Increased health care use in patients with moderate-to-severe asthma due to frequent preferred medication changes

Abstract

Asthma is the most common chronic pediatric respiratory disease, affecting 6.1 million US children under the age of 18 years,1 with 60% of these children diagnosed with having persistent asthma. Per guidelines of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, children with moderate and severe asthma (steps 3-6) should be prescribed daily inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs).2 Studies looking at asthma hospitalizations reveal that a history of hospitalization within the past 12 months is a predictor for readmission.