Asthma symptoms vary greatly among individuals and vary at times
with each individual. In this comprehensive study in the April
issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, researchers address the
prevalence and process of step-down therapy as symptoms subside.
Of the 397 adults and children studied, 64 percent had at least
one change in medication dose during the two years of the study.
Most changes were step-up in doses during an asthma flare. Step-
down changes were far less common. Lead author Barbara Yawn.,
M.D., from the Department of Research at Olmsted Medical Center
in Rochester, Minn., comments that “patients indicate it is
important to them to take the lowest possible dose of medication
to maintain asthma control, suggesting we need to step down
therapy when feasible.” This is one of the first studies to
address the frequency, type and context of step-up and step-down
changes in asthma therapy for children and young adults. The
study asserts that asthma care continues to be episodic, with
most physician visits