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Comparative Risk for Neuropsychiatric Events in Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist vs. Inhaled Corticosteroid in
Subin Kim1,2, Chang Hoon Han1,2, Junhyuk Chang3
1Department of Biomedical Systems Informatics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) did not show increased neuropsychiatric events (NPEs) in children with asthma compared to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). This study provides evidence for safer pediatric asthma management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Pharmacovigilance
- Asthma Management
Background:
- Leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) are common controller medications for pediatric asthma.
- Concerns exist regarding potential neuropsychiatric adverse reactions (NPEs) with LTRAs.
- Limited direct comparative data on NPE risk between LTRAs and inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the risk of neuropsychiatric events (NPEs) in pediatric asthma patients treated with LTRAs versus ICS.
- To address inconsistencies in observational study findings regarding LTRA-associated NPEs.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study using South Korean nationwide claims and multicenter EHR databases (2006-2022).
- Included pediatric asthma patients (5-18 years) initiating LTRA or ICS.
- NPEs assessed within 90 days using diagnostic codes and natural language processing (NLP) on clinical notes; Cox proportional hazards models used.
Main Results:
- Claims data (169,636 LTRA users, 28,845 ICS users) showed no significant difference in NPE risk (calibrated HR, 1.14 [95% CI, 0.92-1.42]).
- EHR data (1,641 LTRA users, 1,607 ICS users) using NLP analysis yielded consistent results (calibrated HR, 1.33 [95% CI, 0.66-2.68]).
Conclusions:
- LTRA use is not associated with a significantly increased risk of neuropsychiatric events in children with asthma.
- Findings support informed clinical decision-making for pediatric asthma treatment strategies.
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