Persistence of asthma medication use in preschool children

Abstract

Persistence of asthma medication, prescribed in the first year of life is very low and is positively associated with doctor-diagnosed asthma and use of inhaled corticosteroids. Characterizing persistent users of asthma medication is important to understand prescribing of asthma medication in this age group.

Sensitization at the first wheezing episode increases risk for long‐term asthma therapy

“…Our current finding is in line with a study that showed in 78 children with asthma that sensitized children with asthma (n = 50) needed regular asthma therapy longer . A Dutch birth cohort investigated prospectively asthma therapy use until school age in 777 children by means of annual questionnaires, but lacked information of cohort's early virological and sensitization status . They showed that asthma symptoms at early age and the asthma severity were associated with longer duration of therapy.…”

“…Still, there is scarcely information on long‐term outcome after the first wheezing episode. Only three studies have investigated the risk factors for the need of long‐term asthma control therapy in children .…”

Prescribing of asthma medication in primary care for children aged under 10

“…21 In 165 children who used asthma medication before the age of one -as identified from the PIAMA (Prevention and Incidence of Asthma and Mite Allergy) birth cohort -a low continuation of asthma medication was revealed; only 10.3% of the children in this study continued asthma medication for three years. Another finding from this study by Zuidgeest et al 21 was that continuation was more likely in children with doctordiagnosed asthma or those who were prescribed ICS in the first year of life. Although the age of children included in our study (0-9 years) was different from the study population included by Zuidgeest et al, the findings are comparable.…”

Predicting the long-term prognosis of children with symptoms suggestive of asthma at preschool age

“…This is illustrated by the fact that in our birth cohort only 10% of children who received asthma medication in the first year of life were still using this medication 3 years later. 28 A trial with asthma medication could be helpful to confirm the diagnosis, 29 but spontaneous improvement while taking steroids can easily be misinterpreted as a favorable treatment effect.…”