From the Guidelines
There is no specific medical term "pregnancy-induced asthma," as asthma itself is not directly caused by pregnancy, but rather pregnancy can affect pre-existing asthma. While pregnancy can impact asthma symptoms, with about one-third of pregnant women experiencing worsening symptoms, one-third improving, and one-third remaining unchanged, the primary concern is managing asthma during pregnancy to minimize risks to both mother and fetus 1.
Key Considerations
- Uncontrolled asthma increases the risk of perinatal mortality, pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, and low-birth-weight infants 1.
- It is safer for pregnant women to be treated with asthma medications than to have asthma symptoms and exacerbations 1.
- The goal of asthma management during pregnancy is to maintain control of asthma for maternal health and quality of life, as well as for normal fetal maturation 1.
Management Approach
- Regular monitoring of asthma control and lung function during prenatal visits is crucial, allowing for adjustments in therapy as needed to maintain lung function and ensure oxygen supply to the fetus 1.
- Inhaled corticosteroids, such as budesonide, and short-acting beta-agonists, like albuterol, are preferred medications for managing asthma during pregnancy due to their safety profiles 1.
- Pregnant women with asthma should work closely with both their obstetrician and pulmonologist to develop an appropriate management plan, ensuring minimal risks to both mother and fetus while maintaining good asthma control 1.
From the Research
Asthma in Pregnancy
- Asthma is a common medical condition that complicates approximately 4-8% of pregnancies 2
- The prevalence of and morbidity from asthma are increasing, although asthma mortality rates have decreased in recent years 2
- Uncontrolled asthma magnifies the risk of maternal, fetal, and neonate complications 3
Term Pregnancy Induced Asthma
- There is no specific term "pregnancy induced asthma" found in the provided studies
- However, asthma in pregnancy is a health issue of great concern, and physiological changes during pregnancy can affect asthma control in varying degrees 4
- The control level of asthma and the side effects of asthma medications are closely related to the adverse perinatal outcomes of mother and fetus 4
Management of Asthma in Pregnancy
- Convincing evidence shows that uncontrolled asthma magnifies the risk of maternal, fetal, and neonate complications 3
- Biomarkers such as blood eosinophils and fractional exhaled nitric oxide are an effective way to assess the risk of asthma attacks and the likelihood of responding to inhaled steroids 3
- Applying changes in asthma management, such as switching reliever-only regimens to as-needed 'controller-and-reliever' therapy, can alleviate women's concerns and improve outcomes 3