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New Research - January 2009START doesn't stopWorldwide investigators authoring this report wished to evaluate the association between asthma exacerbations and long-term decline in lung function as measured by post-bronchodilator FEV1. The objective was to see whether severe asthma exacerbations are associated with a more pronounced persistent decline in lung function. They utilized data from the START (Inhaled Steroid Treatment As Regular Therapy in Early Asthma) Study. In this study, 350 patients experienced at least one severe asthma exacerbation; 305 were analyzable. There were 190 in the placebo group and 115 in a budesonide treated group. In the placebo group, the post-bronchodilator FEV1% predicted from baseline to the end of the study in patients with a severe exacerbation was -6.44%. In the placebo group, those without a severe exacerbation experienced a decline of -2.43%. In the budesonide group, those who experienced an exacerbation had a decline of -2.48%, and those who did not experience an exacerbation exhibited a decline of -1.72%. There was a significant difference therefore in patients who experienced at least one severe event in the placebo group versus the budesonide treated group (P=0.042). The authors concluded that severe exacerbations are associated with a more rapid decline in lung function, and that treatment with low doses of inhaled corticosteroid can ameliorate this decline. ReferenceO'Byrne PM, et al. Severe exacerbations and decline in lung function in asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2009; 179:19-24. |
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