Severe exacerbations and decline in lung function in asthma.
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the association between asthma exacerbations and the decline in lung function, as well as the potential effects of an inhaled corticosteroid, budesonide, on exacerbation-related decline in patients with asthma.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether severe asthma exacerbations are associated with a persistent decline in lung function.


METHODS
The START (inhaled steroid treatment as regular therapy in early asthma) study was a 3-year, randomized, double-blind study of 7,165 patients (5-66 yr) with persistent asthma for less than 2 years, to determine whether early intervention with low-dose inhaled budesonide prevents severe asthma-related events (exacerbations requiring hospitalization or emergency treatment) and decline in lung function.


RESULTS
There were 315 patients who experienced at least one severe asthma exacerbation, of which 305 were analyzable, 190 in the placebo group and 115 in the budesonide group. In the placebo group, the change in post-bronchodilator FEV(1) % predicted from baseline to the end of the study, in patients who did or did not experience a severe exacerbation was -6.44% and -2.43%, respectively (P < 0.001). A significant difference was seen in both children and in adults, but not in adolescents. In the budesonide group, the change in the post-bronchodilator FEV(1) % predicted in patients who did or did not experience a severe exacerbation was -2.48% and -1.72%, respectively (P = 0.57). The difference in magnitude of reduction afforded by budesonide, in patients who experienced at least one severe asthma-related event compared with those who did not, was statistically significant (P = 0.042).


CONCLUSIONS
Severe asthma exacerbations are associated with a more rapid decline in lung function. Treatment with low doses of inhaled corticosteroid is associated with an attenuation of the decline.
O'Byrne
Paul M
PM
Department of Medicine, McMaster University Medical Center, Ontario, Canada. obyrnep@mcmaster.ca
Pedersen
Søren
S
Lamm
Carl Johan
CJ
Tan
Wan C
WC
Busse
William W
WW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019819:Budesonide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018450:Disease Progression; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D019819:Budesonide