Ibuprofen use in pediatric populations and asthma risk: A comprehensive meta-analysis

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Created On: 18/12/2024

Ibuprofen is a popular medication for pain and fever in children, but its impact on asthma risk is unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis explored the link between Ibuprofen administration in children (0-18 years) and the risk of asthma onset or worsening.

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Key take away

Ibuprofen does not increase asthma risk for children compared to other treatments, both in the short and long term. It may protect against asthma-like symptoms in healthy children when used for fever or bronchiolitis.

Background

Method

Overall, 24 studies from multiple databases like Scopus, MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL were included. Researchers included all study designs that were primary empirical peer-reviewed publications reporting Ibuprofen use in pediatrics aged 0 to 18 years. The key endpoints ascertained were asthma and asthma-like symptoms. The results were categorized based on the population (general, asthmatic, and Ibuprofen-hypersensitive), duration of follow-up (short-term and long-term), and type of comparator (active and non-active).

Result

When evaluating Ibuprofen with active comparators, there was no sign of a heightened risk linked with Ibuprofen, both in the short and long term, in either the asthmatic or general populations. When investigating Ibuprofen usage to no active alternative over a short-term follow-up, Ibuprofen was found to offer shield against asthma-like symptoms in the general population when employed for alleviating bronchiolitis or fever symptoms. Conversely, it may trigger asthma exacerbations in children with pre-existing asthma. However, in both general and asthmatic populations, no clear long-term follow-up effects were observed.

Conclusion

Ibuprofen use depicted no increased risk compared to active comparators in children, both in the short and long term. While it may alleviate asthma-like symptoms in the general population, it could also exacerbate asthma in children with existing asthma.