D P Weldon | PubMed Health

PubMed1997

Beta 2-agonist metered dose inhaler overuse: psychological and demographic profiles.

OBJECTIVE: To identify psychological and demographic correlates of children and adolescents known to overuse beta 2-agonist metered dose inhalers (beta-MDIs). DESIGN: During residential care for severe asthma, demographic and psychological characteristics of 17 children and adolescents known to be beta-MDI overusers were compared with 38 asthmatic subjects of similar age without such history. RESULTS: beta-MDI overuse occurred among all groups; however, males, minorities, and those from lower socioeconomic groups were overrepresented. Overusers scored significantly lower on standardized IQ tests. Subtests of arithmetic for numeric reasoning, comprehension for understanding of social values, and picture completion for visual attention to detail were also significantly lower in beta-MDI overusers, as were reading achievement tests. Testing also revealed tendencies toward dominant, shrewd, and undisciplined personality traits in the overusers. CONCLUSION: Recognition of these characteristics of children prone to beta-MDI overuse will raise the clinician's awareness of this potential. Greater efforts and alternative approaches toward education and treatment of the at-risk patient and family are indicated.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Theophylline effects on cognition, behavior, and learning.

OBJECTIVE: To compare a group of hospitalized asthmatic children taking theophylline with a similar group of hospitalized nonasthmatic children on standardized measures of distractibility, attention, hyperactivity, and academic achievement. DESIGN: Standardized psychological tests were used to measure cognition, attention, and learning, and results for the two groups were compared. SETTING: All subjects were hospitalized in an intermediate care facility. PATIENTS: Up to 63 asthmatic children taking theophylline were compared with a group of 46 nonasthmatic children matched for age, sex, socioeconomic status, and full-scale IQ. Children with head injuries, mental retardation, or known learning disabilities were not included. INTERVENTIONS: All asthmatic children and none of the nonasthmatic children maintained therapeutic levels of theophylline during the evaluation period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Independent t tests were used to examine differences between groups on psychological tests of cognition, attention, and learning. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between groups on any variables at the 95% level of confidence. CONCLUSIONS: While idiosyncratic side effects of theophylline are possible, most children are not more hyperactive, distractible, short of memory, different in academic achievement, or more impulsive than other children with chronic illness.

Adolescent↗