasone) was not found to affect the level of growth velocity response over a year. The effect of corticosteroids on growth was not consistently reported: among 22 eligible trials, only four comparisons reported the effects of corticosteroids on growth over one year. In view of parents' and clinicians' concerns, lack of or incomplete reporting of growth is a matter of concern given the importance of the topic. We recommend that growth be systematically reported in all trials involving children taking ICS for three months or longer. Until further data comparing low versus high ICS dose and trials of longer duration are available, we recommend that the minimal effective ICS dose be used in all children with asthma.

Cochrane Review: Inhaled corticosteroids in children with persistent asthma: effects on growth Zhang L, Prietsch SOM, Ducharme FM. Inhaled corticosteroids in children with persistent asthma: effects on growth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2014, Issue 7. Art. No.: CD009471. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009471.pub2Cochrane Review: Inhaled corticosteroids in children with persistent asthma: dose‐response effects on growth Pruteanu AI, Chauhan BF, Zhang L, Prietsch SOM, Ducharme FM. Inhaled corticosteroids in children with persistent asthma: dose–response effects on growth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2014, Issue 7. Art. No.: CD009878. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009878.pub2This companion piece to the reviews, “Inhaled corticosteroids in children with persistent asthma: effects on growth” and “Inhaled corticosteroids in children with persistent asthma: dose–response effects on growth,” contains the following pieces: The abstract of each review A commentary from one or more of the review authors, explaining why the review team felt both reviews were important to produce A review of clinical practice guidelines Some other recently published references on this topic