Prescription patterns of inhaled corticosteroids for preschool children--A Norwegian register study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Pulmonology
• Respiratory Medicine
• Pharmacotherapy

Background:

• Asthma and wheeze symptoms in preschool children often overlap, complicating inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) prescription decisions.
• Previous research indicates potential inappropriate prescribing patterns of ICS in this young age demographic.
• This study examines trends and persistence of ICS use in Norwegian preschoolers from 2004-2013.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze time trends in inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) utilization among preschool children in Norway.
• To investigate patterns of ICS use by age, gender, and physician specialty.
• To assess the persistence of ICS treatment throughout the preschool years.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Norwegian Prescription Database for the period 2004-2013.
• Included children aged 5 years or younger prescribed ICS, alone or in combination.
• Analyzed prescription data to determine prevalence, age/gender distribution, and treatment duration.

Main Results:

• One-year prevalence of ICS use was high, peaking in 2010 before declining; highest in 2-year-olds and more common in boys.
• 40-50% of ICS users received only one prescription annually, indicating low treatment persistence.
• General practitioners issued the majority of prescriptions, with their share increasing over time.

Conclusions:

• High prevalence but low persistence of ICS prescriptions suggest frequent use for intermittent asthma-like symptoms in preschoolers.
• Current findings highlight a potential gap in adherence to asthma guidelines recommending restricted ICS use in early childhood.
• Further actions may be necessary to ensure better implementation of established guidelines for ICS therapy in young children.