INTRODUCTION SPACE is a European network with 28 centres that includes asthmatic children who are on biologics. The aim of this study was to assess asthma control in these children.
METHODS Children 6-17 years, with severe asthma on biologics were included in this cross-sectional study. Characteristics at inclusion and data on asthma control (according to GINA and the Composite Asthma Severity Index, CASI) and paediatric asthma quality of life (PAQLQ) were collected. Data are expressed as mean (SD), median (IQR) or percentage. Differences between children on different biologics were compared with one way ANOVA.
RESULTS
| All (98) | Omalizumab (58) | Mepolizumab (15) | Dupilumab (25) | |
| Age yr |
13.2 (3.2) |
12.4 (3.3) | 13.2 (3.5) | 14.9 (2.0) |
| Females |
41 (42%) |
20 (34%) | 6 (40%) | 15 (60%) |
| ICS dose (FP eq*) |
400 (200-500) |
400 (200-500) | 250 (184-400) | 500 (200-625) |
| FEV1 Z-score |
-0.53 (-1.62, 0.36) |
-0.47 (-1.49, 0.41) | -0.50 (-1.73, 0.43) | -1.14 (-1.78, -0.13) |
| FeNO (ppb) |
24.0 (11.0, 47.0) |
24.4 (11.1, 89.7) | 32.0 (22.3, 47.0) | 17.0 (11.0, 32.0) |
| GINA partly-/ uncontrolled |
23(23%)/ 8 (8%) |
12 (21%)/ 5 (9%) | 3 (20%)/ 1 (7%) | 8(32%)/ 2 (8%) |
| Hospital admission** |
12 (12%) |
7 (12%) | 4 (27%) | 1 (4%) |
| ?1 steroid course ** |
52 (53%) |
33 (58%) | 7 (47%) | 12 (48%) |
| ED visit** |
34 (35%) |
17 (29%) | 7 (47%) | 10 (40%) |
| CASI |
5 (4-7) |
5 (4-7) | 5 (5-7) | 6 (4.7.5) |
| PAQLQ |
6.6 (5.7-6.9) |
6.6 (5.8-7.0) | 6.5 (6.0-6.7) | 6.2 (4.6-6.9) |
| Switched from other biologic | 20 | 3 | 4 | 13 |
*Fluticasone propionate equivalent **Last year
Children on dupilumab were older; other differences were not significant.
CONCLUSION Most children with severe asthma obtain good asthma control and quality of life on biologics, although some remain uncontrolled and may need other or new biologics.