The Prevalence Of Pediatric Asthma in Asia Is In Rising

Bangkok--May 3--MSD (Thailand)

The Prevalence Of Pediatric Asthma in Asia Is In Rising

Leading Experts Call for Action to Help Child Asthma Patients

Leading experts have called for greater recognition and action by governments, healthcare professionals and education institutions surrounding a growing concern for the treatment of children with asthma across Asia.

Asthma is a serious disease that can be fatal, but it can also be effectively treated. 300 million people in the world are currently suffering from asthma and the figure is expected to rise to 400 million by 2025.

Experts met at the first Asia MetaForum in Hong Kong on April 17th, 2005 in the lead-up to World Asthma Day on May 3rd 2005 to discuss their concerns about childhood asthma in the region, which they described as “a major public health problem”. These concerns formed the basis of discussions during the one day meeting, in an effort to identify key areas for improvement and action. In particular, the following issues were discussed:

• Misconceptions about children with asthma remain. Despite advancements in our knowledge about asthma and its affect on children, traditional misconceptions such as thinking that children with asthma should not exercise, remain far too common, and can in effect add to their suffering.
• Guidelines are not written with children in mind. 80% of all asthma cases are initially diagnosed in children under 3, but most of the current healthcare guidelines are written for adults.
• Data to support the use of medications in children is minimal. There is a lack of important data concerning the prescribing of medications to children. Again, much of the guidance is designed for adults but may be harmful for children
• The link between asthma and allergic rhinitis is not fully understood. Many doctors and the community at large do not understand the important link between asthma, which affects the lungs, and allergic inflammation (allergic rhinitis) in the upper airways (head, nose etc.) These conditions more often than not occur together and should be treated together. It is vital to improve the level of public awareness about these diseases, both amongst the parents of children suffering from asthma as well as at school and in the workplace. Educational programmes and changes in behaviour are needed.
• Steroid use in young children is still an area of concern for many. There are concerns about the use of steroids for treating asthma in young children, and alternative therapies need to be considered.

The Asia MetaForum - The Asia MetaForum took place at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, on 17th April, 2005 where a panel of 11 experts from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and the US met to discuss the problem of childhood asthma. The audience consisted of 63 leading specialists from Asia, healthcare professionals and experts in health education, media and management. The purpose of the conference was to discuss the problem of asthma in children from all angles and drew up a consensus document setting out what was needed to address its rising prevalence in Asia.

Recent survey evidence was presented at the start of the conference by Professor Joon-Sung Lee (South Korea), Professor of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, which clearly established the asthma/allergic rhinitis link :

• Nearly 4 out of 5 surveyed (79%) said that when allergic rhinitis symptoms flared up asthma symptoms got worse
• Over 3 out of 4 asthmatics (77%) experienced allergic rhinitis symptoms prior to an asthma diagnosis
• Over 7 out of 10 asthmatics (71%) said that they avoided going out of doors during the allergy season because their asthma symptoms got worse

There was also powerful evidence about the worries that parents have in connection with giving steroids to their children. Almost all those surveyed, over 9 out of 10 (95%), expressed concerns about the potential side effects of using steroids.

In the presentations that followed, Professor Giovanni Piedimonte (US), Professor of Pediatrics, Medicine, and Molecular/Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami School of Medicine, drew attention to the lack of understanding of the different issues that arose in the context of treating children and adults. “Asthma in children maybe different” he said, for example children in many cases tend to have infrequent exacerbations but get very sick during those episodes. This point was later developed by Professor James Kemp (US), Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of San Diego, US, who called for specific information to be available when medication is given to children about its appropriate use in a pediatric context. Both also emphasized the link between asthma and allergic rhinitis, and the role of oral therapy such as leukotriene inhibitors could play as an anti-inflammatory agent.

There were several issues regarding the situation the region now faces:-

The Consensus Statement:

Discussions were led by the joint chairmen of the conference, Professor Gary Wong (Hong Kong), Professor and Honorary Consultant, Department of Pediatrics, Chinese University of Hong Kong and Professor James Kemp (US). In his opening remarks Professor Wong encouraged an interactive meeting by saying: “We are looking for the active participation of the audience, who are key opinion leaders in their countries. We emphasize the burden of asthma, with or without the comorbid link with allergic rhinitis. There is also a new element here today in these discussions: the public is telling us how they want to be treated.”

There were three discussion periods during the conference, with the floor opened for contributions from the delegates as the consensus developed. At the end, the main consensus points summarised below were agreed.

The Consensus Meeting closed with these words: “The time has arrived when asthma and accompanying allergic triggers need to be taken more seriously as a public health problem with greater involvement of healthcare professionals, patients, as well as their support organisations, and effective funding from, and participation by, government. Every attempt must be made to find new ways for effective management of a condition which, according to many surveys, is still having an unacceptable impact on the lives of people of all ages, with every indication that these problems, including the cost to society, will become more, not less, serious.”

Joint Chairs of the Asia MetaForum:

Professor Gary WongProfessor and Honorary ConsultantDepartment of PediatricsChinese University of Hong KongPrince of Wales HospitalHong Kong Professor James Kemp Clinical Professor of PediatricsUniversity of California, San DiegoDivision of Allergy and ImmunologyAllergy and Asthma Medical Group and Research CenterSan Diego, CA, USA

The Asian MetaForum was made possible through an educational grant by Merck & Co. Inc. However, the views expressed during the meeting and the final consensus are independent of the sponsor.

For more information please contact:

Mr. Kulaseth Hovongratana

Public Affairs Manager

MSD (Thailand) Ltd.

Tel: + (662) 255 5090 ext 314

Fax: + (662) 655 3606

[email protected] End.

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