Trends in Asthma Medication Usage #17

A recent study investigated the use of controller medications in asthmatic children and adolescents and compared their use in 3 time periods: 1988-94, 1999-2002 and 2005-2008. The agents studied included inhaler corticosteroids, leukotriene receptor antagonists, long-acting beta agonists, mast-cell stabilizers and methylxanthines.
   The study showed an increase in controller use in children with current asthma but a lower use in non-Hispanic black and Mexican American white children. It also showed a lower use in the 12-to 19 year old group compared to the 1 to 5 years old. As expected, non-insured children also showed a lower use as well.
   The study also showed a number of other interesting statistics:

• in 2009 the prevalence of children and adolescents with "current asthma" was 9.6% nationally
• between 2005-2009 children and adolescents with asthma had 640,000 emergency department visits and 10.5 million missed school days
• compared to white children, American Indian, Alaska Natives and black children have a significantly higher asthma rate
• The adolescent age group (12-19 years) is associated with a decrease in adherence to medications despite the fact that they are still in need of controller therapy

   The study also showed the following breakdown by time periods in boys and girls 1-19 years of age:

• 1988-1994   17.8% used controllers
• 1999-2002   21.1% used controllers
• 2005-2008   34.9% used controllers

   As expected the largest increase in controller medication was in inhaled corticosteroids while methylxanthines (theophylline) and mast-cell stabilizers showed the largest decline.


   The findings of this study are not unusual or in conflict with many asthma studies taht showed a definite decrease in morbiity in children/adolescent using controller medicaiton to treat their asthma.