Assessment and management of asthma exacerbations in an emergency department unit

Background: The Pediatric Respiratory Assessment Measure (PRAM) score is a useful tool for the assessment of asthma exacerbations in children. This study aimed to estimate the risk of hospitalization in children, assessed with the PRAM score and having mild–moderate asthma exacerbation, who were treated with salbutamol delivered via a metered-dose inhaler and spacer (MDI/S). Methods: The study population consisted of children aged 3–16 years with mild–moderate asthma exacerbations. All children received 1mg/kg prednisolone p.o. (max 40 mg) and 4–6 puffs of salbutamol via MDI/S. Results: Fifty patients participated in the study. Admission was associated positively with the initial PRAM score (OR: 18.91, CI: 2.42–123.12, P = 0.005) and negatively with the improvement in PRAM score (OR: 0.52, CI: 0.01–0.78, P = 0.032). Conclusion: PRAM is a reliable tool that can be used effectively to estimate the asthma exacerbation severity (AU)

Empeoramiento clínico paradójico en una crisis asmática moderada-grave / Paradoxical clinical worsening in a moderate-severe asthmatic attack

La reagudización o crisis asmática es uno de los motivos de consulta más frecuentes en las consultas de Atención Primaria y en los servicios de urgencias pediátricas. Se trata de una patología con un algoritmo de actuación y de tratamiento según la gravedad bien establecido, con fármacos con un buen perfil de seguridad para la edad pediátrica. Se presenta un caso con mala respuesta inicial que ilustra un efecto paradójico del salbutamol (AU)

Asthma exacerbations are among the most frequent reasons for paediatric primary care and emergency care visits. Asthma is a disease with a well-established management and treatment algorithm based on severity, and drugs with a good safety profile for the paediatric population are available for its treatment. We present a case with a poor inital response illustrating a paradoxical reaction to salbutamol. (AU)

For which infants with viral bronchiolitis could it be deemed appropriate to use albuterol, at least on a therapeutic trial basis?

Although there is increasing evidence showing that infants with viral bronchiolitis exhibit a high degree of heterogeneity, a core uncertainty shared by many clinicians is with regard to understanding which patients are most likely to benefit from bronchodilators such as albuterol. Based on our review, we concluded that older infants with rhinovirus (RV) bronchiolitis, espe­cially those with a nasopharyngeal microbiome dominated by Haemophilus influenzae; those affected during nonpeak months or during non-respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) predominant months; those with wheezing at presentation; those with clinical characteristics such as atopic dermatitis or a family history of asthma in a first-degree relative; and those infants infected with RSV genotypes ON1 and BA, have the greatest likelihood of benefiting from albuterol. Presently, this patient profile could serve as the basis for rational albuterol administration in patients with viral bronchiolitis, at least on a therapeutic trial basis, and it could also be the starting point for future targeted randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on the use of albuterol among a subset of infants with bronchiolitis

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¿Son eficaces los corticoides inhalados en las exacerbaciones asmáticas? Evidentia praxis / Are inhaled corticosteroids effective in asthma exacerbations? Evidentia praxis

Se presenta un escenario clínico del que surge una pregunta clínica estructurada: en niños o adolescentes asmáticos con síntomas de exacerbación, ¿el uso de corticoides inhalados (de nueva instauración o aumento de dosis habitual) reduce el riesgo de exacerbaciones que requieran corticoides sistémicos y/o ingreso? Para contestarla realizamos una búsqueda bibliográfica con selección, valoración y jerarquización de la evidencia, siguiendo criterios GRADE. No encontramos evidencia suficiente como para considerar los corticoides inhalados intermitentes una alternativa a los corticoides inhalados de mantenimiento para evitar exacerbaciones que requieran el uso de corticoides sistémicos. El uso de una combinación de corticoides inhalados con formoterol, como tratamiento de rescate al inicio de síntomas, solo es eficaz en los pacientes con dicho tratamiento de base, en comparación con los que solo tienen corticoides inhalados y hacen rescate con beta2-agonistas de acción corta; cuando los pacientes ya toman tratamiento combinado de base, el rescate combinado no mejora el riesgo. En pacientes con crisis asmáticas atendidas en urgencias, los corticoides inhalados en comparación con placebo reducen el riesgo de ingreso, pero no si se compara con corticoides sistémicos

A clinical scenario is presented, from which a structured clinical question arises: In asthmatic children or adolescents with exacerbation symptoms, does the use of inhaled corticosteroids (newly instituted or base dose increased) reduce the risk of exacerbations that require systemic steroids and/or hospitalization? To answer it, we carried out a bibliographic search, with selection, evaluation and graduation of the evidence, following GRADE criteria. We did not find sufficient evidence to consider intermittent inhaled steroids as an alternative to maintenance inhaled steroids to avoid exacerbations that require the use of systemic steroids. The use of a combination of inhaled steroids with formoterol, as a rescue treatment at the onset of symptoms, is only effective when used by patients with this maintenance treatment, compared to those who only have inhaled steroids and rescue with beta2-agonists of short action; when patients already take maintenance combined therapy, combined rescue does not reduce the risk. In patients with asthma attacks attended in the emergency department, inhaled steroids compared to placebo reduce the risk of admission, but not when compared to systemic corticosteroids

Predictors for the prescription of albuterol in infants hospitalized for viral bronchiolitis

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Despite the recommendation against routine use of inhaled bronchodilators in infants with viral bronchiolitis given in the main clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) on viral bronchiolitis, albuterol is widely prescribed to patients with this disease. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of prescription of albuterol in a population of infants hospitalized for viral bronchiolitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An analytical cross-sectional study performed during the period from March 2014 to August 2015, in a random sample of patients < 2 years old hospitalized in the Fundacion Hospital La Misericordia, a hospital located in Bogota, Colombia. After reviewing the electronic medical records, we collected demographic, clinical, and disease-related information, including prescription of albuterol at any time during the course of hospitalization as the outcome variable. RESULTS: For a total of 1365 study participants, 1042 (76.3%) were prescribed with albuterol therapy. After controlling for potential confounders, it was found that age (OR 1.11; CI 95% 1.08-1.15; p < 0.001), and a prolonged length of stay (LOS) (OR 1.93; CI 95% 1.44-2.60; p < 0.001) were independent predictors of prescription of albuterol in our sample of patients. By contrast, albuterol prescription was less likely in the post-guideline assessment period (OR 0.41; CI 95% 0.31-0.54; p < 0.001), and in infants with RSV isolation (OR 0.71; CI 95% 0.52-0.97; p = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: Albuterol was highly prescribed in our population of inpatients with the disease. The independent predictors of prescription of albuterol in our sample of patients were age, implementation of a CPG on viral bronchiolitis, RSV isolation, and LOS

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Value of bronchial reversibility to salbutamol, exhaled nitric oxide and responsiveness to methacholine to corroborate the diagnosis of asthma in children

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Functional and inflammatory measures have been recommended to corroborate asthma diagnosis in schoolchildren, but the evidence in this regard is conflicting. We aimed to determine, in real-life clinical situation, the value of spirometry, spirometric bronchial reversibility to salbutamol (BDR), bronchial responsiveness to methacholine (MCT) and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO), to corroborate the diagnosis of asthma in children on regular inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) referred from primary care. METHODS: One hundred and seventy-seven schoolchildren with mild-moderate persistent asthma, on treatment with regular ICS, participated in the study. Abnormal tests were defined as FENO ≥ 27 ppb, BDR (FEV1 ≥ 12%) and methacholine PC20 ≤ 4 mg/mL. RESULTS: The proportions of positive BDR, FENO and MCT, were 16.4%, 33.3%, and 87.0%, respectively. MCT was associated with FENO (p < 0.03) and BDR (p = 0.001); FENO was associated with BDR (p = 0.045), family history of asthma (p = 0.003) and use of asthma medication in the first two years of life (p = 0.004). BDR was significantly related with passive tobacco exposure (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Spirometry, BDR and BDR had a poor performance for corroborating diagnosis in our asthmatic children on ICS treatment; on the contrary, MCT was positive in most of them, which agrees with previous reports. Although asthma tests are useful to corroborate asthma when positive, clinical diagnosis remains the best current approach for asthma diagnosis, at least while better objective and feasible measurements at the daily practice are available. At present, these tests may have a better role for assessing the management and progression of the condition

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Can the COPD-comorbidome Be Applied to All Outpatients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease? A Single-center Analysis / ¿El comorbidoma de COPD se puede aplicar a todos los pacientes ambulatorios con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica? Un estudio unicéntrico

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Occupational Allergic Respiratory Disease and Eosinophilic Esophagitis by Wheat Flour in a Baker / Enfermedad respiratoria alérgica ocupacional y esofagitis eosinófila por harina de trigo en un panadero

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¿Qué es la 'Alianza contra el asma'? / No disponible

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Una iniciativa para reducir el uso de medicación innecesaria en lactantes con bronquiolitis en atención primaria / An initiative to reduce the use of unnecessary medication in infants with bronchiolitis in primary care

INTRODUCCIÓN Y OBJETIVO: Aunque las guías basadas en la evidencia científica sobre bronquiolitis aguda recomiendan únicamente el tratamiento de soporte, se continúa documentando el uso de tratamientos innecesarios. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar el impacto de una iniciativa de mejora de la calidad para reducir el sobreuso de tratamientos innecesarios en lactantes con bronquiolitis en atención primaria. MÉTODO: Para determinar el número de tratamientos innecesarios, fueron revisados los registros correspondientes a niños menores de 2 años de edad diagnosticados de bronquiolitis en dos áreas de atención primaria, durante dos epidemias de bronquiolitis (octubre-marzo de 2015-2016 (periodo preintervención) y de 2016-2017 (periodo postintervención)). Entre estas dos epidemias fue distribuido un protocolo de manejo basado en la evidencia científica y se desarrollaron sesiones interactivas con descripción de datos sobre la utilización de fármacos en los centros implicados. Los resultados fueron la tasa de niños que recibieron salbutamol, corticoides o antibióticos. RESULTADOS: Se registraron un total de 1.277 episodios de bronquiolitis aguda, atendidos en 20 centros de salud, durante las dos epidemias (619 en el periodo preintervención y 658 en el periodo postintervención). Globalmente, el uso de cualquier medicación se redujo desde un 72,5% (IC 95%: 68,8-75,9) hasta un 52,1% (IC 95%: 48,3-55,9) (p < 0,01): salbutamol de un 56,0% (IC 95%: 52,1-59,9) a un 38,3% (IC 95%: 34,6-42,0) (p < 0,01), corticoides de un 23,7% (IC 95%: 20,5-27,2) a un 12,9% (IC 95%: 10,5-15,7) (p < 0,01) y antibióticos de un 36,1% (IC 95%: 32,5-40,0) a un 29,6% (IC 95%: 26,2-33,2) (p < 0,05). El número de medicaciones por paciente disminuyó de una media de 1,81 (DE: 0,86) a 1,62 (DE: 0,81) (p < 0,01). CONCLUSIONES: En el presente estudio, se redujo de forma significativa el uso de tratamientos innecesarios para la bronquiolitis aguda en atención primaria. Esta iniciativa de mejora de la calidad puede ser aplicada en los centros sanitarios donde se atienden la mayoría de los niños con bronquiolitis aguda en los países occidentales

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Although evidence-based guidelines for acute bronchiolitis recommend primarily supportive care unnecessary treatments remain well documented. The objective of this study was to analyse a quality improvement initiative to reduce overuse of unnecessary treatments in infants with acute bronchiolitis in primary care settings. METHOD: To determine the number of unnecessary treatments we reviewed the charts corresponding to infants aged <24 months of age diagnosed with acute bronchiolitis in two Primary Care areas during two bronchiolitis seasons [October-Mars of 2015-2016 (pre-intervention period) and 2016-2017 (post-intervention period)]. Between those seasons we distributed an evidence-based management protocol and developed interactive sessions with on-line data collection and feed-back. Outcomes were the rate of infants receiving salbutamol, steroids or antibiotics. RESULTS: Twenty outpatient clinics contributed with 1,277 chart reviews (619 in the pre-intervention period and 658 in the post-intervention period). Overall, the use of any medication was reduced from 72.5% (95% CI, 68.8-75.9) to 52.1% (95% CI, 48.3-55.9) (p < 0.01): salbutamol from 56.0% (95% CI, 52.1-59.9) to 38.3% (95% CI, 34.6-42.0) (p < 0.01), corticosteroids from 23.7% (95% CI, 20.5-27.2) to 12.9% (95% CI, 10.5-15.7) (p < 0.01) and antibiotics from 36.1% (95% CI; 32.5-40.0) to 29.6% (95% CI; 26.2-33.2) (p < 0.05). The number of medications per patient decreased from a mean of 1.81 (SD: 0.86) to 1.62 (SD: 0.81) (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We significantly decreased the use of unnecessary treatments in infants with acute bronchiolitis. This quality improvement initiative may be applied to the settings where the majority of infants with acute bronchiolitis are attended in western countries

Optimización de la farmacoterapia en paciente con asma severa no controlada / Optimization of the pharmacotherapy in a patient with non-controlled severe asthma and therapeutic non-compliance

Como parte del curso de Atención Farmacéutica II de la Licenciatura en Farmacia de la Universidad de Costa Rica los estudiantes, bajo la supervisión de profesores de la cátedra, ofertan el servicio de Seguimiento Farmacoterapéutico (SFT) a pacientes crónicos polimedicados que lo requieran. Se presenta un caso de una paciente femenina de 50 años con asma bronquial severa no controlada con polimedicación. Se le brinda el servicio de SFT, se identifican resultados negativos asociados a la medicación (RNM) manifestados y potenciales, se realizan intervenciones farmacéuticas que permiten un control del asma evaluado con Asthma Control Test (ACT) de 23 y un valor de pico flujo de 420L/ min luego de la intervención

The students of the Degree in Pharmacy from the University of Costa Rica took part in a course called Pharmaceutical Care II part. As a section of this course and under the supervision of their professors, the students offered a service of pharmacotherapeutic follow-up to polymedicated chronic patients who require it. A case of a 50 years old female patient was presented. She suffered uncontrolled severe bronchial asthma with polymedication. The pharmacotherapeutic follow-up service was given to the patient. Negative results associated to the medication were identified as manifested or potential. Thus, pharmaceutical interventions were performed and allowed to control a health problem as it was shown by an ACT punctuation of 23 and a peak flow value of 420 L/min after the intervention

Subdiuretic dose of furosemide enhances albuterol effects in asthmatic mice rather than bumetanide

BACKGROUND: One of the loop diuretics, furosemide, was found useful in bronchial asthma. It enhanced anti-asthmatic effects of albuterol. The underlying mechanism is still unclear. OBJECTIVE: This study was planned to investigate whether the enhancing effect of furosemide for albuterol in ovalbumin-induced asthmatic BALB/c mice is diuretic-related or not. METHODS: Two sets of experiments were performed. In the first, effects of inhaled subdiuretic doses of furosemide and bumetanide (another loop diuretic) were compared. Treatments (mg/mL) were given as 15 minute-inhalation before final ovalbumin provocation as follows: albuterol (2.5), furosemide (0.08), bumetanide (0.005), (albuterol + furosemide, 2.5 + 0.08), and (albuterol+bumetanide, 2.5 + 0.005). Airway hyperreactivity (AHR) to inhaled methacholine, levels of IL-6, TNF-alfa, and differential white blood cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and lung histopathology were evaluated. In the second set, effects of oral diuretic doses (mg/kg) of furosemide (10) and bumetanide (0.25) were given before final ovalbumin provocation. Urine volume and asthma parameters were measured. RESULTS: Ovalbumin-asthmatic mice showed significant increases in AHR, levels of IL-6, TNF-alfa, and inflammatory cells in BALF, and lung inflammatory cell infiltration. Inhaled furosemide significantly decreased these changes while inhaled bumetanide failed. Albuterol and albuterol + bumetanide significantly decreased these changes more than furosemide while albuterol + furosemide produced the most significant decreases. Both oral furosemide and bumetanide exerted equivalent diuretic effects but failed to improve asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Inhaled subdiuretic dose of furosemide enhanced effects of albuterol more in ovalbumin-asthmatic mice rather than bumetanide, while oral diuretic doses of both drugs failed to improve asthma, indicating that this enhancing effect is not diuretic-related

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Peripheral eosinophil counts correlate with nasal eosinophil counts in patients with rhinitis

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Impacto de la vacunación neumocócica de polisacáridos conjugados 13-valente en las exacerbaciones de pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica con obstrucción al flujo aéreo moderada-muy grave / Impact of 13-valent pneumococal conjugate polysaccharide vaccination on exacerbations rate of COPD patients with moderate to severe obstruction

Introducción. Uno de los principales microorganismos descritos como causante de las exacerbaciones de la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) es Streptococcus pneumoniae. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar el impacto de la administración de la vacuna neumocócica de polisacáridos conjugados 13-valente (VNC13) en pacientes con EPOC en lo que respecta al desarrollo de exacerbaciones y el posible efecto diferencial según perfil del paciente. Material y métodos. Estudio observacional prospectivo de 18 meses de seguimiento de pacientes con EPOC y FEV1 ≤ 65%. Variables principales: estado de vacunación con VNC13, fenotipo 'exacerbador' o 'no exacerbador', número de exacerbaciones, ingresos y fallecimientos. Se realizó un análisis estadístico descriptivo según la naturaleza de la variable y un análisis inferencial con IC95%, contrastes bivariados y análisis multivariante. Nivel de significación 5%. Se emplearon los paquetes estadísticos EPIDAT 3.0 y SPSS versión 21.0. Resultados. 121 pacientes fueron incluidos. El 24% se etiquetaron como fenotipo exacerbador. Un 36% estaban vacunados con VNC13. Durante el seguimiento, el 68% de los pacientes presentaron al menos una exacerbación y un 27% requirió ingreso. Observamos similitud (p> 0,05) en el número de exacerbaciones y fallecimientos, sin embargo el porcentaje de ingresos en los vacunados fue del 18% frente a 32% en el grupo de no vacunados. En el ajuste multivariado (controlando por el fenotipo del paciente) se observa un ORajustado de 2,77 de riesgo de ingreso en el grupo no vacunado (p=0,044). Conclusiones. La falta de vacunación con VNC13 en pacientes con EPOC casi triplica el riesgo de ingreso hospitalario (AU)

Introduction. One of the major microorganisms described as the cause of exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is Streptococcus pneumoniae. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate polysaccharide vaccine (PCV13) in COPD patients with regard to the development of exacerbations and the possible differential effect according to the patient’s phenotype. Material and methods. Prospective observational study of patients with COPD and FEV1 ≤ 65% and 18-month follow-up. Main variables: vaccination status with PCV13, phenotype 'exacerbator' or 'non-exacerbator', number of exacerbations, hospitalization and deaths. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed according to the nature of the variable and an inferential analysis with CI95%, bivariate contrasts, and multivariate analysis. Significance level 5%. The statistical packages EPIDAT 3.0 and SPSS version 21.0 were used. Results. 121 patients were included. Twenty-four percent were labeled as phenotype exacerbator. 36% were vaccinated with PCV13. During follow-up, 68% of patients had at least one exacerbation and 27% required hospitalization. We observed similarity (p> 0.05) in the number of exacerbations and deaths; however, the percentage of hospitalization in the vaccinated was 18%, compared to 32% in the non-vaccinated group. In the multivariate adjustment (controlling for the phenotype), an adjusted OR of 2.77 risk of hospitalization was observed in the non-vaccinated group (p = 0.044). Conclusions. Non-vaccination with PCV13 almost triples the risk of hospitalization in patients with COPD (AU)

The effect of nebulised magnesium sulphate in the management of childhood moderate asthma exacerbations as adjuvant treatment

BACKGROUND: After the bronchodilator effect of magnesium was shown, the use of magnesium in treatment of asthma exacerbations became common. With the results of recent studies, the use of intravenous magnesium in severe asthma exacerbations took its place. We aimed to examine the effects of adding isotonic magnesium sulphate instead of isotonic saline into nebulised salbutamol on the Modified Pulmonary Index Score (MPIS) and the hospitalisation rate in moderate asthma exacerbations. METHODS: Our study population included 100 children age between 3 and 15 years with asthma admitted to emergency department due to moderate asthma exacerbations. The patients were randomised to placebo or magnesium, with 50 patients in each arm. All patients received 1mg/kg of systemic methylprednisolone at the beginning of treatment and thereafter received either nebulised salbutamol (0.15mg/kg/dose) and 1ml magnesium sulphate (15%)+1.5ml isotonic saline on three occasions at roughly 20min intervals (Magnesium group) or nebulised salbutamol (0.15mg/kg/dose) and 2.5ml isotonic saline mixture on three occasions at roughly 20min intervals (Placebo group). The MPIS of patients on 0th min, 20th min, 40th and 120th min were calculated and compared. The primary outcome was to compare MPIS values at the end of 120th min. RESULTS: Both groups have similar demographic, allergic characteristics and baseline MPIS scores. When the MPIS scores in the 120th min and admission rates in the 200th min, there was no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The use of nebulised magnesium sulphate in moderate asthma exacerbation as adjuvant treatment showed no benefit to standard treatment in our study

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Airway tone dysfunction among pre-schoolers with positive asthma predictive index: a case–control study

OBJECTIVE: To measure lung function by impulse oscillometry (IOS) and spirometry in recurrent wheezer pre-schoolers according to their asthma predictive index (API) condition. METHODS: We performed a case-control study enrolling all pre-schoolers with recurrent wheezing episodes (>3 episodes confirmed by physician) who presented at a paediatric pulmonology clinic. The population was divided according to stringent API criteria into positive or negative. RESULTS: In the nine-month period, 109 pre-schoolers were enrolled. After excluding one patient (due to lung function technique problems) 108 pre-schoolers (56 males, age range from 24 to 72 months) completed the study; 50 belong to positive API and 58 to negative API group. There were no differences in demographics between groups. More use of ICS was found in those with positive API than with negative API (62% vs. 12%, respectively, p = 0.001). No differences in basal lung function and post-bronchodilator response to salbutamol (by IOS or spirometry) were found between positive and negative API pre-schoolers. However, those positive API pre-schoolers with ICS had significantly higher central basal airway resistance (RA at 20Hz) and higher post-BD response (% change in FEF25-75 and in FEV0.5) than those positive API without ICS. CONCLUSION: Recurrent wheezer pre-schoolers with positive API and ICS used may have airway dysfunction. More studies are needed to confirm this finding

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Uso de salbutamol enteral en el shock medular / Use of enteral salbutamol in spinal shock

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Anafilaxia: casos clínicos / Anaphylaxis: clinical cases

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