Asthma Medication Regimens in Pregnancy: Longitudinal Changes in Asthma Status
E-pub2021 Apr 21
Journal Article
Authors:
Rohn, M.C.H.;
Stevens, D.R.;
Kanner, J.;
Nobles, C.;
Chen, Z.;
Grantz, K.L.;
Sherman, S.;
Grobman, W.A.;
Kumar, R.;
Biggio, J.;
Mendola, P.
Secondary:
Am J Perinatol
PMID:
33882589
URL:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33882589/
Keywords:
Asthma; asthma symptoms; exacerbations; inflammation. pregnancy; lung function; medication regimens
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the impact of common asthma medication regimens on asthma symptoms, exacerbations, lung function, and inflammation during pregnancy.STUDY DESIGN: A total of 311 women with asthma were enrolled in a prospective pregnancy cohort. Asthma medication regimen was categorized into short-acting β agonist (SABA) alone, SABA + inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), SABA + ICS + long-acting β agonist (LABA), and no asthma medications (reference). We evaluated asthma control at enrollment (< 15 weeks' gestation) and its change into trimesters 2 and 3, including per cent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (%FEV1) and peak expiratory flow (%PEF), pulse oximetry, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), asthma symptoms (asthma attacks/month, night symptoms/week), and severe exacerbations. Linear mixed models adjusted for site, age, race, annual income, gestational age, body mass index, and smoking, and propensity scores accounted for asthma control status at baseline.RESULTS: Women taking SABA + ICS and SABA + ICS + LABA had better first trimester %PEF (83.5% [75.7-91.3] and 84.6% [76.9-92.3], respectively) compared with women taking no asthma medications (72.7% [66.0-79.3]). Women taking SABA + ICS + LABA also experienced improvements in %FEV1 (+11.1%, < 0.01) in the third trimester and FeNO in the second (-12.3 parts per billion [ppb], < 0.01) and third (-11.0 ppb, < 0.01) trimesters as compared with the trajectory of women taking no medications. SABA + ICS use was associated with increased odds of severe exacerbations in the first (odds ratio [OR]: 2.22 [1.10-4.46]) and second (OR: 3.15 [1.11-8.96]) trimesters, and SABA + ICS + LABA use in the second trimester (OR: 7.89 [2.75-21.47]). Women taking SABA alone were similar to those taking no medication.CONCLUSION: Pregnant women taking SABA + ICS and SABA + ICS + LABA had better lung function in the first trimester. SABA + ICS + LABA was associated with improvements in lung function and inflammation across gestation. However, both the SABA + ICS and SABA + ICS + LABA groups had a higher risk of severe exacerbation during early to mid-pregnancy.KEY POINTS: · Medication regimens may affect perinatal asthma control.. · Intensive regimens improved lung function/inflammation.. · Women on intensive regimens had more acute asthma events..
