Omalizumab outcomes for up to 6 years in pediatric patients with severe
persistent allergic asthma
Abstract
Background: Various studies have assessed omalizumab outcomes in
the clinical practice setting but follow-up and/or number of patients
included were limited. We aim to describe the long-term outcomes of
pediatric patients with severe persistent allergic asthma receiving
omalizumab in the largest real-life cohort reported to date.
Methods: ANCHORS was a multicenter, observational, retrospective
cohort study conducted in 25 Pediatric Allergy and Pulmonology units in
Spain. We collected data of patients <18 years and initiating
omalizumab between 2006-2018, from the year prior to omalizumab
initiation to discontinuation or last available follow-up. The primary
outcome was the evolution of the annual number of moderate-to-severe
exacerbations compared to the baseline period. Results: Of the
484 patients included, 101 (20.9%) reached six years of treatment. The
mean±standard deviation number of exacerbations decreased during the
first year of treatment (7.9±6.6 to 1.1±2.0, p<0.001) and
remained likewise for up to six years. The other clinical parameters
assessed also improved significantly during the first year and
stabilized or continued to improve thereafter. The percentage of
patients experiencing adverse events was consistently low, and the main
reason for discontinuation was good disease evolution.
Conclusion: In this large, long-term, observational study,
moderate-to-severe exacerbations decreased significantly from the first
year of treatment with omalizumab. The beneficial effect was maintained
in the long-term, along with a good safety profile. Our results position
omalizumab as an effective long-term treatment in pediatric patients
with severe persistent allergic asthma.