A "real-life" study on height in prepubertal asthmatic children receiving inhaled steroids

J Asthma. 2018 Apr;55(4):437-442. doi: 10.1080/02770903.2017.1336243. Epub 2017 Jul 31.

Abstract

Introduction: Asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease in children and inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) constitute the first line of treatment for these patients. However, the potential growth-inhibiting effect of ICS has often been a cause of concern for both caregivers as well as physicians, and there still remains conflict regarding their safety profile.

Objective: To assess whether the administration of ICS in low or medium doses is associated with height reduction in prepubertal children.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study to examine the association between ICS treatment and growth deceleration in children with mild persistent asthma. The comparison of height measurements every 6 months from 3 to 8 years of age was conducted among three groups of patients: patients not receiving ICS, patients being treated with low dose of ICS and patients being treated with medium dose of ICS (GINA Guidelines 2015).

Results: This study included 284 patients (198 male, 86 female) aged 3-8 years; 75 patients were not receiving ICS, 63 patients were on low-dose ICS and 146 patients were on medium-dose ICS. The measured height every 6 months did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) among the three groups while the difference remained stable (p > 0.05), even when we evaluated males and females separately.

Conclusions: In this "real-life" study we found that long-term treatment with ICS in low or medium doses is not associated with height reduction in prepubertal children with asthma.

Keywords: Asthma; children; growth; height; steroids.

Publication types

  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use*
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Asthma / drug therapy*
  • Body Height / drug effects*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Fluticasone / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sexual Development

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents
  • Fluticasone