Asthma exacerbations during the first trimester of pregnancy and congenital malformations: revisiting the association in a large representative cohort

Complex interplays: Asthma management and maternal‑fetal outcomes in pregnancy (Review)

Asthma, a common chronic respiratory condition, poses unique challenges in pregnancy, impacting both maternal and fetal health. Of note, 8-13% of pregnant women suffer from asthma, a condition that can worsen, stabilize, or improve during pregnancy. These fluctuations necessitate a nuanced management strategy to ensure the health of both the mother and fetus. Adverse outcomes, such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and increased cesarean delivery rates are associated with poorly controlled asthma. From a fetal perspective, the risks include preterm birth and a low birth weight. Physiological changes in pregnancy, such as an increased tidal volume and altered drug metabolism due to increased blood volume, complicate the management of asthma. The safety of asthma medications during pregnancy remains a significant concern, with ongoing research into their teratogenic effects. Recent advancements in treatment include the development of biologics and the increased use of personalized medicine, integrating pharmacogenomics and immunological profiling to tailor treatments to individual needs. Digital health tools have also emerged, enabling improved patient monitoring and management. The present review highlights the complex interplay between asthma management and pregnancy outcomes, advocating for comprehensive care approaches that consider the dynamic physiological changes during pregnancy. It underscores the need for ongoing research into the safety of medication and innovative therapeutic strategies to improve health outcomes for pregnant women with asthma and their babies.

Asthma in pregnancy: a review of recent literature

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Asthma remains the most common respiratory disease in pregnancy. Identifying risk factors for asthma exacerbations during pregnancy is critical, as uncontrolled asthma can have detrimental effects for both mother and baby. In this review, we discuss recent literature exploring risk factors, fetal and maternal effects, and treatment options for asthma during pregnancy.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent literature suggests that optimizing asthma during pregnancy improves outcomes for both mother and baby, as well as later in childhood. Current research affirms that the benefit of asthma medication use outweighs any potential risks related to the medications themselves. Limited information is available regarding the use of newer therapies such as biologics during pregnancy.

SUMMARY

Identifying risk factors for asthma exacerbations during pregnancy is critical to prevent adverse outcomes for both mother and baby. Recent evidence continues to affirm the safety of asthma medication use; more studies are needed regarding the use of new therapies during pregnancy.

The Saudi initiative for asthma - 2024 update: Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma in adults and children

The Saudi Initiative for Asthma 2024 (SINA-2024) is the sixth version of asthma guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma for adults and children that was developed by the SINA group, a subsidiary of the Saudi Thoracic Society. The main objective of the SINA is to have guidelines that are up-to-date, simple to understand, and easy to use by healthcare workers dealing with asthma patients. To facilitate achieving the goals of asthma management, the SINA Panel approach is mainly based on the assessment of symptom control and risk for both adults and children. The approach to asthma management is aligned for age groups: adults, adolescents, children aged 5-12 years, and children aged <5 years. SINA guidelines have focused more on personalized approaches reflecting a better understanding of disease heterogeneity with the integration of recommendations related to biologic agents, evidence-based updates on treatment, and the role of immunotherapy in management. The medication appendix has also been updated with the addition of recent evidence, new indications for existing medication, and new medications. The guidelines are constructed based on the available evidence, local literature, and the current situation at national and regional levels. There is also an emphasis on patient-doctor partnership in the management that also includes a self-management plan.

A Comprehensive Review on Asthma Challenges in Pregnancy: Exploring First Trimester Exacerbations and the Spectrum of Congenital Anomalies

This comprehensive review delves into the intricate relationship between asthma and pregnancy, specifically focusing on the challenges encountered in the first trimester and the ensuing impact on maternal and fetal health. Examining physiological changes during pregnancy reveals the dynamic interplay influencing respiratory function and immune responses. Key findings underscore the vulnerability to asthma exacerbations in the critical first trimester, emphasizing the potential risks to both maternal and fetal well-being. Maternal and fetal outcomes are discussed, emphasizing the associations between poorly controlled asthma and adverse perinatal outcomes. Implications for clinical practice highlight the importance of preconception care, continuous monitoring, and collaborative efforts between obstetricians and pulmonologists. Patient education emerges as a fundamental aspect to empower pregnant women in managing their condition. The conclusion emphasizes the imperative for comprehensive care, advocating for individualized treatment plans, multidisciplinary collaboration, and public health initiatives. By adopting this holistic approach, healthcare providers can navigate the complexities of asthma during pregnancy, ultimately ensuring the optimal health of both the expectant mother and her developing fetus.

Improving Asthma Outcomes During Pregnancy in Underserved Communities

It is known that poor asthma control is common in pregnancy, and asthma in general disproportionally affects underserved communities. However, there is a paucity of data examining strategies to improve asthma control specifically among pregnant women from vulnerable populations. Identified barriers to optimal asthma care in other underserved groups include health literacy, financial constraints, cultural differences, and poor environmental controls. These deficiencies may also be targets for multimodal interventions geared toward improving asthma outcomes for underserved women during pregnancy.

Use of Asthma Medication During Gestation and Risk of Specific Congenital Anomalies

Poorly controlled asthma can affect neonatal outcomes including congenital anomalies, which can be reduced with appropriate asthma care during pregnancy. Although there is a concern regarding the safety of asthma medication use during pregnancy and congenital anomalies, the risk of uncontrolled asthma outweighs any potential risks of controller and reliever medication use. Patient education before and during pregnancy is critical to ensure good compliance to therapy and reduce the risk of poor asthma control.

Asthma in pregnancy

Background: Asthma is a frequent and potentially life-threatening disease that complicates many pregnancies. There are extensive data with regard to the diagnosis and treatment of asthma during pregnancy. Medical providers require an up-to-date summary of the critical aspects of asthma management during pregnancy. Objective: This review aimed to summarize the available data from clinical trials, cohort studies, expert opinions, and guideline recommendations with regard to asthma in pregnancy. Methods: A search through PubMed was conducted by using keywords previously mentioned and MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terminology. Clinical trials, observational studies, expert opinions, guidelines, and other reviews were included. The quality of the studies was assessed, and data were extracted and summarized. Results: Asthma worsens in ∼40% of pregnant women, which can be associated with maternal and fetal complications. Physiologic changes in the respiratory, cardiovascular, and immune systems during pregnancy play a critical role in the manifestations of asthma. The diagnosis and the treatment of asthma are similar to that of patients who are not pregnant. Nonetheless, concern for fetal malformations, preterm birth, and low birth weight must be considered when managing pregnant patients with asthma. Importantly, cornerstones of the pharmacotherapy of asthma seem to be safe during pregnancy. Conclusion: Asthma in pregnancy is associated with adverse outcomes. Roadblocks to management include associated comorbidities, medication nonadherence, atopy, lack of education, and smoking habits. These need to be acknowledged and addressed for successful asthma management during pregnancy.

[What not to do in the therapeutic management of bronchial asthma. Delphi consensus recommendations for physicians who treat asthma]

Asthma is one of the most prevalent diseases in Spain, yet despite the great diagnostic and therapeutic advances made in this field, health outcomes suggest that up to 80% of patients do not have their asthma well controlled. Although the causes of this situation are diverse, there are some practices among the professionals who treat asthma that are not conducive to improving health outcomes in this disease. Our working group has prepared this document in order to remind clinicians of a series of basic guidelines, aligned with current guidelines and recent literature, and agreed by a multidisciplinary expert panel using Delphi methodology. These recommendations about what not to do in the management of asthma in the adult patient are structured into four areas: diagnosis, monitoring, treatment and prevention of exacerbations.

The use of biological agents in pregnant women affected by autoimmune disorders: Why we need more research of this neglected area

Women of childbearing age are largely affected by several autoimmune disorders (the estimates range between 1.5 and 10 per 10,000). The increasing number of effective biological agents has dramatically revolutionized the treatment of these clinical conditions, ameliorating the patient's quality of life. The use of these agents by women during pregnancy is growing to ensure the disease activity control and avoid adverse health outcomes. However, for many newer biological agents, the degree of information concerning their use in pregnancy is often incomplete to perform a conclusive risk assessment on fetal and maternal health given the exclusion of this specific population from pharmacological clinical trials. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has confirmed the unacceptable inequities of pharmacological research and medical treatment for pregnant and lactating women, exacerbating the need for filling the gaps of quantitative and qualitative pharmacology data in this sensitive population. ere we summarize (i) what is already known about safety and effectiveness of biological agents in this understudied population (with specific focus on pregnancy-related health outcomes), and what we are going to learn from the on-going studies among pregnant women treated with biological agents; (ii) the methodological and ethical considerations that characterize the pharmacological research in pregnancy, also discussing emerging evidence on the use of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in this clinical setting.

[Management of asthma during pregnancy]

Asthma is the most common chronic condition in pregnant women. The risks of complications associated with asthma for the mother, the foetus and the pregnancy are mainly due to uncontrolled asthma and the occurrence of exacerbations. These events are promoted by the patient's difficulty in complying with treatment or by prescription insufficiency for an unjustified fear of teratogenicity. The challenge of the management of asthma during pregnancy is to ensure optimal maternal asthma control in order to prevent foetal hypoxia and thus, reduce the risk of complications. Preventing the occurrence of asthma symptoms and exacerbations, ensuring optimal lung function and managing the risk factors of poor asthma outcomes and comorbidities are the principles necessary to achieve this goal. Because of the low or non-existent risks of the main treatments of asthma for the foetus and the mother, it is widely recommended that all therapies initiated before conception are continued, in particular inhaled corticosteroids, and to adjust the dosage to the minimum effective dose. During the preconception period and throughout pregnancy, coordination of the different healthcare professionals (general practitioner, respiratory specialist and gynecologist) is essential, with the mother-to-be playing a central role in the management of her asthma.

Asthma and pregnancy in the 2020 decade: still a matter of concern

Asthma is a fairly common health problem for pregnant women and a potentially serious medical condition that may complicate pregnancy. Most complications are related to lack of disease control, which can adversely affect both maternal quality of life and perinatal outcomes. In this article, we review recent literature concerning asthma in pregnancy, describing the course of the disease and associated complications. Furthermore, we review and discuss asthma monitoring and management during pregnancy, labor and post-partum. The course of asthma symptoms during pregnancy is unpredictable but exacerbations are more common during the second trimester. The causes are multifactorial and asthma phenotype may have a role. It has been proposed that combined use of CARAT (Control of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma Test) and lung function tests can be used to monitor and adjust therapy during pregnancy in patients with asthma. As a complement, an approach that considers airway inflammation assessment using fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), a noninvasive marker of inflammation, may improve asthma control during pregnancy. It is important to consider a few but relevant differences in asthma management and treatment regarding pregnancy and the peri-partum period to safely achieve optimal management of asthma during all these phases for both mother and offsprings.

The Effect of Asthma Severity on Perinatal Outcomes: A Tertiary Hospital Experience

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of asthma severity and disease exacerbation on pregnancy outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Pregnancies were classified into 3 groups as mild (n=195), moderate (n=63), and severe (n=26) according to preconceptional asthma severity. Demographic features, clinical characteristics, and perinatal outcomes were compared between the groups. Delivery characteristics and pregnancy outcomes were also compared between the pregnancies with or without asthma exacerbation (43 and 241 pregnancies, respectively).

RESULTS

Worsening of symptoms during pregnancy was higher in moderate and severe asthma groups (p<0.001). Rates of spontaneous abortion, fetal structural anomaly, preterm delivery, preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction (FGR), oligohydramnios, gestational diabetes, and intrauterine fetal demise were higher in moderate and severe asthma groups (p-values were < 0.001, 0.01, 0.008, 0.02, 0.01, < 0.001, < 0.001, and 0.007, respectively). Admissions to neonatal intensive care units and neonatal complication rates were higher among moderate and severe asthma groups (p=0.035 and < 0.001). Spontaneous abortion, preterm delivery, preeclampsia, FGR, oligohydramnios, and neonatal complication rates were higher (p<0.001) in the group with exacerbated symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Moderate to severe asthma before pregnancy and the exacerbation of asthma symptoms during pregnancy may lead to increased rates of perinatal complications.

Pharmacotherapeutic management of asthma in pregnancy and the effect of sex hormones

INTRODUCTION

Asthma is a common medical condition that can frequently affect pregnancy, and thus optimal management of asthma in pregnancy is important for both mother and baby. This article reviews recent developments of asthma pharmacotherapy and provides emerging data on the safety of asthma controller medications and biological therapies in pregnancy. The authors highlight the clinical outcomes of asthma during pregnancy, and summarize emerging new data related to the influence of sex hormones and fetal sex on asthma severity.

AREAS COVERED

This review of asthma pharmacotherapy during pregnancy examines the recent guidelines and reports the most pertinent publications on safety data and asthma management.

EXPERT OPINION

Asthma management during pregnancy follows the same principles as that of non-pregnant asthma. The available data for most asthma medications are reassuring, however there is a lack of adequate safety data available because pregnant women are generally excluded from clinical trials. More clarity is needed in guidelines regarding the management of asthma in pregnancy, and high-quality randomized control trials are required to strengthen the evidence base and inform future guidelines. In particular, safety studies examining biological therapies in pregnant women with severe asthma are needed.

Prescribing for pregnancy: asthma

Topics for DTB review articles are selected by DTB's editorial board to provide concise overviews of medicines and other treatments to help patients get the best care. Articles include a summary of key points and a brief overview for patients. Articles may also have a series of multiple choice CME questions.

Effect of asthma exacerbation during pregnancy in women with asthma: a population-based cohort study

The association between asthma exacerbation during pregnancy and adverse maternal and child health outcomes have not been investigated appropriately. Our objective was to determine the short- and long-term intergenerational effect of asthma exacerbation in pregnant women with asthma.A population cohort study was conducted using data from the Ontario asthma surveillance system and population-level health administrative data. Asthma exacerbation in pregnant women with asthma was defined as at least one of the following criteria: at least five physician visits, or one emergency department visit or one hospital admission for asthma during pregnancy. Pregnancy complications, adverse perinatal outcomes and early childhood respiratory disorders were identified using International Classification of Disease codes (9th and 10th revisions).The cohort consisted of 103 424 singleton pregnancies in women with asthma. Asthma exacerbation in pregnant women with asthma was associated with higher odds of pre-eclampsia (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.12-1.51) and pregnancy-induced hypertension (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.02-1.33); babies had higher odds of low birthweight (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.00-1.31), preterm birth (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.01-1.29) and congenital malformations (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.05-1.39). Children born to women with asthma exacerbation during pregnancy had elevated risk of asthma (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.13-1.33) and pneumonia (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.03-1.22) during the first 5 years of life.Asthma exacerbation during pregnancy in women with asthma showed increased risk of pregnancy complications, adverse perinatal outcomes and early childhood respiratory disorders in their children, indicating that appropriate asthma management may reduce the risk of adverse health outcomes.

Timing of Maternal Asthma Diagnosis in Relation to Adverse Perinatal Outcomes

BACKGROUND

It is unclear if asthma diagnosed during pregnancy puts the fetus at a higher risk of poor perinatal outcomes than pre-existing asthma.

OBJECTIVE

To assess if the risks of prematurity, major malformations, and small-for-gestational age (SGA) are higher in women with asthma diagnosed during versus pre-pregnancy.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of pregnant women aged ≥15 years with and without incident asthma, constructed from health administrative databases. Follow-up began 24 months before pregnancy onset (cohort entry) and ended at delivery. Incident asthma was defined as a first diagnosis among those without asthma in the 8 years before cohort entry. Time was classified into pre-pregnancy and each trimester until delivery. We fit inverse probability weighted Poisson models to estimate marginal relative risks (RRs) for prematurity (delivery <37th week), major malformations, and SGA (birth weight <10th percentile) comparing women with and without asthma, assessing the asthma timing of diagnosis interaction term via a Wald test.

RESULTS

In a cohort of 122,880 deliveries, the increased risk of prematurity, but not SGA, due to incident asthma was higher in those diagnosed during the second (RR, 1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-1.65; Wald P = .05) and third (RR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.62-2.29; Wald P < .01) trimesters relative to pre-pregnancy (RR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.98-1.15). A trend toward an increased risk of major malformations was observed in those diagnosed during the first trimester (RR, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.94-1.49; Wald P = .15) than pre-pregnancy (RR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.92-1.07).

CONCLUSIONS

Asthma diagnosed during, versus before, pregnancy was associated with a greater prematurity risk, suggesting an important role of preconception and prenatal screening.

Perinatal Outcomes Associated with Maternal Asthma and Its Severity and Control During Pregnancy

BACKGROUND

Estimates of the effects of maternal asthma on pregnancy outcomes are inconsistent across studies, possibly because of differences in exposure definition.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes associated with maternal asthma diagnosis, severity, and control in a large, nationally representative cohort.

METHODS

This study was conducted within the IBM Health MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters Database (2011-2015) and the Medicaid Analytic eXtract database (2000-2014). Asthma was identified by diagnosis and treatment codes, severity was based on medications dispensed, and control was based on short-acting β-agonist dispensations and exacerbations. We estimated the relative risks (RRs) of stillbirth, spontaneous abortion, preterm birth, small for gestational age (SGA), neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, and congenital malformations, comparing pregnancies with differing asthma disease status.

RESULTS

We identified 29,882 pregnancies complicated by asthma in the MarketScan database and 160,638 in the Medicaid Analytic eXtract database. We observed no consistent associations between asthma diagnosis, severity, or control, and stillbirth, abortions, or malformations. However, we observed increased risks of prematurity, SGA, and NICU admission among women with asthma compared with those without asthma. Compared with women with well-controlled asthma, women with poor control late in pregnancy had an increased risk of preterm birth (relative risk, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.32-1.46) and NICU admission (relative risk, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.17-1.35). More severe asthma was associated with SGA (relative risk, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.07-1.30).

CONCLUSIONS

We did not observe an increased risk of pregnancy losses or malformations among women with asthma. However, we found an association between asthma severity and SGA, and between exacerbations late in pregnancy and preterm delivery and NICU admission.

Poorly Controlled Asthma During Pregnancy Remains Common in the United States

BACKGROUND

Asthma is among the most common preexisting medical conditions in pregnancy. Uncontrolled asthma may increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the prevalence, severity, and control of asthma during pregnancy in the United States.

METHODS

We identified 2 cohorts of pregnancies ending in a live birth within 2 large US health care claims databases: the Truven Health MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters Database (MarketScan, private insurance) for the period 2011 to 2015 and the nationwide Medicaid Analytic eXtract (MAX, public insurance) for the period 2000 to 2013. We defined asthma prevalence, severity, and control on the basis of International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision diagnoses and asthma-related treatments. Severe asthma was defined as dispensing of 1 or more medium/high-dose inhaled corticosteroid plus additional therapy within the 12 months preceding delivery. Poor control was defined as having at least 1 of the following: 1 or more exacerbation (asthma-related hospitalization or emergency room visit, or a course of oral corticosteroids) or 5 or more filled prescriptions for short-acting β-agonists between the last menstrual period and delivery.

RESULTS

Among 604,420 pregnant women in MarketScan and 2,071,359 in MAX, 20,104 (3.3%) and 120,745 (5.8%) had asthma, respectively. Among pregnant women with asthma, 19.0% and 18.8% had severe asthma and 16.5% and 28.0% had poorly controlled asthma in MarketScan and MAX, respectively. Many women with poorly controlled asthma during pregnancy were not dispensed a long-term controller (38.4% in MarketScan and 43.3% in MAX). Within both cohorts, women with poor control were more often smokers and obese, had more comorbidities, and used more concomitant nonasthma medications.

CONCLUSIONS

Poorly controlled asthma is more frequent among publicly versus privately insured pregnancies in the United States. Dispensing of long-term controller medications during pregnancy remains low, even for symptomatic patients.

Pregnancy outcomes in the omalizumab pregnancy registry and a disease-matched comparator cohort

BACKGROUND

The Observational Study of the Use and Safety of Xolair (omalizumab) during Pregnancy (EXPECT) pregnancy registry was a prospective observational study established in 2006 to evaluate perinatal outcomes in pregnant women exposed to omalizumab and their infants.

OBJECTIVE

This analysis compares EXPECT outcomes with those from a disease-matched population of pregnant women not treated with omalizumab. Data from a substudy of platelet counts among newborns are also presented.

METHODS

The EXPECT study enrolled 250 women with asthma exposed to omalizumab during pregnancy. The disease-matched external comparator cohort of women with moderate-to-severe asthma (n = 1153), termed the Quebec External Comparator Cohort (QECC), was created by using data from health care databases in Quebec, Canada. Outcome estimates were age adjusted based on the maternal age distribution of the EXPECT study.

RESULTS

Among singleton infants in the EXPECT study, the prevalence of major congenital anomalies was 8.1%, which was similar to the 8.9% seen in the QECC. In the EXPECT study 99.1% of pregnancies resulted in live births, which was similar to 99.3% in the QECC. Premature birth was identified in 15.0% of EXPECT infants and 11.3% in the QECC. Small for gestational age was identified in 9.7% of EXPECT infants and 15.8% in the QECC.

CONCLUSION

There was no evidence of an increased risk of major congenital anomalies among pregnant women exposed to omalizumab compared with a disease-matched unexposed cohort. Given the observational nature of this registry, however, an absence of increased risk with omalizumab cannot be definitively established.

The Saudi Initiative for Asthma - 2019 Update: Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma in adults and children

This is the fourth version of the updated guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma, developed by the Saudi Initiative for Asthma (SINA) group, a subsidiary of the Saudi Thoracic Society. The main objective of the SINA is to have guidelines that are up to date, simple to understand, and easy to use by healthcare workers dealing with asthma patients. To facilitate achieving the goals of asthma management, the SINA panel approach is mainly based on the assessment of symptom control and risk for both adults and children. The approach to asthma management is now more aligned for different age groups. The guidelines have focused more on personalized approaches reflecting better understanding of disease heterogeneity with integration of recommendations related to biologic agents, evidence-based updates on treatment, and role of immunotherapy in management. The medication appendix has also been updated with the addition of recent evidence, new indications for existing medication, and new medications. The guidelines are constructed based on the available evidence, local literature, and current situation at national and regional levels. There is also an emphasis on patient–doctor partnership in the management that also includes a self-management plan.

What is safe enough - asthma in pregnancy - a review of current literature and recommendations

Background

Although asthma is one of the most serious diseases causing complications during pregnancy, half of the women discontinue therapy thus diminishing the control of the disease, mostly due to the inadequate education and fear of adverse events. Sadly, this is sometimes encouraged by insufficiently educated physicians. Since the incidence and the prevalence of asthma is increasing, it is important to arouse the importance of proper asthma therapy during pregnancy. Inadequate therapy, as well as interrupting or discontinuing therapy, may result in adverse perinatal outcomes for both mother and child.

Main body

The main goal of asthma control during pregnancy is control of symptoms and prevention of exacerbations, same as in every asthmatic, but even more important. Maintaining optimal lung function, as well as regular daily activities, ensures maintenance of optimal fetal oxygenation. The therapy should be adapted depending on the frequency and severity of daily and nocturnal symptoms, demand for reliever therapy, by the limitations in everyday activities and the frequency of emergency asthma-related hospitalizations. Pre-conceptual education and therapy are very important and should be supported by an asthma action plan adjusted for the period of pregnancy. It is very important to note that most of the drugs used before pregnancy can be safely continued during pregnancy. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapy should be used in parallel. Pregnant women should be informed about the nature of the disease, therapy used during pregnancy, possible complications, avoidance of triggers, proper administration of therapy and, most important, why should the therapy be continued throughout the pregnancy on individual basis. Although drug treatment should be based on using drugs with less harm risk, if control of severe symptoms is needed to be achieved in order to protect both mother and child, any anti-asthmatic drug would have the beneficial benefit/harm ratio.

Conclusion

There is no solid evidence that asthma treatment during pregnancy causes adverse outcomes for the mother and child but for many, especially new drugs, there is not enough data gathered. On the other hand, harmfulness of uncontrolled asthma during pregnancy is well documented so every effort should be put on preserving good control of asthma during pregnancy.

Risk of Postpartum Depression Among Women with Asthma

BACKGROUND

Several epidemiological studies have suggested that the risk of depression is increased in patients with asthma, but the impact of asthma during pregnancy on postpartum depression remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association between maternal asthma and postpartum depression in a population-based cohort study retrieved from administrative databases.

METHODS

A cohort of 35,520 pregnancies in women with asthma during pregnancy and 197,057 pregnancies in women without asthma who delivered between 1998 and 2009 was extracted from the Quebec Asthma and Pregnancy Database. They were followed from the day of delivery up to 1 year postpartum. A generalized estimating equation model was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratios of postpartum depression with 95% CIs in women with asthma during pregnancy versus women without asthma.

RESULTS

Postpartum depression within 1 year after delivery occurred in 6.1% of women with asthma versus 2.9% of women without asthma. After adjusting for several potential confounders, including depression/postpartum depression up to 10 years before pregnancy, we found that women with asthma were 58% more likely to experience postpartum depression within 1 year after delivery than women without asthma during pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.50-1.67).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that women with asthma are more likely to suffer from postpartum depression. A close monitoring of signs of depression for pregnant women with asthma is indicated, allowing prompt and efficient interventions if needed.

Rationale for Dietary Antioxidant Treatment of ADHD

Increasing understanding arises regarding disadvantages of stimulant medication in children with ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). This review presents scientific findings supporting dietary antioxidant treatment of ADHD and describes substantial alterations in the immune system, epigenetic regulation of gene expression, and oxidative stress regulation in ADHD. As a result, chronic inflammation and oxidative stress could develop, which can lead to ADHD symptoms, for example by chronic T-cell-mediated neuroinflammation, as well as by neuronal oxidative damage and loss of normal cerebral functions. Therefore, modulation of immune system activity and oxidant-antioxidant balance using nutritional approaches might have potential in ADHD treatment. The use of natural antioxidants against oxidative conditions is an emerging field in the management of neurodegenerative diseases. Dietary polyphenols, for example, have antioxidant capacities as well as immunoregulatory effects and, therefore, appear appropriate in ADHD therapy. This review can stimulate the development and investigation of dietary antioxidant treatment in ADHD, which is highly desired.

Determinants of low risk of asthma exacerbation during pregnancy

BACKGROUND

Assessment of asthma control every 4-6 weeks during pregnancy is recommended to reduce risk of exacerbation, and by that improve outcome.

OBJECTIVE

To identify determinants of pregnancies with low risk of asthma exacerbation.

METHODS

All pregnant women enrolled into the Management of Asthma during Pregnancy (MAP) programme at Hvidovre Hospital since 2007. Assessment of asthma control, adjustment of treatment, spirometry and measurement of exhaled nitric oxide (F_E NO) were performed, and baseline characteristics and exacerbation history were collected at enrolment. Determinants of low-exacerbation risk pregnancies were identified by logistic regression analysis (stepwise backward elimination).

RESULTS

In 1283 pregnancies, 107 exacerbations were observed. Multiple regression analysis revealed that no history of pre-pregnancy exacerbations (P < .001), no prescribed controller medication (P < .001), and clinically stable asthma at enrolment (P = .002) were significantly associated with low risk of exacerbation during pregnancy; with these combined characteristics, only two of 385 pregnancies were complicated by an exacerbation (OR 0.04, 95% CI 0.01-0.18, P < .001).

CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Clinically stable asthma at enrolment, together with no history of previous exacerbations and no prescribed controller medication, is a determinant of low risk of an asthma exacerbation during pregnancy, which may guide clinicians in individualizing surveillance of asthma during pregnancy.

Asthma Outcomes and Management During Pregnancy

Asthma during pregnancy poses a common, increasingly prevalent threat to the health of women and their children. The present article reviews recent insights gained from the epidemiology of asthma during pregnancy, demonstrating the many short- and long-term risks to mother and fetus incurred by poorly controlled maternal asthma. We further discuss emerging evidence that active management of asthma during pregnancy can positively influence and perhaps completely mitigate these poor outcomes. Recent high-quality trials examining best methods for asthma treatment are reviewed and synthesized to offer an evidence-based pathway for comprehensive treatment of asthma in the outpatient setting. Safe and effective medications, as well as nonpharmacologic interventions, for asthma during pregnancy are discussed, and treatment options for related conditions of pregnancy, including depression, rhinitis, and gastroesophageal reflux, are presented. Throughout, we emphasize that an effective treatment strategy relies on a detailed patient evaluation, patient education, objective measurement of asthma control, and frequent and supportive follow-up. The cardiovascular and respiratory physiology of pregnancy is reviewed, as well as its implications for the management of patients with asthma, including patients requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation. For the situation when outpatient asthma management has failed, an approach to the critically ill pregnant patient with status asthmaticus is detailed. Multidisciplinary teams that include pulmonary specialists, obstetricians, primary care providers, nurses, pharmacists, and asthma educators improve the care of pregnant women with asthma.

Long-Acting β2-Agonists and Risk of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: A Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Maternal asthma has been found to be associated with an increased risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), that is, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and eclampsia. There is limited data, however, regarding the relationship between the use of long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs) during pregnancy and these outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether exposure to a LABA in addition to an inhaled corticosteroid increases the risk of HDP or preeclampsia/eclampsia, as compared with nonexposure to LABAs, in pregnant women with asthma.

METHODS

A cohort of 8,936 pregnancies in women with asthma who delivered between 1998 and 2010 was reconstructed using Quebec (Canada) health administrative databases. Cox proportional hazard regression models, adjusted for potential confounders, were used for statistical analyses. The primary exposure was LABA use (yes/no) measured on the first day of the 20th week of pregnancy. HDP were identified on the basis of recorded diagnoses and on prescriptions of antihypertensive drugs filled on or after the first day of week 20 of gestation.

RESULTS

There were 567 (6.3%) cases of HDP and 256 (2.9%) cases of preeclampsia/eclampsia in the cohort, and the rates of both disorders were similar in women exposed or not exposed to LABAs. LABA use was not associated with increased risks of HDP (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.69-1.33) or preeclampsia/eclampsia (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.53-1.50).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study provide evidence suggesting the safety of LABAs for the treatment of asthma in pregnancy, in terms of the risks of HDP and preeclampsia/eclampsia.

Defining asthma and assessing asthma outcomes using electronic health record data: a systematic scoping review

There is currently no consensus on approaches to defining asthma or assessing asthma outcomes using electronic health record-derived data. We explored these approaches in the recent literature and examined the clarity of reporting.We systematically searched for asthma-related articles published between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2015, extracted the algorithms used to identify asthma patients and assess severity, control and exacerbations, and examined how the validity of these outcomes was justified.From 113 eligible articles, we found significant heterogeneity in the algorithms used to define asthma (n=66 different algorithms), severity (n=18), control (n=9) and exacerbations (n=24). For the majority of algorithms (n=106), validity was not justified. In the remaining cases, approaches ranged from using algorithms validated in the same databases to using nonvalidated algorithms that were based on clinical judgement or clinical guidelines. The implementation of these algorithms was suboptimally described overall.Although electronic health record-derived data are now widely used to study asthma, the approaches being used are significantly varied and are often underdescribed, rendering it difficult to assess the validity of studies and compare their findings. Given the substantial growth in this body of literature, it is crucial that scientific consensus is reached on the underlying definitions and algorithms.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Offspring of Mothers With Inflammatory and Immune System Diseases

BACKGROUND

Prenatal inflammatory mechanisms may play a role in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders and could be relevant for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We investigated maternal chronic somatic diseases with immune components as possible risk factors for ADHD in offspring.

METHODS

We performed a population-based nested case-control study by linking data from longitudinal Norwegian registers. We included all individuals born during the period 1967-2008 and alive at record linkage (2012). Individuals receiving ADHD medication during the years 2004-2012 were defined as patients with ADHD (N = 47,944), and all remaining individuals (N = 2,274,713) were defined as control subjects. The associations between maternal diseases and ADHD in offspring were analyzed using logistic regression models.

RESULTS

The following chronic diseases with immune components were related to ADHD in offspring: multiple sclerosis (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.2-2.5), rheumatoid arthritis (adjusted OR = 1.7; 95% CI = 1.5-1.9), type 1 diabetes (adjusted OR = 1.6; 95% CI = 1.3-2.0), asthma (adjusted OR = 1.5; 95% CI = 1.4-1.6), and hypothyroidism (adjusted OR = 1.2; 95% CI = 1.1-1.4). In contrast, chronic hypertension and type 2 diabetes showed no significant associations. Estimates were almost unchanged with additional adjustment for parental ADHD, infant birth weight, and gestational age. Although point estimates for male and female offspring were different for some diseases (e.g., maternal asthma [adjusted OR = 1.7; 95% CI = 1.5-1.8 for female offspring and adjusted OR = 1.5; 95% CI = 1.4-1.6 for male offspring]), none of the associations differed significantly by offspring sex.

CONCLUSIONS

Several maternal somatic diseases with immune components were found to increase the risk of ADHD in offspring. The associations could involve several causal pathways, including common genetic predisposition and environmental factors, and increased insight into the mechanisms behind these relationships could enhance our understanding of the etiology of ADHD.

Pharmacological difficulties in the treatment of asthma in pregnant women

INTRODUCTION

This is a review of the diagnosis and management of asthma in the pregnant patient. Asthma may adversely affect both maternal quality of life and, perinatal outcomes. Optimal management of asthma is thus important for both mother and baby. Areas covered: Special attention is paid to the challenges in diagnosis and management of asthma during pregnancy. Expert commentary: This article reviews the safety of asthma medications commonly used during pregnancy.

The Saudi Initiative for Asthma - 2016 update: Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma in adults and children

This is an updated guideline for the diagnosis and management of asthma, developed by the Saudi Initiative for Asthma (SINA) group, a subsidiary of the Saudi Thoracic Society. The main objective of SINA is to have guidelines that are up to date, simple to understand and easy to use by nonasthma specialists, including primary care and general practice physicians. SINA approach is mainly based on symptom control and assessment of risk as it is the ultimate goal of treatment. The new SINA guidelines include updates of acute and chronic asthma management, with more emphasis on the use of asthma control in the management of asthma in adults and children, inclusion of a new medication appendix, and keeping consistency on the management at different age groups. The section on asthma in children is rewritten and expanded where the approach is stratified based on the age. The guidelines are constructed based on the available evidence, local literature, and the current situation in Saudi Arabia. There is also an emphasis on patient-doctor partnership in the management that also includes a self-management plan.