Clinical efficacy of tiotropium in children with asthma

OBJECTIVE To investigate the clinical efficacy of tiotropium in children with asthma. METHODS Eighty children with newly diagnosed moderate persistent asthma were enrolled into this study. The children were randomly assigned to the fluticasone propionate aerosol group or the fluticasone propionate aerosol plus tiotropium group for 12 weeks. RESULTS Lung function was significantly improved in both groups at 4, 8, and 12 weeks compared with baseline (P < 0.01). Moreover, lung function was significantly improved in the tiotropium group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the incidence of severe asthma between the two groups (36.3% and 26.8%, respectively; P > 0.05). Compared with the control group, the number of days and frequency of short-acting beta2-adrenoceptor agonist use was significantly reduced in the tiotropium group (P < 0.05). Awakenings during the night were also significantly decreased (P < 0.00). There were no severe adverse reactions in either of the study groups. CONCLUSION Tiotropium could significantly improve lung function, reduce the use of short-acting beta2-adrenoceptor agonists, and improve sleep in children with asthma. Furthermore, few adverse reactions were reported.