The use of anti-asthmatic drugs in children: results of a community-based survey in Germany

Purpose To describe the use of anti-asthma drugs in children in the general population and in children with asthma using data from two large surveys in Germany. Methods Community-based random sample of 5-7 and 9-11-year-old children in Dresden and Munich were studied in 1995/96 by parental questionnaires using the Phase II protocol of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). A total of 11094 children participated in the surveys (response rate 83%). Results In all children, inhaled beta (2)-agonists were used most frequently during the last 12 months (2.6%), followed by inhaled cromolyns (2.5%), oral beta (2)-agonists (1.5%), and inhaled steroids (0.9%). Drug use was significantly higher among boys than girls and in older children compared to younger ones (P<0.05 for both). Among children with current asthma, 47% had used inhaled <beta>(2)-agonists, 43% inhaled cromolyns, 22% oral beta (2)-agonists,,and 16% inhaled steroids. Inhaled steroids were used significantly more often in Dresden (21.7%) than in Munich (11.2%) (P<0.05). Conclusions Among anti-asthma drugs, agents used for symptomatic relief were the most frequently reported followed by inhaled anti-inflammatory agents. Most of the anti-inflammatory drugs used were SCG, which may indicate under-treatment with inhaled steroids. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.