
Older patients taking the biologic drug dupilumab for asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) experienced greater risks for adverse events than younger patients. The most common adverse events included dermatologic, ophthalmologic and musculoskeletal conditions. This is according to the study, “Safety and Tolerability of Dupilumab in Patients Living With Asthma and Chronic Rhinosinusitis Aged 65 Years and Older,” recently published in the journal, CHEST.
The single center, retrospective cohort study was designed to evaluate the safety profile of dupilumab in the geriatric population, a group often underrepresented in clinical trials, according to the study’s authors at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Dupilumab targets IL4 and IL13 pathways.
Researchers evaluated 55 patients ranging in age from 65 to 90 years old. Of that group, 30.9% of participants had asthma, 23.6% had CRS and 45.5% had both conditions. Twenty-six patients reported being non-smokers; 24 patients were former smokers and the remaining two did not report their smoker status.
Lead author Timothy Crisci, MD, a third-year pulmonary and critical care fellow at the university, said that 43.75% of the patients with adverse events discontinued treatment. Researchers noted that these rates of adverse events coincided with rates reported in previous studies of geriatric patients who were on dupilumab for atopic dermatitis. However, Dr. Crisci and colleagues concluded that the study’s results suggest that patients who do not have adverse events should continue with dupilumab as an effective treatment for asthma and CRS.
Researchers said the results of the study should prompt clinicians to be aware of the higher likelihood of minor adverse events when prescribing this medication to patients over age 65. Additionally, they called for further studies to better understand the effectiveness of dupilumab among patients in this age group so clinicians and patients can be better informed about its risks and benefits before beginning treatment.