New research finds no evidence of adverse maternal and neonatal
outcomes with the use of inhaled asthma medications throughout
pregnancy
MILWAUKEE ,
April 19,
2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Maintaining asthma
medication and asthma control leads to safer perinatal
outcomes for pregnant women according to new research published in
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice (JACI:
In Practice), an official journal of the American Academy of
Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).
"women with asthma who continued to use
inhaled corticosteroids during pregnancy had decreased odds of
preterm delivery"
"We showed the importance of continuing asthma medication during
pregnancy to improve pregnancy, maternal and neonatal outcomes. We
found that women with asthma who continued to use inhaled
corticosteroids during pregnancy had decreased odds of preterm
delivery and infants who were admitted to the neonatal intensive
care unit. We also showed no evidence of adverse pregnancy,
maternal and neonatal outcomes with the use of rescue or
maintenance asthma medication during pregnancy," says corresponding
author Sangmin Sarah Lee, PhD.
According to the research, asthma affects 5-13% of pregnant
women with many women requiring daily pharmacotherapy to achieve
asthma control, however, adherence to medication often decreases
during pregnancy. Maternal asthma leaves pregnant women at
increased risk for adverse perinatal outcomes including
preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, placental abruption, obstetric
hemorrhage and placenta previa, and the risk increases with asthma
exacerbations. Maintaining asthma medication during pregnancy can
reduce preterm delivery and aid in achieving improved maternal and
neonatal outcomes according to the study.
To understand the association between the use of asthma
medication on asthma exacerbation and maternal and neonatal
outcomes, researchers used linked population-based administrative
databases from Alberta, Canada,
spanning from 2012 to 2018 to categorize pregnant women with asthma
based on their asthma medication use one year prior to pregnancy.
The categories included the use of short-acting beta-agonists
(SABA), inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and ICS with long-acting
beta-agonists (ICS+LABA). The study found that, 38% - 60% of
pregnant women discontinued either rescue or maintenance asthma
medication with minimal adherence to maintenance medication,
although the reason for discontinuation was unknown.
According to the research, the use of SABA, ICS and ICS+LABA had
greater odds of disease exacerbation compared to no asthma
medication usage during pregnancy, however, researchers found that
ICS use during pregnancy decreased the odds of preterm birth and
NICU admission. The study also found that those with
moderate-to-decreasing medication adherence and
moderate-to-increasing adherence to ICS+LABA had greater odds of
disease exacerbation compared to groups with low adherence. Other
group comparisons were not statistically significant.
The study highlights the importance of continuing asthma
maintenance medication during pregnancy to improve health outcomes.
Continuing inhaled corticosteroids during pregnancy decreased the
odds of preterm delivery and neonatal intensive care unit
admission. Additional research will be valuable in understanding
the effects of asthma medication during pregnancy on postpartum and
long-term outcomes for mothers and neonates.
Read the full study.
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI)
is the leading membership organization of more than 7,100
allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied
health professionals and other professionals with a special
interest in the research and treatment of allergic and immunologic
diseases. Established in 1943, the AAAAI has more than 7,100
members in the United States,
Canada and 72 other countries and
is the go-to resource for patients living with allergies, asthma
and immune deficiency disorders.
Media Contact
Candace Archie, The American
Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), (414)
272-6071, carchie@aaaai.org, aaaai.org
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SOURCE The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
(AAAAI)