Does boosting inhaled glucocorticoids avoid asthma exacerbations?

However, Daniel J. Jackson, MD, and his coauthors noted that there were fewer yellow zone episodes and fewer exacerbations in both groups than they had anticipated.

“It is important to recognize that our findings are specific to school-age children with mild-to-moderate persistent asthma regularly treated with daily low-dose inhaled glucocorticoids (with good adherence),” wrote Dr. Jackson from the department of pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and his coauthors.

The first study was supported by the National Institute for Health Research. Six authors declared grants, personal fees and other funding and support from the pharmaceutical industry outside the submitted work.

The second study was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Fifteen authors declared grants, personal fees and other funding from the pharmaceutical industry, as well as other private industry, outside the submitted work. Several also declared grants from organizations including the National Institutes of Health.

SOURCE: McKeeve T et al. N Engl J Med. 2018 Mar 3. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1714257; Jackson DJ et al. N Engl J Med. 2018 Mar 3. doi: 10.1056/NEJM0a1710988.