PEDIATRICS Vol. 117 No. 4 April 2006, pp. 1038-1045 (doi:10.1542/peds.2005-1076)
Current Asthma Guidelines May Not Identify Young Children Who Have Experienced Significant Morbidity
a Children's Hospital of Orange County, Orange, California
b Southern California Chapter of Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Los Angeles, California
BACKGROUND. The current guideline for classifying asthma severity, the National Asthma Education Prevention Program (NAEPP) 2002, is not evidence-based. We had the opportunity to validate this guideline in an untreated inner-city population, both in those 
5 and those >5 years of age. The basis for this retrospective validation model was to determine how well the NAEPP severity classification based on symptom-frequency criteria alone identified patients in those age groups demonstrating significant morbidity the previous year and thus the potential need for controller therapy.
METHODS. Using a mobile asthma van (Breathmobile) at the school site, children not receiving controller medication were evaluated by an asthma specialist for severity according to NAEPP guideline clinical criteria. Validation was determined by the relationship of guideline severity to 
2 emergency department (ED) visits, any hospitalization, health care utilization (any ED visit, hospitalization), number of exacerbations, and school absenteeism resulting from asthma the prior year.
RESULTS. Eight hundred twenty-six asthmatic children were evaluated; 89 (10.8%) were 2 years, 222 (26.9%) were 3 to 5 years, and 515 (62.3%) were >5 years of age; 60.5% were male, and 80.9% were Hispanic. Classification of asthma severity included 34.4% with mild intermittent, 10.2% with mild persistent, 31.5% with moderate persistent, and 24.0% with severe persistent asthma categories. There were significantly more Hispanic children and children 5 years classified as having mild intermittant asthma. Morbidity was clearly related to severity in the overall population. However, although the health care utilization was significantly related to severity, it was borderline in those 3 to 5 years and nonsignificant in children 2 years.
CONCLUSIONS. The NAEPP guidelines 2002, based on symptom-frequency criteria as assessed in this study, seem to offer a valid basis for classifying asthma severity in those >5 years of age but may underclassify younger children. Our data suggest that morbidity experienced in the prior year may provide a useful additional criterion for classifying asthma severity, particularly in those children 5 years of age.
Key Words: asthma • inner city • asthma control • asthma exacerbation • guidelines
Abbreviations: HC—health care • NAEPP—National Asthma Education Prevention Program • CHOC—Children's Hospital of Orange County • ED—emergency department • FVC—forced vital capacity • MI—mild intermittent • MIP—mild persistent • MOP—moderate persistent • SP—severe persistent
Accepted Sep 12, 2005.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Facebook 
Reddit 
Technorati 
Twitter What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  J. A. Castro-Rodriguez and G. J. Rodrigo Efficacy of Inhaled Corticosteroids in Infants and Preschoolers With Recurrent Wheezing and Asthma: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis Pediatrics, March 1, 2009; 123(3): e519 - e525. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. To, A. Gershon, C. Wang, S. Dell, and L. Cicutto Persistence and Remission in Childhood Asthma: A Population-Based Asthma Birth Cohort Study Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, December 1, 2007; 161(12): 1197 - 1204. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
