In an original study at Monash University, Australia, for Multidisciplinary Approach to Management of Maternal Asthma (MAMMA), it was found that early intervention to better manage the asthmatic condition in a pregnant women can statistically and clinically control their asthma.

 

Intervening through monthly asthma education, monitoring, feedback, and follow-up helped yield better asthma control results after 6-months of care.  

 

“With one in eight pregnant women suffering from asthma, this research is telling us we need to improve management during pregnancy by finding new strategies to improve education and awareness,” says lead investigator Angelina Lim of the Centre for Medicine Use and Safety at Monash University. ”Poorly controlled asthma during pregnancy is hazardous for the health of the mother and the baby and has been associated with an increased risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and pre-eclampsia.

 

“Proper asthma management among pregnant women should be regarded as a leading priority in antenatal care. This is a simple intervention that could be easily implemented in antenatal settings with minimal additional resources.”

 

In the intervention group, no asthma-related oral steroid use, hospital admissions, emergency visits, or days off work were reported during the trial.  The findings of this study are detailed and published in the journal Chest.

 

References

DOI: 10.1378/chest.13-2276: http://journal.publications.chestnet.org/article.aspx?articleid=1831414

http://monash.edu.au/news/show/reducing-the-risks-for-asthmatic-mums-to-be