Curr
Opin Pediatr 1997 Dec;9(6):590-5.
Nonadherence to asthma treatment and failure of therapy.
Milgrom H, Bender B.
National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, CO 80206, USA.
Adherence to clinical regimens is paramount in determining their effectiveness.
Asthma is a chronic illness that requires consistent, anti-inflammatory
therapy. A "high risk" profile for fatal or near-fatal asthma
has emerged that includes suboptimal pharmacotherapy in conjunction with
severe disease, psychologic dysfunction, black race or Hispanic-American
ethnicity, and residence in an urban area with a high concentration of
poverty. Collaboration between physicians and patients is necessary to
allow individuals to make choices informed by medical facts and the physician's
experience. Objective monitoring of adherence and pulmonary function and
acceptance by the clinicians of the National Asthma Education and Prevention
Program guidelines to control airway inflammation are essential in order
to reduce the unacceptable rates of morbidity and mortality associated
with asthma.
Publication Types: Review; Review, Tutorial
PMID: 9425593 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
