Ron Goldberg
Children with moderate to severe asthma experience improved quality of life and reduced asthma exacerbations and fewer emergency department (ED) visits within 1 year of starting biologic therapy with dupilumab, mepolizumab, or omalizumab, according to review findings presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting, held from November 10 to 14, in Louisville, Kentucky.
Investigators assessed a real-world pediatric patients with asthma who used biologic therapy to identify their response to prescribed biologics and reasons for discontinuation of therapy as well as to characterize other attributes of this population.
The researchers conducted a retrospective chart review of 54 patients (6-12 years of age) who were resistant to standard asthma treatment and thus were prescribed dupilumab, mepolizumab, or omalizumab. Severe asthma was diagnosed in 85% of these patients. Researchers collected data regarding asthma exacerbations, number of ED visits, spirometry (FEV1), and quality of life as measured by Asthma Control Test (ACT) scores within the 12 months prior to and following therapy initiation. Comparisons were examined using 2-sided statistical analyses.
The analyses showed significant decreases in asthma exacerbations (P =.002) and ED visits (P =.003) after the start of therapy. However, no significant changes in spirometry measures were noted. A progressive increase in quality of life measures was seen over the 12 months following the start of therapy, both in patients with severe asthma (P <.001) and in patients with moderate asthma (P =.024).
Investigators found 10 of 54 patients stopped therapy, 6 due to lack of response and 1 because of an adverse reaction.
“The results demonstrate benefits of biologic therapy in moderate-to-severe pediatric asthmatics, with improved quality of life and reduced ED visits and asthma exacerbations within one year of starting therapy,” the investigators concluded.
Reference
Abernathy S, Moore L, Morales M. Patient characteristics and response to biologic therapies in moderate-to-severe pediatric asthma. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2022;125(5):S51. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2022.08.644
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