A randomized placebo-controlled trial of traditional Chinese medicine as an add-on therapy to oral montelukast in the treatment of mild persistent asthma in children. (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chan, Pak-hong; To, Ching-yee; Chan, Eric Yat-tung; Li, Handong; Zhang, Xiuxia; Chow, Pok-yu; Liu, Po-ling; Leung, Shuk-yu; Chan, Chung-hong; Chan, Ka-yan; Chan, Johnny Yick-chun; Ng, Jonathan Pak-heng; Ng, Daniel Kwok-keung
• Is Part Of: Complementary therapies in medicine. Volume 29(2016)
• Page Start: 219
• Page End: 228
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: AED Accident and Emergency Department -- aYPFS augmented Yu Ping Feng San -- ACT Asthma Control Test -- cACT Childhood Asthma Control Test -- CAM complementary and alternative medicines -- FEF50 forced expiratory flow at 50% of FVC -- FEV1 forced expiratory volume in one second -- FEV1/FVC ratio between FEV1 and forced vital capacity -- GP general practitioner -- ICS inhaled corticosteroids -- LTRA leukotriene receptor antagonist -- PADQLQ Paediatric Allergic Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire -- TCM traditional Chinese medicine; Asthma -- Leukotriene antagonists -- Traditional chinese medicine -- Complementary medicine and alternative medicine -- Clinical trials; Alternative medicine -- Periodicals; Complementary Therapies -- Periodicals; Médecines parallèles -- Périodiques; Thérapeutique -- Périodiques; Alternative medicine; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 615.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2016.10.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0965-2299

Abstract

Highlights: There was significant improvement in ACT™ score in aYPFS group but not in the control group. aYPFS added on to montelukast improved Asthma Control Test Score in children with asthma. There were no significant differences between groups in other primary and secondary outcome parameters. Abstract: Objectives: Traditional Chinese medicine are commonly used for treatment of asthma. However, there are only very limited data about its efficacy in children. Therefore, we aimed to determine the efficacy of augmented Yu Ping Feng San (aYPFS) as an add-on to oral montelukast compared with montelukast alone for treatment of mild persistent asthma in children. Design: A single centre, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, randomized control trial was carried out. Participants with age 6–18 years who had mild persistent asthma were randomized according to random number list to receive either aYPFS plus montelukast for 24 weeks or placebo plus montelukast for 24 weeks. Primary outcome measure was lung function parameters. Secondary outcome measures were Asthma Control Test™ (ACT™) and Paediatric Allergic Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (PADQLQ) scores, symptom-free days, short-acting β2-agonist use, use of rescue oral corticosteroids, days of hospitalization for asthma and number of emergency consultation with GPs or AED department. Results: Twenty-eight participants were randomized to aYPFS group and twenty-nine to placebo group. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics. There was significant improvement in ACT™ score in aYPFS group (up to 6.9% change from baseline) (p = 0.016) but not in the control group. There were no significant differences between groups in other primary and secondary outcome parameters. Dropout because of adverse effects is comparable in both groups. Conclusion: Traditional Chinese medicine aYPFS as an add-on to montelukast improved symptoms of asthma control. Further studies with larger sample size are needed to evaluate its efficacy and safety in childhood asthma.