Corticosteroid Timing and Length of Stay for Children with Asthma in the Emergency Department

Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between time of corticosteroid administration to children with asthma exacerbations in the Emergency Department (ED) and length of stay (LOS). We hypothesized administration within 60 minutes would be associated with a 10- minute or greater decrease in mean LOS. Methods. A retrospective chart review of 882 patients was conducted. Children between the ages of 2 and 18 years presented to the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center’s (CCMC’s) ED with an acute asthma exacerbation were included. Children were excluded if they did not receive oral corticosteroids in the ED, had significant co-morbidities, were currently taking corticosteroids, or had taken them within the past 7 days. Children receiving corticosteroids within 60 minutes of triage were compared with children receiving corticosteroids for 61 minutes or later. The primary outcome was mean LOS. Results. Children treated with corticosteroids within 60 and 61 minutes or later had similar age, gender, insurance, and disposition. Children treated with corticosteroids within 60 minutes had a 25-minute decrease in LOS compared with children treated for 61-minute or later (95% CI: 15–35), p < .0001. Conclusions. Administering corticosteroids to pediatric asthma patients in the ED within an hour of triage is associated with a 25-minute mean decrease in LOS. With large numbers of asthma visits, a 25-minute decrease in LOS for each child could have a significant impact on patient throughput in the ED.     

Clinical pathway improves pediatrics asthma management in the emergency department and reduces admissions

Objective: Poor adherence to the National Institute of Health (NIH) Asthma Guidelines may result in unnecessary admissions for children presenting to the emergency department (ED) with exacerbations. We determine the effect of implementing an evidence-based ED clinical pathway on corticosteroid and bronchodilator administration and imaging utilization, and the subsequent effect on hospital admissions in a US ED. Methods: A prospective, interventional study of pediatric (≤21 years) visits to an academic ED between 2011 and 2013 with moderate-severe asthma exacerbations has been conducted. A multidisciplinary team designed a one-page clinical pathway based on the NIH Guidelines. Nurses, respiratory therapists and physicians attended educational sessions prior to the pathway implementation. By adjusting for demographics, acuity and ED volume, we compared timing and appropriateness of corticosteroid and bronchodilator administration, and chest radiograph (CXR) utilization with historical controls from 2006 to 2011. Subsequent hospital admission rates were also compared. Results: A total of 379 post-intervention visits were compared with 870 controls. Corticosteroids were more likely to be administered during post-intervention visits (96% vs. 78%, adjusted OR 6.35; 95% CI 3.17-12.73). Post-intervention, median time to corticosteroid administration was 45?min faster (RR 0.74; 95% CI 0.67-0.81) and more patients received corticosteroids within 1?h of arrival (45% vs. 18%, OR 3.5; 95% CI 2.50-4.90). More patients received?>?1 bronchodilator dose within 1?h (36% vs. 24%, OR 1.65; 95% CI 1.23-2.21) and fewer received CXRs (27% vs. 42%, OR 0.7; 95% CI 0.52-0.94). There were fewer admissions post-intervention (13% vs. 21%, OR 0.53; 95% CI 0.37-0.76). Conclusion: A clinical pathway is associated with improved adherence to NIH Guidelines and, subsequently, fewer hospital admissions for pediatric ED patients with asthma exacerbations.     

Pediatric acute asthma exacerbations: Evaluation and management from emergency department to intensive care unit

Objective: The goal of this report is to review available modalities for assessing and managing acute asthma exacerbations in pediatric patients, including some that are not included in current expert panel guidelines. While it is not our purpose to provide a comprehensive review of the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) guidelines, we review NAEPP-recommended treatments to provide the full range of treatments available for managing exacerbations with an emphasis on the continuum of care between the ER and ICU. Data Sources: We searched PubMed using the following search terms in different combinations: asthma, children, pediatric, exacerbation, epidemiology, pathophysiology, guidelines, treatment, management, oxygen, albuterol, β₂-agonist, anticholinergic, theophylline, corticosteroid, magnesium, heliox, BiPAP, ventilation, mechanical ventilation, non-invasive mechanical ventilation and respiratory failure. We attempted to weigh the evidence using the hierarchy in which meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) provide the strongest evidence, followed by individual RCTs, followed by observational studies. We also reviewed the NAEPP and Global Initiative for Asthma expert panel guidelines. Results and conclusions: Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood, and acute exacerbations are a significant burden to patients and to public health. Optimal assessment and management of exacerbations, including appropriate escalation of interventions, are essential to minimize morbidity and prevent mortality. While inhaled albuterol and systemic corticosteroids are the mainstay of exacerbation management, escalation may include interventions discussed in this review.     

Symptomatic Improvement Following Emergency Department Management of Asthma: A Pilot Study of Intramuscular Dexamethasone Versus Oral Prednisone

Systemic corticosteroid therapy is an established adjunct to beta-adrenergic medications in acute exacerbations of asthma. To date, no study has defined the role of long-acting intramuscular preparations of corticosteroids in pediatric patients with asthma. A pilot study was conducted to prospectively compare symptomatic improvement following a single injection of intramuscular dexamethasone (IMD) to a 3-day regimen of oral prednisone (OP) for children with mild to moderate wheezing episodes that are responsive to nebulized medications in the Pediatric Emergency Department (PED). The following children presenting with acute exacerbations of asthma to the PED were eligible for enrollment: age 3-16 years; more than two prior wheezing episodes; mild to moderate wheezing; and oxygen saturation 95% or more in room air. The study patients were randomly assigned to receive either IMD (n = 21) or OP (n = 21) in addition to a standardized treatment regimen of nebulized albuterol. All of the children were clinically rated for wheezing severity by the Pulmonary Index (PI) score at regular intervals during the study. Discharge home was based on clinical improvement during treatment in the PED; patients who were admitted to the hospital were removed from the study. Follow-up was conducted the fifth day after discharge from the ED either by clinic visit or by telephone. Patients were assessed for symptomatic improvement and relapse or clinical deterioration during the study period by a clinician blinded to group assignment. Forty-two children participated in this pilot study. There were no significant differences between the IMD and OP groups for gender or age. Mean ages were: 82 months (SD 46 months), IMD group; 63 months (SD 36 months), OP group. Clinical progress (based on PI) with treatment in the PED was the same in both groups: pretreatment median, PI = 6; PED discharge median, PI = 2. None of the study patients were hospitalized during the follow-up period, and all reported symptomatic improvement since initial treatment. The data of this pilot study suggest that IMD may be a feasible alternative to OP for treatment of acute wheezing episodes in children with asthma. IMD provides sufficient treatment to prevent clinical deterioration within 5 days after initial therapy for mild to moderate pediatric exacerbations of asthma that are responsive to nebulized medications.     

Preventing Emergency Department Visits and Hospitalizations for Asthma by Use of Oral Corticosteroids at Home: Are We Adhering to National Guidelines?

Background: Oral corticosteroids (OCS) in the home management of asthma exacerbations have been recommended in the NIH/NHLBI guidelines since 1991. As a routine component of written action plans, OCS treatment at home is associated with reduced emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations as well as decreased mortality. Methods: A literature search of English language journals from 1991 to 2009 was performed using several databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, and SCOPUS. We assessed studies that evaluated adherence to national guidelines for home management of asthma exacerbations. Results: Our review of the literature found that several studies reveal that a small percentage (<3–26%) of patients are receiving OCS at home to manage asthma exacerbations prior to an ED visit. Additional studies were found showing very low use of written action plans, strongly suggesting lack of OCS for home management of asthma exacerbations. Conclusions: Despite evidence of reduced ED visits and hospitalizations and the recommendations of national and international guidelines, the home use of OCS in managing asthma exacerbations remains unacceptably low. New strategies are needed to ensure home use of OCS as part of written action plans to prevent ED visits and hospitalizations for asthma exacerbations.     

Symptomatic Improvement Following Emergency Department Management of Asthma: A Pilot Study of Intramuscular Dexamethasone Versus Oral Prednisone

Systemic corticosteroid therapy is an established adjunct to beta-adrenergic medications in acute exacerbations of asthma. To date, no study has defined the role of long-acting intramuscular preparations of corticosteroids in pediatric patients with asthma. A pilot study was conducted to prospectively compare symptomatic improvement following a single injection of intramuscular dexamethasone (IMD) to a 3-day regimen of oral prednisone (OP) for children with mild to moderate wheezing episodes that are responsive to nebulized medications in the Pediatric Emergency Department (PED). The following children presenting with acute exacerbations of asthma to the PED were eligible for enrollment: age 3-16 years; more than two prior wheezing episodes; mild to moderate wheezing; and oxygen saturation 95% or more in room air. The study patients were randomly assigned to receive either IMD (n = 21) or OP (n = 21) in addition to a standardized treatment regimen of nebulized albuterol. All of the children were clinically rated for wheezing severity by the Pulmonary Index (PI) score at regular intervals during the study. Discharge home was based on clinical improvement during treatment in the PED; patients who were admitted to the hospital were removed from the study. Follow-up was conducted the fifth day after discharge from the ED either by clinic visit or by telephone. Patients were assessed for symptomatic improvement and relapse or clinical deterioration during the study period by a clinician blinded to group assignment. Forty-two children participated in this pilot study. There were no significant differences between the IMD and OP groups for gender or age. Mean ages were: 82 months (SD 46 months), IMD group; 63 months (SD 36 months), OP group. Clinical progress (based on PI) with treatment in the PED was the same in both groups: pretreatment median, PI = 6; PED discharge median, PI = 2. None of the study patients were hospitalized during the follow-up period, and all reported symptomatic improvement since initial treatment. The data of this pilot study suggest that IMD may be a feasible alternative to OP for treatment of acute wheezing episodes in children with asthma. IMD provides sufficient treatment to prevent clinical deterioration within 5 days after initial therapy for mild to moderate pediatric exacerbations of asthma that are responsive to nebulized medications.     

Thai pediatricians' current practice toward childhood asthma

Background: Childhood asthma is a substantial health burden in Thailand. Due to a lack of pediatric respiratory specialists (pediatric pulmonologists and allergists; RS), most Thai children are cared for by general pediatricians (pediatric primary care providers (PCP)). Objectives: We investigated whether current practices of Thai pediatricians complied with asthma guidelines and compared practices (diagnosis and treatments) provided by PCP and RS. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using electronic surveys including four case scenarios of different asthma phenotypes distributed to Thai pediatricians. Asthma diagnosis and management were evaluated for compliance with standard guidelines. The practices of PCP and RS were compared. Results: From 800 surveys distributed, there were 405 respondents (51%). Most respondents (81%) were PCP, who preferred to use clinical diagnosis rather than laboratory investigations to diagnose asthma. For acute asthmatic attacks, 58% of the pediatricians prescribed a systemic corticosteroid. For uncontrolled asthma, 89% of the pediatricians prescribed at least one controller. For exercise-induced bronchospasm, 55% of the pediatricians chose an inhaled bronchodilator, while 38% chose a leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA). For virus-induced wheeze, 40% of the respondents chose an LTRA, while 15% chose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). PCP prescribed more oral bronchodilators (31% vs. 18%, p = 0.02), antibiotics (20% vs. 6%, p < 0.001), and antihistamines (13% vs. 0%, p = 0.02) than RS for the management of an acute asthmatic attack. Conclusions: Most of the Thai pediatricians' practices toward diagnosis and treatment of acute asthmatic attack and uncontrolled asthma conform to the guidelines. PCP prescribed more oral bronchodilators, antibiotics, and antihistamines than RS.     

Sex differences in outcomes after discharge from Alberta emergency departments for asthma: A large population-based study

Objective: Asthma exacerbations frequently result in emergency department (ED) visits. While sex differences have been identified in some asthma studies, there is a paucity of literature on sex differences in the ED setting, especially population-based ones. This study examines sex differences in important outcomes of patients discharged from EDs for acute asthma in Alberta, Canada. Methods: Alberta residents aged from 2 to 55 years discharged from EDs with a primary diagnosis of asthma during 1999–2011 were identified from administrative databases from a single-payer health care system for the entire geographic region of Alberta. Multivariable Cox regression models analyzed time to first follow-up physician or specialist visit, and logistic regression models analyzed the binary outcome of ED return within 30 days for asthma. Results: There were 115,853 discharged patients analyzed (40.4% and 59.1% female in pediatric and adult groups, respectively). Approximately 26% of patients revisited the ED during 1999–2011 and 5.1% did so within 30 days. Women had higher odds of a 30-day ED return after ED discharge than men (unadjusted odds ratio [uOR] = 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17–1.36). Time to first non-ED physician follow-up was shorter for girls (unadjusted hazard ratio [uHR] = 1.05; 95%CI 1.03–1.07) and women (uHR = 1.62; 95%CI 1.59–1.64) than for boys and men, respectively. Significant interactions between sex and age, socio-economic status, area of residence, and comorbidities were identified and changed the effect of sex on outcomes. Conclusions: In conclusion, women return to EDs within 30 days of discharge for acute asthma more often than men. Time to first non-ED physician follow-up for children and adults differed by sex. Multiple factors likely contribute to these differences; however, identifying these differences is critical to understand the influence of sex on health behaviors and outcomes.     

Pediatric Asthma Admissions: Chronic Severity and Acute Exacerbations

Factors resulting in intensive care unit (ICU) admissions for asthma exacerbations remain largely unclear. We compared ICU and general pediatric ward admissions for asthma exacerbations. Charts of 56 (2- to 18-year-old) patients admitted consecutively to the ICU during a 1-year period for asthma exacerbations were compared with charts of 56 age-, sex-, race-, and era-matched patients admitted to a general pediatric ward. Few patients in both groups received oral steroids before admission. Children with different chronic asthma severities had comparable severities of acute exacerbation. In conclusion, acute asthma exacerbations dissociate in severity from chronic asthma and are under-treated with systemic corticosteroids.     

Pediatric Asthma Admissions: Chronic Severity and Acute Exacerbations

Factors resulting in intensive care unit (ICU) admissions for asthma exacerbations remain largely unclear. We compared ICU and general pediatric ward admissions for asthma exacerbations. Charts of 56 (2- to 18-year-old) patients admitted consecutively to the ICU during a 1-year period for asthma exacerbations were compared with charts of 56 age-, sex-, race-, and era-matched patients admitted to a general pediatric ward. Few patients in both groups received oral steroids before admission. Children with different chronic asthma severities had comparable severities of acute exacerbation. In conclusion, acute asthma exacerbations dissociate in severity from chronic asthma and are under-treated with systemic corticosteroids.     

Emergency department management of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the elderly: the Multicenter Airway Research Collaboration

OBJECTIVES: To determine adherence of emergency department (ED) management of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to current treatment guidelines. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study, as part of the Multicenter Airway Research Collaboration. SETTING: The study was performed at 29 EDs in 15 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces. PARTICIPANTS: ED patients, aged 55 and older, who presented with COPD exacerbation and underwent a structured interview in the ED and another by telephone 2 weeks later. MEASUREMENTS: Adherence of ED management of COPD exacerbation to that recommended in current treatment guidelines. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 397 subjects, of whom 224 (56%) reported only COPD and 173 (44%) reported asthma and COPD. The average age was 70. Most (80%) patients had used rescue medications in the 6 hours before seeking emergency care. Only 31% were evaluated using spirometry and 48% using arterial blood gas measurement. ED treatment included inhaled short-acting beta-agonists for 91% of patients, inhaled anticholinergics for 77%, methylxanthines for 0.3%, systemic corticosteroids for 62%, and antibiotics for 28%. More than half the patients required hospitalization. At 2-week follow-up, 43% of patients reported a relapse event or ongoing exacerbation. Overall, adherence to national and international guidelines was low. CONCLUSION: Important differences exist between guideline recommendations and actual ED management of COPD exacerbations in older adults. Outcomes after ED treatment are poor and may be related to these shortcomings in quality of care. Better adherence to guideline recommendations when caring for elderly patients with COPD exacerbations may lead to improved clinical outcomes and better resource usage.     

A Prospective Multicenter Study of Written Action Plans among Emergency Department Patients with Acute Asthma

Background. The prevalence of written “action plans” (APs) among emergency department (ED) patients with acute asthma is unknown. Objective. To determine the prevalence of APs among ED patients, to describe the demographic and clinical profile of patients with and without APs, and to examine the appropriateness of response to an asthma exacerbation scenario. Methods. Using a standard protocol, 49 North American EDs performed a prospective cohort study involving interviews of 1,756 patients, ages 2–54, with acute asthma. Among children only, a random sample was contacted two years after the index ED visit to assess current AP status and parents' self-management knowledge. Results. The overall prevalence of APs was 32% (95% confidence interval [CI], 30%–34%), and was higher among children than adults (34% vs. 26%, respectively; p = 0.001). Patients with APs had worse measures of chronic asthma severity (p < 0.05) and were more likely to be hospitalized (multivariate odds ratio, 1.5; 95%CI, 1.1–2.1). After 2 years, most children with an AP at the index ED visit still had one but only 20% of those without an AP had obtained one; moreover, many of the APs appeared inadequate. Parents of children with a current AP performed slightly better on the asthma scenario, but both groups overestimated their asthma knowledge. Conclusion. The prevalence of APs among ED patients with acute asthma is unacceptably low, and many of these APs appear inadequate. “Confounding by severity” will complicate any non-randomized analysis of the potential impact of APs on asthma outcomes in ED patients.     

The Pediatric Asthma Control and Communication Instrument for the Emergency Department (PACCI-ED) improves physician assessment of asthma morbidity in pediatric emergency department patients

Objectives: To determine whether the Pediatric Asthma Control and Communication Instrument for the Emergency Department (PACCI-ED), a 12-item questionnaire, can help ED attendings accurately assess a patient’s asthma control and morbidity. Methods: This was a randomized-controlled trial performed at an urban pediatric ED of children aged 1–17 years presenting with an asthma exacerbation. Parents answered PACCI-ED questions about their children’s asthma. Attendings were randomized to view responses to the PACCI-ED (intervention group) or to be blinded to the completed PACCI-ED (control group). The two groups were compared on their empirical clinical assessment of: (1) chronic asthma control categories, (2) asthma trajectory (stable, worsening or improving), (3) patient adherence to controller medications, and (4) burden of disease for the patient’s family. The validated PACCI algorithm was used as the criterion standard for these four outcomes. Accuracy of clinical assessment was compared between intervention and control groups using chi-squared tests and an intention-to-treat approach. Results: Seventeen ED attendings were enrolled in the study and 77 children visits were included in the analysis. There were no significant differences between the intervention and the control groups for child’s gender, age, race, and asthma characteristics. Intervention group attendings were more accurate than control group attendings in assessing the category of chronic asthma control (43% versus 19%; p?=?0.03), disease trajectory (72% versus 45%; p?=?0.02), and the disease burden for families (74% versus 35%; p?=?0.001) over the past 12 months. There was a trend towards more accuracy of intervention versus control attendings for estimating patient adherence to controller medications (72% versus 48%; p?=?0.06). Conclusions: The PACCI-ED improves the assessment of asthma control, trajectory, and burden by ED attendings, and may help assessment of asthma medication adherence and prior asthma exacerbations. The PACCI-ED can be used to improve provider assessment of asthma morbidity during pediatric ED visits for asthma exacerbations, and to identify children who may benefit from interventions to reduce asthma morbidity.     

Is a Single Blood Eosinophil Count a Reliable Marker for “Eosinophilic Asthma?”

Purpose. In the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma, the expert panel recommends that a written asthma action plan be provided for all patients with asthma. Studies evaluating the usefulness of the asthma action plan in children are limited. We aim to determine exacerbation frequency and usefulness of the asthma action plan in managing exacerbations that occur in a pediatric primary care setting. Methods. Caretakers of asthmatic children attending the general pediatric clinic in an inner‐city hospital completed a one‐page questionnaire covering topics such as asthma severity, frequency of exacerbations, and possession/usefulness of an asthma action plan. Although controversy exists over the definition of yellow and red zone exacerbations, we defined the yellow zone as symptoms that require albuterol more than three times a day or more than two nights in succession. The red zone was defined as symptoms requiring systemic corticosteroids and/or an urgent physician visit. Results. Seventy of 75 subjects completed the survey. Almost 80% of respondents carried the diagnosis of persistent asthma, whereas the remainder had intermittent asthma. Exacerbation frequency over a 3‐month period was determined. Approximately 80% of children experienced at least one yellow zone episode: 42% had one or two yellow zone episodes, and 39.6% had between three and five episodes. Sixty‐three percent of patients did not experience a single red zone exacerbation. Almost 75% (44 of 59) of subjects possessed an asthma action plan. Ninety percent (37 of 41) of respondents with action plans found the plan to be useful in managing exacerbations. Conclusion. Approximately four of every five asthmatic children seen in this primary care setting experienced a yellow zone exacerbation at least once during a 3‐month period. One third experienced at least one red zone episode. Nine of every 10 caretakers with an action plan reported the asthma action plan to be of value in managing exacerbations.     

Childhood asthma in the emergency department: Trends, challenges, and opportunities

Acute exacerbations of childhood asthma are frequently managed in the emergency department (ED). ED-based surveillance and intervention projects highlight the limitations and challenges of acute and chronic childhood asthma management. Because a significant number of asthmatic children currently receive and will likely continue to seek acute asthma care in the ED, provision of asthma education and initiation of controller medication therapy during the ED visit, although controversial, may contribute to improving asthma outcomes and eventually to reducing the burden of asthma on our overcrowded EDs.     

Principal findings of systematic reviews of acute asthma treatment in childhood

Objective: The objective of this study is to summarize the principal findings in the literature about acute asthma management in children. Methods: Systematic reviews of randomized clinical trials (SRCTs) with or without meta-analysis in children (1–18 years) admitted to the emergency department (ED) were retrieved using five data bases. Methodological quality was determined using the AMSTAR tool. Results: One hundred and three studies were retrieved. Among those, 28 SRCTs were included: seven SRCTs related to short-acting beta2-agonists (SABA), three to ipratropium bromide (IB), eight to corticosteroids, one to racemic adrenaline, one to leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA), four to magnesium sulfate, one to intravenous (IV) SABA, one to IV aminophylline, one to IV ketamine, and one to antibiotics. It was determined that administering SABA by MDI-VHC is superior to using a nebulizer, because it decreases the hospital admission rate, improves the clinical score, results in a shorter time in the ED, and causes fewer adverse effects. Levalbuterol and albuterol were similar. In patients with moderate to severe exacerbations, IB+SABA was superior to SABA, decreasing hospital admission and improving the clinical score. SABA heliox administered by nebulizer decreased exacerbation severity compared to oxygen. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), especially administered by nebulizer, showed results similar to oral corticosteroids (OCS) with respect to reducing hospital admission, unscheduled visits, and the requirement of additional systemic corticosteroids. ICS or OCS following ED discharge was similar with regard to relapse. Compared with a placebo, IV magnesium reduced hospital admission and improved lung function. Conclusions: SRCTs are useful for guiding decisions in acute asthma treatment.     

Prescription habits for preventative medications among pediatric emergency department physicians at an inner-city teaching hospital

Introduction. As asthma presentation is episodic, patients with acute exacerbations often present in the emergency department (ED) where preventative regimen may not always be addressed. Addressing initiation and modification of controller medications in the setting of an acute exacerbation may facilitate improved asthma control and decrease the frequency of ED visits, particularly so for families who receive most of their asthma management in the ED. However, this aspect has not yet been explored. Methods. We reviewed a random sample of 363 charts, 10% of the total number of asthmatic children, aged 2–18, seen from January to December 2007 in the pediatric ED of an urban teaching hospital located in Bronx, NY, USA. We quantified the frequency of modification of the preventative regimen and the influence of seasons on this practice. Results. Of these 363 children, 42.4% of patients were not previously on a controller medication. Of these, 9.7% were started on a new controller medication, with a significantly higher percent occurring in the summer months. Of those that were previously on a controller medication, 2.87% were started on a new controller medication and 0.95% had their controller medication dose increased. However, the regimen was not adjusted in 14.3% that had been seen four or more times in the preceding 2 years. Of the total 363 children, 78.5% were discharged from the ED on a short course of oral steroids, and this was not part of their preventative regimen. Only four charts had physician-documented asthma severity classification. Conclusions. We found that the preventative regimen was modified in only 0.9–2% of all asthmatic children seen in an urban ED whereas 78.5% were started on systemic steroids. Asthma severity was evaluated in a very small number of patients. Because modification of preventative regimen requires appropriate asthma severity classification, the inclusion of asthma severity classification as part of routine ED evaluation may encourage physicians to address controller medications in persistent asthmatics.     

Inhaled corticosteroids and leukotriene modifiers in the acute treatment of asthma exacerbations

Asthma exacerbation has a considerable impact on patients' quality of life and constitutes a challenging condition for primary health-care providers. Severe exacerbations are also an important cause of hospital admissions and require high costs. Despite this, a widely accepted definition is still lacking; etiologic and pathogenetic mechanisms are still incompletely defined. Although the efficacy of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and leukotriene modifiers in preventing mild to moderate asthma exacerbation is well recognized, their role within the context of an asthma action plan in general practice and in home-based early intervention for acute exacerbations is still controversial. Although systemic corticosteroids (CS) are standard care for severe exacerbation in the emergency department's (ED) management of asthma, published evidence suggests that high doses of ICS may be beneficial in the ED. The additive benefit of ICS when used with systemic CS is still debated. Data on leukotriene modifiers in the management of asthma exacerbation are limited. However, therapeutic strategies of this emergency including ICS and leukotriene modifiers seem logical and may be suitable, at least in certain patient groups. The availability of different drugs, active on different targets, can potentially contribute to a better management of asthma exacerbations.