Airflow obstruction persists in children with asthma despite optimal treatment

LOS ANGELES — Even after optimal treatment, airflow obstruction persists in children with asthma who initially present with low lung function, according to recent study findings presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Meeting.

“Children with persistent asthma who exhibit low lung function early on during their disease have higher risk for having ongoing airflow obstruction despite guideline based asthma care,” Kenny Y. Kwong, MD, of Los Angeles County and University of Southern California Medical Center, told Healio.com/Allergy. “Early lung injury is likely not to be significantly reversible with current asthma strategies.”

To evaluate whether children with asthma continue to have ongoing airflow obstruction, Kwong and colleagues performed a 5-year retrospective study of 621 children aged 6 to 14 years (mean age, 9.3 years) who were enrolled in a pediatric asthma disease management program. Researchers provided patients with at least one spirometric assessment each year, and divided the patients into two groups. The first group had a mean FEV1 and FEV1/forced expiratory volume predicted to be less than 80% during the first year of treatment and the other group had these mean values predicted to be greater than 80%.

The researchers found that the first group was associated with increased odds for maintaining these values during the next 4 years (P < .01).

According to Kwong, “This is consistent with results found in other rigorous studies, such as the Tucson Respiratory Study, which have found that early life lung injury increases the odds for persistent lung disease in later life.” – by Will Offit

Reference: Banka L, et al. Abstract 24. Presented at: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Meeting; March 4-7, 2016; Los Angeles.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.