Prescribed Asthma Medication Research Articles

Parental beliefs and practices in childhood asthma – A hospital based cross-sectional study

Childhood asthma represents a significant burden, not only in terms of morbidity and reduced quality of life but also in terms of healthcare costs, as reflected by the high rates of unscheduled emergency department visits, hospitalization, and school absenteeism. Parents play a key link in asthma management and adherence to treatment regimen in the early years of childhood before children can manage their asthma independently. However, some parents have misconceptions regarding asthma and its medication, which could in turn influence children’s control of asthma.To find out the effect of parental beliefs and practices with respect to their knowledge about etiology, folk beliefs, home remedies, alternative therapies, etiology and pharmacotherapy in childhood asthma influence the pharmacotherapy and outcome of asthma management.The hospital based cross sectional study was carried out on a convenience sample of 82 parents of children, 5-14 years of age and clinically diagnosed with asthma of any form in the Department of Pediatrics, F.M. Medical College & Hospital, a tertiary care teaching hospital in Balasore town in the eastern part of India. The parents’ beliefs and practices were captured with the help of a pre-designed and validated questionnaire. Descriptive analytical statictics was used to analyse the demographic data. Chi square test was used to find out the association of beliefs, use of home remedies, folk beliefs and alternative therapies and the use of prescribed asthma medications as per standard reference. GraphPad Prism free trial version 7.0 was used for statistical analysis. Statistical significance was taken at a level of p ≤ 0.05.Majority of the children were in the age group of 10-14 years with a male predominance. Most of the primary care givers less than 40 years age and literate, 30 (36.6%) having more than two children and a family history of asthma. The common beliefs were that asthma was chest allergy, of hereditary origin. Exposure to dust, indoor smoke believed to be a significant potential triggering factor for asthma attack The participants (68.2%) believed that inhaled steroids had more side effects lead to dependency also believed using inhaler only when serious. Domiciliary treatment was preferred. 𝛽-agonist were the commonest medications.Parental beliefs and practices have a predominant role in the management of asthma in children. In order to enhance the level of perceptions among caregivers, education should include knowledge about asthma and its management, as there might be misperceptions about the use of inhalers and the safety of inhaled corticosteroids.

Asthma and COVID-19 Associations: Focus on IgE-Related Immune Pathology.

Management of patients with asthma during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a concern, especially since asthma predisposes patients to respiratory problems. Interestingly, asthma characterized by type 2 inflammation, also known as T-helper type 2-high endotype, displays a cellular and molecular profile that may confer protective effects against COVID-19. The results of experimental and clinical studies have established the actions of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in inducing airway hyperreactivity and weakening an interferon-mediated antiviral response following respiratory viral infection. Robust evidence supports the beneficial effect of the anti-IgE biologic treatment omalizumab on reducing respiratory virus-induced asthma exacerbations and reducing the frequency, duration, and severity of respiratory viral illness in patients with asthma. Indeed, accumulating reports of patients with severe asthma treated with omalizumab during the pandemic have reassuringly shown that continuing omalizumab treatment during COVID-19 is safe, and in fact may help prevent the severe course of COVID-19. Accordingly, guidance issued by the Global Initiative for Asthma recommends that all patients with asthma continue taking their prescribed asthma medications, including biologic therapy, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of biologic treatments on patients with asthma and COVID-19 will be better understood as more evidence emerges.

Access and Utilization of Asthma Medications Among Patients Who Receive Care in Federally Qualified Health Centers.

Objectives:To describe access to and use of prescription asthma medications, and to assess factors associated with asthma exacerbation, healthcare utilization, and health status among asthma patients treated at Federally Qualified Health Centers.Methods:This is a retrospective cross-sectional study. We analyzed data from the 2014 National Health Center Patient Survey. This data is publicly available from the Health Resources and Services Administration. Data was collected from patients receiving face-to-face care from health centers funded under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act. Data from patients was collected between October 8, 2014, and April 17, 2015. We included adult participants who reported having a diagnosis of asthma and confirmed that they still have asthma. Association between explanatory variables (access to prescription medications and use of asthma controller medications) and outcome variables (asthma exacerbations, asthma hospitalizations or emergency department visits, and self-rated health) was assessed using multivariable regression analyses while adjusting for demographics.Results:A total of 919 participants with asthma were included. Approximately 32% of the participants experienced delays in getting prescription medications, 26% were unable to get them, 60% experienced an asthma exacerbation last year, 48% rated their health as fair/poor, and 19% visited a hospital or an emergency department last year. Multivariable results showed that participants who were currently taking controller medications were more likely to have experienced an asthma exacerbation (OR = 4.02; 95% CI 1.91 to 8.45; P < .01), or visited a hospital or an emergency department (OR = 3.07; 95% CI 1.39 to 6.73; P < .01) in the last year compared with those who had never taken controller medications. Experiencing difficulties in accessing asthma medications was associated with lower self-rated health ( = −.51; 95% CI −0.94 to −0.08; P = .02).Conclusions:Future interventions should seek to improve asthma patient care and health outcomes using innovative strategies that act at multiple levels of the healthcare system (eg, individual, interpersonal, community levels).

Air Pollution and Family Related Determinants of Asthma Onset and Persistent Wheezing in Children: Nationwide Case-Control Study

To identify risk factors (air pollution and family related) for the onset of asthma and persistent wheezing in children.All Danish children born from 1997 to 2014 who were managed for asthma onset and persistent wheezing from the age of 1 year to 15 years by using a national registry based, matched case-control design.Children were managed in the Danish National Patient Register for the classification of asthma or persistent wheezing after hospital discharge, or with a minimum of 2 prescriptions for asthma medications. Information regarding concentration of air pollutants (several gases, aerosols, particular matter <2.5µm [PM2.5] and particular matter <10µm), parental asthma diagnoses and asthma medication prescriptions, maternal smoking habits, highest completed parental education, and parental income levels were collected and analyzed for hazard ratios (HRs).From 1997–2014, 3 192 785 children were included in the study, and 122 842 (3.84%) children developed asthma and/or persistent wheezing, with a mean age of development of 1.9 years. Maternal asthma had a higher risk than paternal asthma (adjusted HR): 1.72 (95% CI: 1.72 to 1.77) vs 1.51 (95% CI: 1.48 to 1.53)], but having 2 parents with asthma was associated with a 2.40-fold (2.34-fold to 2.47-fold) risk of childhood asthma. Maternal smoking during pregnancy (adjusted HR: 1.23 [1.18 to 1.28]) or quitting during pregnancy (HR: 1.20 [1.18 to 1.22]) increased the risk of childhood asthma. Exposures to PM2.5, particular matter <10µm, and nitrogen dioxide were also associated with development of asthma, with PM2.5 exposure being the most consistent. Higher parental income levels, together and independently, had a reduced risk for childhood asthma (adjusted HR: 0.85 [95% CI: 0.81 to 0.89) for the highest parental income level, compared with 1.04 (95% CI: 1.00 to 1.08) for the lowest parental income level]. Higher parental education levels, together and independently, had a reduced risk for childhood asthma (adjusted HR: 0.72 [95% CI: 0.69 to 0.75]) for the highest parental education level, compared with 0.98 [95% CI: 0.95 to 1.00] for the lowest parental education level).Parental history of asthma, higher levels of exposure to PM2.5, and maternal smoking during pregnancy all increase a child’s risk of developing asthma and persistent wheezing. High levels of parental educational attainment and income are associated with a lower risk of developing asthma and persistent wheezing in children.Strengths of this study include the use of a large database that covered 18 years. In this study, researchers did not analyze atopy, lung function, or inflammatory markers. A family history of asthma, tobacco exposure and environmental pollutants were confirmed as risk factors for asthma development. Smoking cessation campaigns and environmental strategies to decrease particulate matter exposure may reduce the number of children who develop asthma.

School Asthma Care During COVID-19: What We Have Learned and What We Are Learning

The focus of this article is to review school asthma care during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Asthma is listed as a risk factor in some guidelines, although children with asthma appear to not be at increased risk of severe respiratory outcomes compared with children without asthma during the pandemic. Differentiating COVID-19 from allergic disease is very difficult in the school-aged children. For school management, there is firm evidence that masks do not exacerbate underlying lung conditions including asthma, and evidence to date supports that children with asthma can learn in-person at school because they do not appear to be at increased risk of COVID-19 morbidity or mortality. For children and adolescents, the COVID-19 vaccine has been demonstrated to be safe and well tolerated. School asthma management includes remaining on prescribed asthma medications. Asthma management, as with management of all pediatric conditions, must also factor in the impact of adverse social determinants and health disparities. Broadly, the pandemic has also served as a call to resource stewardship and innovation and allowed practitioners to consider how this may impact asthma care moving forward.

Associations between maternal and environmental exposures on atopic disease in the offspring of mothers with asthma.

Background and ObjectiveAvailable data on the impact of perinatal and environmental factors on atopic diseases in the offspring are sparse and conflicting. We, therefore, investigated the impact of these factors on the risk of atopic diseases in the offspring of women with asthma.MethodsPregnant women referred to give birth at Copenhagen University Hospital‐Hvidovre, Denmark, have since 2007 been invited to participate in the Management of Asthma during Pregnancy program. Women with diagnosed asthma, currently prescribed asthma medication, first visit to the respiratory out‐patient clinic within the first 18 weeks of pregnancy that completed an online questionnaire about atopic diseases in their child were included in the current study.ResultsFive hundred and seventy‐one pregnancies were included. Among the off‐spring, 113 children (21%) had doctor‐diagnosed asthma, 178 (31%) atopic dermatitis (AD), and 55 (32%) both AD and doctor‐diagnosed asthma. AD in the offspring was associated with having a dog at home (odds ratio [OR], 2.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], [1.40–4.67], p = .002), whereas having a cat at home was associated with a higher risk of asthma in the offspring (OR, 2.16; 95% CI, [1.14–4.11], p = .02). The associations remained significant after adjusting for maternal age, smoking status, allergy, treatment with inhaled corticosteroids, forced expiratory volume in 1 s less than 80% predicted, uncontrolled asthma, and history of pre‐pregnancy asthma exacerbations. No association was found between gestational weight gain (GWG) in first trimester and total GWG and atopic disease in the offspring.ConclusionHaving pets at home is associated with AD and asthma in the offspring of mothers with asthma.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on asthma control among children: a qualitative study from caregivers’ perspectives and experiences

ObjectivesTo understand the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on asthma control in children based on caregivers’ perspectives and experiences.DesignThis was a qualitative study deploying face-to-face, semistructured interviews. Thematic analysis was...

Association between childhood asthma and history of assisted reproduction techniques: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Genetic and environmental factors during early development may influence lung growth and impact lung function. We performed a meta-analysis of epidemiological studies examining the association between conception history of assisted reproduction techniques (ART) and childhood asthma. We searched PubMed and Embaseup to November 2020 for relevant observational studies and synthesized data data under a fixed or random effects model as appropriate. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 metric. We identified 13 individual studies including 3,226,386 participants. We did not observe a statistically significant association between ART and physician-diagnosed asthma (n = 9, random OR 1.16; 95% CI 0.94-1.43; I2 61%). We observed a statistically significant association between ART and prescription of asthma medications (n = 6, fixed OR 1.27; 95% CI 1.23-1.32; I2 0%). Wheezing was also associated with ART (n = 4, fixed OR 1.71; 95% CI 1.08-2.72; I2 0%). When we combined studies using any asthma definition, a statistically significant association was observed (random OR 1.19; 95% CI 1.05-1.34; I2 80%).Conclusion: The available observational evidence suggests that the risk of asthma is higher among children born after ART. The mechanism and potential sources of bias behind this association are under scrutiny, and further work is needed to establish causality. What is Known: • "Positive" epidemiological signals for the association between assisted reproduction techniques and asthma stemming from large studies were not replicated by subsequent research. • Any available research synthesis effort so far bears no quantitative aspect. What is New: • The available observational evidence suggests that the risk of asthma is higher among children born after ART. • The mechanism and potential sources of bias behind this association are under scrutiny.

COVID-19 severity in asthma patients: A multi-center matched cohort study

Understanding the association of asthma with severe Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is of critical importance to patients and clinicians as the pandemic continues. We performed a matched cohort study using data from the Mass General Brigham Health Care System (Boston, MA). We identified adults (age >18 years) with confirmed COVID-19 and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, or interstitial lung disease between March 4, 2020 and July 2, 2020. Asthma was defined as ≥2 asthma diagnosis codes and asthma medication prescription in the one year prior to COVID-19. Up to 5 non-asthma comparators were matched to each asthma patient on age (within 5 years), sex, and date of positive test (within 7 days). Primary outcomes were hospitalization, mechanical ventilation, and death, using multivariable Cox-proportional hazards models accounting for competing risk of death, when appropriate. Patients were followed for these outcomes from diagnosis of COVID-19 until July 2, 2020. Among 562 asthma patients, 199 (21%) were hospitalized, 15 (3%) received mechanical ventilation, and 7 (1%) died. Among 2686 matched comparators, 487 (18%) were hospitalized, 107 (4%) received mechanical ventilation, and 69 (3%) died. The adjusted Hazard Ratios among asthma patients were 0.99 (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.80, 1.22) for hospitalization, 0.69 (95%CI 0.36, 1.29) for mechanical ventilation, and 0.30 (95%CI 0.11, 0.80) for death. In this matched cohort study from a large Boston-based healthcare system, asthma was associated with comparable risk of hospitalization and mechanical ventilation and a lower risk of mortality.

Burden of preschool wheeze and progression to asthma in the UK: Population-based cohort 2007 to 2017

Wheeze is one of the most common symptoms of preschool children (age 1-5 years), yet we have little understanding of the burden in the United Kingdom. We sought to determine prevalence and pattern of physician-confirmed preschool wheeze, related health care utilization, and factors associated with progression to school-age asthma. We used nationally representative primary and secondary care electronic medical records between 2007 and 2017 to identify preschool children with wheeze. Factors associated with asthma progression were identified in a nested cohort of children with follow-up from age 1 to 2 years, until at least age 8 years. From 1,021,624 preschool children, 69,261 were identified with wheeze. Prevalence of preschool wheeze was 7.7% in 2017. Wheeze events were lowest in August and highest in late-autumn/early-winter. During median follow-up of 2 years (interquartile range, 1.2-4.0 years), 15.8% attended an emergency department, and 13.9% had a hospital admission, for a respiratory disorder. The nested cohort with prolonged follow-up identified 15,085 children; 35.5% progressed to asthma between age 5 and 8 years. Of children with preschool wheeze, without an asthma diagnosis, 34.9% were prescribed inhaled corticosteroids and 15.6% oral corticosteroids. The factors most strongly associated with progression to asthma were wheeze frequency and severity, atopy, prematurity, maternal asthma severity, and first reported wheeze event occurring in September. Preschool wheeze causes considerable health care burden, and a large number of children are prescribed asthma medication and have unplanned secondary care visits. Multiple factors influence progression to asthma, including first wheeze event occurring in September.

Reported Neighborhood Traffic and the Odds of Asthma/Asthma-Like Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of a Multi-Racial Cohort of Children.

Asthma in children poses a significant clinical and public health burden. We examined the association between reported neighborhood traffic (a proxy for traffic-related air pollution) and asthma among 855 multi-racial children aged 4–8 years old who participated in the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) cohort. We hypothesized that high neighborhood traffic density would be associated with the prevalence of asthma. Asthma/asthma-like symptoms (defined as current and/or past physician diagnosed asthma, past wheezing, or nighttime cough or wheezing in the past 12 months) was assessed by parental report. The relationship between neighborhood traffic and asthma/asthma-like symptoms was assessed using logistic regression. The prevalence of asthma/asthma-like symptoms among study participants was 23%, and 15% had high neighborhood traffic. Children with significant neighborhood traffic had a higher odds of having asthma/asthma-like symptoms than children without neighborhood traffic [adjusted OR = 2.01 (95% CI: 1.12, 3.62)] after controlling for child’s race-ethnicity, age, sex, maternal education, family history of asthma, play equipment in the home environment, public parks, obesity and prescribed asthma medication. Further characterization of neighborhood traffic is needed since many children live near high traffic zones and significant racial/ethnic disparities exist.

Remission and Changes in Severity Over 30 Years in an Adult Asthma Cohort

Long-term follow-up studies of adults with well-characterized asthma are sparse. We aimed to examine long-term remission and change in disease severity over 30 years in adults with asthma. A total of 125 individuals diagnosed with asthma between 1974 and 1990 at a Danish respiratory and allergy clinic, based on history and objective assessments, were included. At follow-up (2017-2019), participants completed questionnaires and had spirometry, bronchodilator reversibility, airway responsiveness, and blood biomarkers measured. Based on these assessments, participants were classified as having either active asthma, clinical remission (no symptoms or prescribed asthma medication within the last year), or complete remission (fractional exhaled nitric oxide <50 parts per billion, no bronchodilator reversibility, no airway hyperresponsiveness, and no airflow limitation). Changes in severity were determined according to Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines based on symptom control and currently prescribed medication. At follow-up, 25% (n= 31) and 15% (n= 19), respectively, had clinical and complete remission. Our analyses showed that a longer duration of symptoms before the initial assessment (odds ratio, 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.75-0.98) was associated with a lower chance of asthma remission. At follow-up, 30% had well-controlled asthma compared with none at baseline. Female sex, previous severe exacerbation(s), and older age at baseline were associated with uncontrolled asthma at follow-up. Blood-eosinophil count (≥0.3× 109/L) and prescribed inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) at baseline were associated with being prescribed medium/high-dose ICS at follow-up. Despite 30 years of follow-up, asthma rarely remits in adults, especially in individuals with longer duration and presumably more severe disease. Initial signs of pronounced disease activity were associated with uncontrolled asthma at follow-up.

The Added Burden of Allergen Sensitization Among Children with Severe or Poorly Controlled Asthma

Allergen sensitization (AS) may negatively affect asthma outcomes in children with severe or poorly controlled (SPC) asthma. To examine the impact of AS on asthma exacerbations, health care use, and costs among children with SPC asthma in private and public insurance settings. This retrospective study analyzed children with SPC asthma aged 6 to 11 years from the MarketScan Commercial (private insurance) and Medicaid databases. Selection of children with SPC asthma was based on medical claims and asthma medication prescription claims. AS status was based on diagnoses of extrinsic asthma and allergic conditions. Children were followed for at least 12 months. Outcomes included asthma exacerbations, days with oral corticosteroids (OCS), and asthma-related health care use and costs. Adjusted generalized linear models were fit to compare outcomes in children with versus those without AS. Among children with SPC asthma, 34% had AS (private insurance: N= 11,448; Medicaid: N= 10,800), 20% did not have AS (private insurance: N= 7744; Medicaid: N=6535), and, in the remainder, AS status could not be determined. Claims data were available for ≥3 years on average. Children with AS had significantly higher adjusted rates of asthma exacerbations during follow-up than children without AS, and significantly more days with OCS use. Rates of asthma-related hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and health care costs were significantly higher among children with AS than among children without AS. Children with SPC asthma and AS have relatively greater asthma-related health care use and costs compared with children with SPC asthma without AS.

Real-life retrospective observational study to determine the prevalence and economic burden of severe asthma in Spain

Objective: We determined the percentage of patients with severe asthma and exacerbations and evaluated the costs of the disease based on blood eosinophil counts.Methods: A retrospective observational study based on the review of medical records in Spain was carried out. Patients ≥18 years of age requiring care during the years 2014–2015; diagnosed with asthma with at least 2 years of continuous records (at least one year prior to the index date defined as the first asthma medication prescription and at least one year after the index date) were included. Study groups: eosinophil counts <300 cells/μl and ≥300 cells/μl. Main variables: comorbidity, clinical parameters, exacerbations and annual asthma total costs.Results: A total of 268 severe asthmatic patients in Spain were included, representing 6.3% of the asthma population, with 58.6% having eosinophil count ≥300 cells/μl and 41.4% eosinophil count <300 cells/μl. The mean age was 56.1 years (63.4% women). Patients with eosinophilic inflammation (≥300 cells/μl) had lower FEV1 values (54.3% vs. 60.7%; p < .001), poorer treatment adherence (65.6% vs. 77.3%; p < .001), and a greater mean number of exacerbations (3.3 vs. 1.9; p < .001). Exacerbations were correlated to FEV1 (β=‒.606), eosinophils (β = .255), immunoglobulin E (β = .152), and age (β = .128), p < .001. The mean total asthma annual cost (ANCOVA) was 6222 vs. 4152 euros, respectively (p = .016). Health costs were associated with age (β = .323), FEV1 (β = .239), eosinophils (β = .177) and exacerbations (β = .158), p < .01.Limitations: Those inherent to retrospective studies; the possible inaccuracy of diagnostic coding referring to severe asthma and other comorbidities and the external validity of the results.Conclusions: Health costs of patients with severe asthma were high. Total annual asthma costs and resource use were greater in patients with ≥300 cells/μl. Age, eosinophilia, exacerbations and FEV1 were associated with greater resource utilization and costs for the health system.

Use of antibiotics and asthma medication for acute lower respiratory tract infections in people with and without asthma: retrospective cohort study

BackgroundAntibiotics are overused in patients with acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRTIs), but less is known about their use in patients with asthma, or the use of asthma medication for ALRTI in patients without asthma. Our aim was to describe the frequency, variation and drivers in antibiotic and asthma medication prescribing for ALRTI in adults with and without asthma in primary care.MethodsA retrospective cohort analysis of patients aged ≥12 years, diagnosed with an ALRTI in primary care in 2014–15 was conducted using data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Current asthma status, asthma medication and oral antibiotic use within 3 days of ALRTI infection was determined. Treatment frequency was calculated by asthma status. Mixed-effect regression models were used to explore between-practice variation and treatment determinants.ResultsThere were 127,976 ALRTIs reported among 110,418 patients during the study period, of whom 17,952 (16%) had asthma. Respectively, 81 and 79% of patients with and without asthma received antibiotics, and 41 and 15% asthma medication. There were significant differences in between-practice prescribing for all treatments, with greatest differences seen for oral steroids (odds ratio (OR) 18; 95% CI 7–82 and OR = 94; 33–363, with and without asthma) and asthma medication only (OR 7; 4–18 and OR = 17; 10–33, with and without asthma).Independent predictors of antibiotic prescribing among patients with asthma included fewer previous ALRTI presentations (≥2 vs. 0 previous ALRTI: OR = 0.25; 0.16–0.39), higher practice (OR = 1.47; 1.35–1.60 per SD) and prior antibiotic prescribing (3+ vs. 1 prescriptions OR = 1.28; 1.04–1.57) and concurrent asthma medication (OR = 1.44; 1.32–1.57). Independent predictors of asthma medication in patients without asthma included higher prior asthma medication prescribing (≥7 vs. 0 prescriptions OR = 2.31; 1.83–2.91) and concurrent antibiotic prescribing (OR = 3.59; 3.22–4.01).ConclusionFindings from the study indicate that antibiotics are over-used for ALRTI, irrespective of asthma status, and asthma medication is over-used in patients without asthma, with between-practice variation suggesting considerable clinical uncertainty. Further research is urgently needed to clarify the role of these medications for ALRTI.

Asthma prevalence and the impact of nutritional status on prescribed asthma medications in children

Introduction. Asthma and obesity are the most common chronic health disorders in children. Although heredity plays a significant role in their development, environmental factors and early exposure have contributed to the increasing incidence of both disorders in recent decades. The aim of the study was to estimate asthma prevalence in schoolchildren in Indjija, Srem District, Serbia, and to investigate differences in nutritional status of children with asthma as well as differences between their nutritional status and prescribed asthma medications. Material and Methods. A cross-sectional retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Primary Health Center in Indjija. Of all the medical records of children aged 6 - 14 years, a cohort of children with asthma was formed. The retrospective study evaluated their nutritional status and the prescribed asthma medications. Results. The prevalence of asthma in children aged 6 - 14 was 6.9%. Children with asthma were significantly more overweight and obese (40.5%) than children without asthma. Boys accounted for 63.7% of children with asthma, with a statistically significant gender difference. Abnormal nutritional status was found in 44.3% of children with asthma and boys with asthma were significantly more obese (23%) compared to girls (7.8%). Overweight and obese children with asthma were not prescribed significantly more medications to relieve asthma symptoms than normal-weight children. Conclusion. The prevalence of asthma among schoolchildren in Indjija was 6.9%. Children with asthma were more likely to be overweight and obese than children without asthma, whereas boys with asthma were significantly more obese than girls. No significant differences were found between their nutritional status and prescribed asthma medications.

Erratum: Asthma prevalence and the impact of nutritional status on prescribed asthma medications in children

Unfortunately, the article by Vesna PETROVIC, Vesna VUJIC ALEKSIC, Tanja ROZEK MITROVIC and Aleksandra HRISTOV, published in the Medical Review, 73; 9-10, 2020, contained two errors: 1. On page 267, the title of the paper should read: PREVALENCE OF ASTHMA AND THE INFLUENCE OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS ON PRESCRIBED MEDICINES FOR ASTHMA IN CHILDREN, and 2. In Table 1, in the Section ?Others?, percents 57.9 and 8.9 are in the column for No/Br instead in the column for percentages. At the request of the authors, we hereby publish corrections. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;font color="red"&gt;&lt;b&gt; Link to the corrected article &lt;u&gt;&lt;a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.2298/MPNS2010265P"&gt;10.2298/MPNS2010265P&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/u&gt;

Assessment of fitness for recreational scuba diving in candidates with asthma: a pilot study

BackgroundAsthma may be regarded as a contraindication to scuba diving.PurposeA clinical algorithm to assess fitness to dive among individuals with asthma was developed and tested prospectively in clinical practice.Study designCohort...

Intermittent hypoxia and bronchial hyperreactivity

The premature neonate is at high risk for childhood airway hyperreactivity and episodes of wheezing. Intermittent hypoxic events are frequently observed during the first weeks and months of life in these infants. Intermittent hypoxemia has been associated with adverse outcomes in extremely premature infants; including the diagnosis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, reported wheezing, and use of prescription asthma medications. We review the incidence of intermittent hypoxia, their potential role in short and longer term respiratory morbidity, and the translational newborn models now being used to investigate common pathways by which intermittent hypoxia contributes to respiratory disease.

Inhaled corticosteroid use during pregnancy among women with asthma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

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. 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. 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). 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%). 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.