title: Response of older patients with IgE-mediated asthma to omalizumab: a pooled analysis.
abstract: Asthma in older adults is under-recognized and possibly associated with allergic triggers. We conducted a pooled analysis of omalizumab double-blind, placebo-controlled trials to evaluate efficacy in older adults. Data for the total study population and subjects aged > or = 50 years with moderate-severe allergic asthma were examined. We used Poisson regression to analyze the number of asthma exacerbations and logistic regression to evaluate treatment effectiveness. Symptom scores and total rescue medication puffs were evaluated by analysis of covariance. Omalizumab reduced the risk of clinically significant asthma exacerbations, led to a significantly greater response in patient/investigator-reported global effectiveness, improved asthma symptom scores, and reduced rescue medication use in adults > or = 50 years with moderate-severe allergic asthma.
authors.affiliation: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, US Clinical Development & Medical Affairs, East Hanover, New Jersey 07936, USA. robert.maykut@novartis.com
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Maykut
authors.forename: Farid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kianifard
authors.forename: Gregory P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Geba
mesh_terms: D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069444:Omalizumab; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000069444:Omalizumab; D007073:Immunoglobulin E