Asthma: how early to start using inhaled steroids?

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Pediatric Asthma Management
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Inhaled corticosteroids are standard for moderate-to-severe asthma.
• The early intervention concept aims to prevent irreversible lung damage by initiating treatment promptly.
• Current medical opinion is divided on the justification of very early inhaled steroid use, especially in children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effectiveness of early intervention with inhaled steroids in newly-diagnosed asthmatics.
• To gather evidence on the optimal timing for initiating inhaled steroid treatment.
• To assess the impact of early intervention on lung function and growth in children.

Main Methods:

• The START study is a large-scale, international clinical trial.
• Involves nearly 7,000 patients aged 6-60 years with newly diagnosed asthma.
• Data collection spans 32 countries.

Main Results:

• A prior Danish study suggests early intervention in children improves lung function.
• No significant adverse effects on growth rate were observed in children in the Danish study.
• The START study will provide further evidence on the benefits and risks of early intervention.

Conclusions:

• Early intervention with inhaled steroids is a potential strategy for managing newly diagnosed asthma.
• Further evidence from the START study is needed to confirm optimal treatment timing.
• The findings will inform clinical guidelines for pediatric and adult asthma management.