Corticosteroid Therapy During Acute Bronchiolitis in Patients Who Later Develop Asthma

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Pulmonology
• Clinical Pediatrics
• Respiratory Illness Research

Background:

• Corticosteroids are generally ineffective for bronchiolitis.
• Practitioners sometimes prescribe corticosteroids for bronchiolitis due to asthma risk factors.
• The study investigates corticosteroid use in bronchiolitis patients who later develop asthma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if corticosteroid prescription is associated with shorter hospitalization for bronchiolitis.
• To analyze outcomes in children who were hospitalized for bronchiolitis and later for asthma.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Pediatric Health Information System database (2006-2015).
• Included children <2 years hospitalized for bronchiolitis, later for asthma, and prescribed inhaled corticosteroids.
• Defined illness severity (mild, moderate, severe) and used regression analysis for length of stay (LOS).

Main Results:

• Corticosteroid prescription was not linked to shorter LOS in the overall cohort in multivariate analysis.
• Bivariate analysis showed longer LOS with corticosteroids (3 vs 2 days).
• Corticosteroids were associated with shorter LOS in previously healthy, moderately ill children (4 vs 5 days).

Conclusions:

• Corticosteroids did not improve outcomes for bronchiolitis patients who later developed asthma.
• Further investigation may be warranted for moderately ill bronchiolitis patients without comorbidities.