Age Reduces Omalizumab Response in Severe Asthma
Age, obesity, comorbidities, and smoking may interfere with the effectiveness of omalizumab in patients with severe asthma, the results of a new study show.
For their study, the researchers assessed 340 patients with severe asthma. They evaluated various measures as a response to omalizumab, including forced expiratory volume in the first second of forced breath (FEV1%), forced vital capacity (FVC%), Asthma Control Test (ACT), fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO), and disease control levels.
________________________________________________________________________________
RELATED CONTENT
Adjunct Therapies to Treat Dyspnea in Adult Patients With Moderate to Severe Asthma
New Asthma Phenotypes Identified In Smokers
________________________________________________________________________________
Results indicated that age was associated with a reduced response to omalizumab in regard to FEV1%, FVC%, and ACT and for a lower asthma control. Obesity was associated with exacerbations, partial or no disease control, excessive use of short-acting β-agonists (SABA), and an unchanged or increased level of concomitant asthma medications, as well as a reduced response in FEV1, FVC, and ACT and a higher FENO level.
The researchers also found that the presence of at least 1 comorbidity was associated with the risk for exacerbations and an ACT of less than 20. They noted that nasal polyps were associated with the risk for exacerbations and the use of higher doses of inhaled corticosteroids, and that smoking habits, pollen, and pet dander co-sensitizations could negatively impact omalizumab response.
“Age, obesity, comorbidities, smoking habits, nasal polyps, allergic poly-sensitization might reduce omalizumab effectiveness independently to other asthma-influencing factors,” the researchers concluded.
—Christina Vogt
Reference:
Sposato B, Scalese M, Milanese M, et al. Factors reducing omalizumab response in severe asthma [Published online February 3, 2018]. Eur J Intern Med. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejim.2018.01.026.