最近公布的资料显示，与1997～1998年度比较，2007～2008年度全美儿童使用哮喘控制药物（Asthma controller drugs）由当年的29％陡增至58％，其增幅不可谓不显著？是否与环境变化，特别是空气质量降低有关呢？值得探讨啊！

哮喘控制药通常包括：１）corticosteroids，该制剂可以控制炎症和缓解气道痉挛；２）beta-2-agonists，主要功能是缓解气急；３）leukotrienes，用于预防因哮喘导致的相关症状。

进一步分析发现，与1997～1998年度比较，2007～2008年度全美儿童使用吸入性corticosteroids 者由当年的15.5％增加至40％；使用leukotrienes者由当年的3％增加至34％；使用beta agonists者由当年的3％增加至13％。由此可见，全美儿童以使用吸入性corticosteroids者增幅最大。当然，伴随药品使用的增加患儿家庭支出的费用亦见显著增大。更多资讯，请参阅原文！

Use of Asthma Controller Meds on the Rise Among U.S. Kids

Children's rate of use has doubled since late 1990s, federal report says

THURSDAY, Oct. 13 (HealthDay News) -- The percentage of children with asthma in the United States who use a prescription "controller" medicine has nearly doubled since the late 1990s, a new federal government report finds.

The analysis of data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey showed that the use of controller drugs by these children increased from 29 percent in 1997-1998 to 58 percent in 2007-2008, according to the latest News and Numbers from the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Asthma controller drugs include: corticosteroids, which control inflammation and reduce the risk of airway spasms; beta-2-agonists, which make breathing easier; and leukotrienes, which help prevent asthma symptoms from occurring.

Use of inhaled corticosteroids among American children with asthma increased from 15.5 percent to 40 percent, use of leukotrienes rose from 3 percent to 34 percent, and use of beta agonists rose from 3 percent to 13 percent, according to the report.

During the same period, the use of reliever and oral corticosteroid drugs fell from 44 percent to 30 percent and from 17 percent to 9 percent, respectively, the investigators noted in an agency news release.

Average annual total spending for all asthma drugs more than quadrupled, from $527 million in 1997-1998 to $2.5 billion in 2007-2008. When broken down by category, spending for controller drugs rose from $280 million to $2.1 billion, spending for reliever drugs increased from $222 million to $352 million, and spending for oral corticosteroids fell from $25 million to $8 million, the findings revealed.

SOURCE: U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, news release, Oct. 12, 2011