This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 0009922807312184v1 47/5/446    most recent References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Google Scholar Articles by Sawicki, G. S. Articles by Lieu, T. A. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sawicki, G. S. Articles by Lieu, T. A. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Periodic Use of Inhaled Steroids in Children With Mild Persistent Asthma: What Are Pediatricians Recommending?

Harvard Pediatric Health Services Research Fellowship Program, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, gregory.sawicki{at}childrens.harvard.edu

Lauren Smith, MD, MPH

Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston

Barbara Bokhour, PhD

Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Center for Health Quality, Outcomes and Economic Research, ENRM Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts

Charlene Gay, BA

Center for Child Health Care Studies, Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Harvard Medical School, Boston

Katherine H. Hohman, MPH

Center for Child Health Care Studies, Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Harvard Medical School, Boston

Alison A. Galbraith, MD, MPH

Center for Child Health Care Studies, Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Harvard Medical School, Boston

Tracy A. Lieu, MD, MPH

Harvard Pediatric Health Services Research Fellowship Program, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, Center for Child Health Care Studies, Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Division of General Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Boston

Although asthma treatment guidelines recommend daily inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use for all persistent asthma, pediatricians may recommend alternative treatment plans for children with mild persistent disease. The authors administered a survey of pediatricians to describe prescribing patterns for mild persistent asthma. More than 99% of providers agreed that periodic ICS could be effective for some asthma patients. Overall, 129/251 providers (51%) reported prescribing daily ICS to most patients with mild persistent asthma, whereas 78 (31%) reported recommending periodic ICS for most such patients. Providers with patient populations 25% black were significantly less likely to report prescribing daily ICS (odds ratio, 0.3; 95% confidence interval, 0.2-0.6) for mild persistent asthma. Further research is needed on the effectiveness of periodic ICS use for children with mild persistent asthma and on underlying reasons for differing provider practice patterns.

Key Words: mild persistent asthma • treatment guidelines • inhaled corticosteroids • leukotriene modifiers

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?