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Disease control in asthmatic children seen in private practice in Switzerland

Alexander Moeller1, Claudia Steurer-Stey, Herbert Suter

  • 1Swiss Paediatric Respiratory Research Group (SPRRG), Division of Respiratory Medicine University Children's Hospital Basel, Zürich and Alpine Children's Clinic Davos, Switzerland. alexander.moeller@kispi.unizh.ch

Current Medical Research and Opinion
|July 13, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Improving asthma control in children is crucial, as many experience symptoms despite treatment. Adjusting therapy regimens, particularly with leukotriene receptor antagonists, significantly enhanced asthma control in a Swiss study.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Public Health
  • Clinical Practice

Background:

  • Asthma is a prevalent chronic childhood illness in Switzerland, affecting 10% of children.
  • High medical costs associated with asthma underscore the need for effective disease management strategies.
  • Assessing asthma control is key to developing interventions for better patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate asthma control levels in children.
  • To analyze current asthma therapy regimens in pediatric patients.
  • To identify strategies for improving asthma management in private practice settings.

Main Methods:

  • A study involving 575 asthmatic children in Switzerland.
  • Utilized abbreviated questionnaires based on the Asthma Control Questionnaire and Child Health Questionnaire.
  • Data collected at two separate visits (Visit 1 and Visit 2).

Main Results:

  • Only 25.7% of children had good asthma control at Visit 1.
  • High prevalence of symptoms: 80.5% had occasional symptoms, 41.2% experienced activity limitation, 46.8% had nocturnal awakenings, and 57% caused parental anxiety.
  • After therapy adjustment (e.g., adding leukotriene receptor antagonists), 53.4% of children showed improved asthma control by Visit 2.

Conclusions:

  • A significant proportion of asthmatic children have inadequately controlled disease.
  • There is a critical need for improved asthma control measures.
  • Effective management can reduce the overall burden of childhood asthma.
Abstract

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