Acta Paediatr. 2022 Feb 16. doi: 10.1111/apa.16292. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Asthma prevalence in Australian children is amongst the highest in the world. Monoclonal antibody treatments (biologics) are the fifth step in the Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines to treat severe asthma. Our retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the effect of biologics for children with severe asthma, assess adherence and explore attitudes toward home administration using prefilled injection devices. We collected data for paediatric patients receiving biologics to compare asthma-related outcomes six-months pre and post initiation of therapy. Participant and parent surveys assessed perceived change in asthma control and attitudes to home injections. Eleven patients were recruited. Six-months post biologic treatment there were significant reductions in mean exhaled nitric oxide (-40ppb, p<0.05) and asthma control questionnaire 5 (ACQ-5) (-1.7, p<0.05). The mean number of hospitalisations and OCS courses were also less, although not statistically significant (p=0.53 and 0.17 respectively). There were no notable changes in mean percent-predicted FEV1, FVC or FEV1/FVC. 80% of patients and carers perceived slightly or much better asthma control on biologics and 80% of carers indicated they would be slightly or much happier with home-based injections. We conclude that biologics can improve asthma control. Whilst health-centre injections adherence is high, carers are interested in home injections.
PMID:35170088 | DOI:10.1111/apa.16292
