Efficacy and Safety of Inhaled Corticosteroids in Combination with a Long‐Acting Beta₂‐Agonist in Asthmatic Children Under Age 5

Abstract

The incidence of asthma in children under age 5 is higher than in any other segment of the population. Current NAEPP guidelines recommend treatment of some asthmatics in this age group with the combination of an inhaled corticosteroid and a long‐acting beta₂‐agonist even though this practice has never been studied with children younger than 4. This retrospective study analyzes the efficacy and safety of a combination of fluticasone propionate (FP) and salmeterol (SA) in children under 5. Fifty patients who started using FP/SA before the age of 60 months were included in the analysis. To determine efficacy, we tracked the change in emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and the frequency of wheezing as a result of treatment. Emergency room visits were reduced from 78 to 5 (p < 0.001), hospitalizations were reduced from 43 to 2 (p < 0.001) and frequency of wheezing, daily, weekly, or monthly, was also reduced significantly (p < 0.003). In terms of safety, there was only a 3.4% reduction in height percentile (p = 0.37). Combination therapy is highly efficacious and safe for asthmatics under the age of 5. A well‐designed prospective study is necessary to further evaluate the benefits and risks of this treatment method.

• Asthma
• Fluticasone propionate
• Salmeterol
• Inhaled corticosteroid
• Long‐acting beta₂‐agonist
• Children under 5