Asthma Year In Review

Childhood Asthma Risk May Increase With Prenatal Animal Exposure

Children exposed to cats, dogs, goats, cockroaches, and rats while in utero were more likely to develop asthma.

Metered Dose Inhalers in Asthma Lower Hospitalization Rates

Changing to bronchodilator treatment with a metered dose inhaler in patients with mild to moderate asthma resulted in lower hospitalization rates, shorter hospital stays, and a decrease in continuous use of albuterol.

Asthma Risk in Infants Predicted by Total Serum Bilirubin

Total serum bilirubin levels of 9 to 11.9 mg/dL, 12 to 14.9 mg/dL, and 15 to 17.9 mg/dL were associated with significantly greater risks for asthma in infants.

Gas Trapping Improved With Bronchial Thermoplasty in Severe Asthma

Bronchial thermoplasty reduced gas trapping in individuals with asthma, particularly in patients with severe disease.

Higher Childhood Asthma Risk From Recurring Acute Respiratory Infections

A higher number of acute respiratory infections before the age of 2 may increase the risk for asthma by age 7.

Paraben Exposure and Childhood Asthma-Related Outcomes

For every 10-fold rise in methyl and propyl concentrations, there was a 2.61 and a 2.18 increased prevalence odds ratio, respectively, of reporting an emergency department visit in the last 12 months in boys with asthma.

Addressing Smoking Cessation in Asthma

Smoking cessation in patients with asthma is associated with reduced symptoms, improved lung function and quality of life, reduced use of rescue medications, improved airway hyperresponsiveness, and decreased hyperactivity.

Pest Allergies in Urban Adolescents Exacerbate Poorly Controlled Asthma

Cockroach and mouse allergies were most often associated with poorly controlled asthma and exacerbations in urban adolescents.

Relationship Between Atopic Disorders May Be Age Dependent

Although allergic sensitization and hay fever rates increased as children grew older, the rates of asthma dropped.

Asthma Control Not Improved With School-Supervised Inhaled Corticosteroid Use

In a population of primarily Latino children from low-income households, a program of school-supervised use of once-daily inhaled corticosteroids failed to improve asthma control.