Poor adherence to medication regimens may be contributing to the recent increase in asthma morbidity and mortality. We examined patient characteristics that may influence adherence to twice-daily inhaled steroid regimens. Fifty adults with moderate to severe asthma completed questionnaires examining sociodemographics, asthma severity, and health locus of control. Adherence was electronically monitored for 42 d. Following monitoring, patients' understanding of asthma pathophysiology and the function of inhaled corticosteroids were assessed. Patient beliefs about the effectiveness and convenience of these medications, and their perception of communications with their clinician were measured. Mean adherence was 63% +/- 38%; 54% of subjects recorded at least 70% of the prescribed number of inhaled-steroid actuations. Factors associated with poor adherence were less than 12 yr of formal education (p < 0. 001), poor patient-clinician communication (p < 0.001), household income less than $20,000 (p = 0.002), Spanish as primary language (p = 0.005), and minority status (p = 0.007). In a multiple logistic regression analysis, less than 12 yr of formal education (OR: 6.72; CI: 1.10 to 41.0) and poor patient-clinician communication (OR: 1.2; CI: 1.01 to 1.55) were independently associated with poor adherence. These results emphasize the importance of socioeconomic status and adequate patient-clinician communication for adherence to inhaled-steroid schedules.

Background Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common skin disease that is characterized by recurrent episodes of itching. Filaggrin loss-of-function mutations (FLG null) have been associated with an increased risk of developing AD. Objective To evaluate the effect of individual FLG null mutations on the persistence of AD over time. Methods We evaluated a multiyear prospective cohort study of children with AD with respect to FLG null mutations (R501X, 2282del4, R2447X, and S3247X). We evaluated the association of these mutations with the persistence of AD symptoms over time, with respect to reports of no symptoms of AD and whether topical medication was needed for symptom resolution. Results 857 subjects were followed for 3,684 person-years. One or more FLG null mutations were noted in 16.3% of subjects and specifically in 27.5% of whites and 5.8% of African-Americans. Individuals with a FLG null mutation were less likely [OR: 0.54 (95% CI: 0.41, 0.71)] to report that their skin was symptom-free at any time as compared to those without a FLG null mutation. The effect of these mutations was similar in whites [0.42 (0.31, 0.57) and African-Americans 0.53 (0.25, 1.12) (p=0.62)]. Children with the R501X mutation [0.44 (0.22, 0.88)] were the least responsive to therapy. Conclusions In a US cohort with AD, FLG null mutations were common. Children with FLG null mutations were more likely to have persistent AD. Although, these mutations were more common in those of European ancestry, their effect on persistence was similar in those of African ancestry. Response to therapy was not uniform among children with FLG null mutations.

Background The goals of asthma treatment include preventing recurrent exacerbations. Yet there is no consensus about the terminology for describing or defining “exacerbation,” or about how to characterize an episode’s severity. Objective National Institutes of Health (NIH) institutes and other federal agencies convened an expert group to propose how asthma exacerbation should be assessed as a standardized asthma outcome in future asthma clinical research studies. Methods We utilized comprehensive literature reviews and expert opinion to compile a list of asthma exacerbation outcomes, and classified them as either core (required in future studies), supplemental (used according to study aims and standardized), or emerging (requiring validation and standardization). This work was discussed at an NIH-organized workshop in March 2010 and finalized in September 2011. Results No dominant definition of “exacerbation” was found. The most widely used definitions included 3 components, all related to treatment, rather than symptoms: (1) systemic use of corticosteroids, (2) asthma-specific emergency department visits or hospitalization, and (3) use of short-acting β-agonists (SABAs) as quick-relief (sometimes referred to as “rescue” or “reliever”) medications. Conclusions The working group participants propose that the definition of “asthma exacerbation” be “a worsening of asthma requiring the use of systemic corticosteroids to prevent a serious outcome.” As core outcomes, they propose inclusion and separate reporting of several essential variables of an exacerbation. Further, they propose the development of a standardized, component-based definition of “exacerbation” with clear thresholds of severity for each component.

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Self-management is of increasing importance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management. However, there is confusion over what processes are involved, how the value of self-management should be determined, and about the research priorities. To gain more insight into and agreement about the content of programmes, outcomes, and future directions of COPD self-management, a group of interested researchers and physicians, all of whom had previously published on this subject and who had previously collaborated on other projects, convened a workshop. This article summarises their initial findings. Self-management programmes aim at structural behaviour change to sustain treatment effects after programmes have been completed. The programmes should include techniques aimed at behavioural change, be tailored individually, take the patient's perspective into account, and may vary with the course of the patient's disease and co-morbidities. Assessment should include process variables. This report is a step towards greater conformity in the field of self-management. To enhance clarity regarding effectiveness, future studies should clearly describe their intervention, be properly designed and powered, and include outcomes that focus more on the acquisition and practice of new skills. In this way more evidence and a better comprehension on selfmanagement programmes will be obtained, and more specific formulation of guidelines on self-management made possible.