Blog
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Study Examines Increased Dose of Inhaled Corticosteroids in Children with Asthma in the Yellow Zone
An article in the June 2018 edition of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology reviewed studies examining an increased dose of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) when children with asthma were in the yellow zone. After reviewing several studies, the authors note there are “conflicting results and lack of support to increase dose of ICS,” and suggest it…
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Study Reviews Biomarkers and Endotypes in Childhood Asthma
In the June edition of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology an article examines the underlying molecular mechanisms of asthma phenotypes and pays special attention to asthma endotypes and biomarkers. The article notes “a careful assessment of inflammatory endotypes should be considered a central component of the workup and management of severe asthma in children.” The…
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Study Identifies Differentially Expressed Genes in Childhood Asthma
In May 2018’s Medicine, a study sought to identify “differently expressed genes” and “differentially methylated genes” in childhood asthma compared with normal control. The study identified 16 genes which “were both differentially expressed and differentially methylated in childhood asthma.” Researchers concluded that the findings helped to better understand “the underlying mechanism of childhood asthma and…
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Study Investigates Effect of Antibiotic Use on New-Onset Asthma in Children
The April 2018 edition of Scientific Reports contains an article investigating the effects of antibiotic use for early-life bronchiolitis on new-onset asthma in children. Researchers looked at children with records of bronchiolitis during their first two years and examined which specific antibiotics were used and the age at asthma onset. The researchers found “there was…
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Randomized Trial Compares Metered Dose Inhalers and Breath Actuated Nebulizers
A study published in the July 2018 issue of The Journal of Emergency Medicine compared the “clinical efficacy of” breath-actuated nebulizer (BAN) “and the metered-dose inhaler (MDI) in treating subjects patients 2 to 17 years of age” with mild to moderate asthma exacerbations. In conducting the study, 890 subjects were given albuterol by MDI or…
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Review Explores Effectiveness of Home-Based Education and Environmental Measures
The May 2018 Journal of Asthma contained an integrative review exploring “the effectiveness of home-based education and environmental measures” and “specific indicators and tools to measure pediatric asthma control and program effectiveness.” Researchers reviewed a total of thirty articles and found that both home-based asthma education and environmental interventions were proven to be effective. They…
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Study Examines Pay for Success Financing Approach for Asthma Interventions
In the June 2018 Edition of the Milbank Quarterly, an article examines “the potential for and challenges of” Pay for Success (PFS) “initiatives that produce savings and/or value for Medicaid.” Researchers “modeled the potential impact of an evidence-based multicomponent childhood asthma intervention among low-income children enrolled in Medicaid in Detroit.” The children were split into…
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Statistics Show Percentage of US Adults with Asthma by State
In May 2018, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report released statistics on the percentage of adults aged 18 – 64 with current asthma by state. The research found “during 2014-2016, 8% of US adults” had current asthma. Prevalence of asthma varied by state, with New Hampshire having the highest prevalence at 12.7%, and Hawaii with the…
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BUILD Health Challenge Releases Healthy Homes Des Moines Case Study
In 2018, the BUILD Health Challenge, which is working in communities across the country to drive sustainable improvements in community health, has released a case study of their experiences working with the Healthy Homes Des Moines collaborative. The collaborative applied the BUILD principles (Bold, Upstream, Integrated, Local, and Data-Driven) to treat asthma with healthy housing…
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Nemours and AcademyHealth Release Briefs on Medicaid Payment Strategies for Upstream Prevention
In June, 2018, Nemours and AcademyHealth released a series of six briefs examining how states can use existing Medicaid authority to finance upstream prevention. These briefs were developed through technical assistance to Maryland, Oregon, and Washington, and aim to show how states can pursue sustainable financing through Medicaid for preventing chronic diseases at both the…
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County Health Department Investigates Effects of Plant Closure on Emergency Department Visits
A study undertaken by the Allegheny County Health Department found that emergency room visits for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Pittsburgh dropped by 37.9% in the year following the closure of Shenango Coke Works, one of the largest polluters in the county. The health department also found particulate matter pollution decreased in the…
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Study Assesses Prevalence of Asthma, Asthma Attacks and Emergency Department Visits Among Working Adults
The April 2018 edition of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report includes a study that sought “to assess the industry- and occupation-specific prevalence of current asthma, asthma attacks, and asthma-related emergency department visits among working adults.” Researchers analyzed 2011-2016 National Health Interview Survey data for participants over the age of 18 who “were employed at some…