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Asthma medication use in infancy: determinants related to prescription of drug therapy

Ellen S Koster1, Cornelis K Van der Ent, Cuno S P M Uiterwaal

  • 1Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Clinical Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht.

Family Practice
|February 5, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Respiratory symptoms are the main reason for prescribing asthma therapy in infancy. Factors like male gender, day-care, and breastfeeding also influence initiation, while Dutch nationality affects prescription refills.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Clinical Pharmacy
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Limited understanding of factors influencing asthma therapy prescription in infants.
  • Need for data on infant asthma management and treatment initiation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify factors associated with the initiation of asthma therapy in infancy.
  • To describe factors related to the refill of asthma prescriptions in infants.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective birth cohort study (WHISTLER) with 1202 infants.
  • Analysis of prescription data for asthma therapy initiation and refills.
  • Logistic regression to determine influencing factors.

Main Results:

  • 15% of infants initiated asthma therapy in their first year.
  • Respiratory symptoms significantly drove both initiation and refills.
  • Male gender, day-care, and breastfeeding were associated with initiation; Dutch nationality with refills.

Conclusions:

  • Respiratory symptoms are the primary driver for asthma therapy prescription in infants.
  • Physicians' prescribing decisions appear focused on symptom presence.
  • Further research may explore nuances beyond symptom-driven prescriptions.
Abstract

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