BACKGROUND:Budesonide/formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy (Symbicort SMART) improves asthma control compared with fixed-dose inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting beta(2)-agonist (ICS/LABA) regimens, but its efficacy has not been assessed in comparison with sustained high-dose salmeterol/fluticasone (Seretide) plus a short-acting beta(2)-agonist (SABA). METHODS:Patients (N=2309) with symptomatic asthma (aged 12 years; forced expiratory volume in 1s 50% predicted), who had experienced an asthma exacerbation in the previous year, were randomised to receive budesonide/formoterol 160/4.5 microg two inhalations twice daily and as needed, or one inhalation of salmeterol/fluticasone 50/500 microg twice daily plus terbutaline as needed, for 6 months. RESULTS: Time to first severe exacerbation, the pre-specified primary outcome, was not significantly prolonged (risk ratio 0.82; 95% confidence interval 0.63, 1.05). Budesonide/formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy reduced total exacerbations from 31 to 25 events/100 patients/year (P=0.039), and exacerbations requiring hospitalisation/emergency room (ER) treatment from 13 to 9 events/100 patients/year (P=0.046). The treatments showed no difference in measures of lung function or asthma symptoms. The mean dose of ICS received was lower using budesonide/formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy (792 microg/day budesonide [1238 microg/day beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) equivalent] versus 1000 microg/day fluticasone [2000 microg/day BDP equivalent] with salmeterol/fluticasone therapy; P<0.0001). Both treatments were well tolerated. CONCLUSION: In the treatment of uncontrolled asthma, budesonide/formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy reduces the incidence of severe asthma exacerbations and hospitalisation/ER treatment with similar daily symptom control compared with sustained high-dose salmeterol/fluticasone plus SABA. This benefit is achieved with substantially less ICS exposure.
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BACKGROUND:Budesonide/formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy (Symbicort SMART) improves asthma control compared with fixed-dose inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting beta(2)-agonist (ICS/LABA) regimens, but its efficacy has not been assessed in comparison with sustained high-dose salmeterol/fluticasone (Seretide) plus a short-acting beta(2)-agonist (SABA). METHODS:Patients (N=2309) with symptomatic asthma (aged 12 years; forced expiratory volume in 1s 50% predicted), who had experienced an asthma exacerbation in the previous year, were randomised to receive budesonide/formoterol 160/4.5 microg two inhalations twice daily and as needed, or one inhalation of salmeterol/fluticasone 50/500 microg twice daily plus terbutaline as needed, for 6 months. RESULTS: Time to first severe exacerbation, the pre-specified primary outcome, was not significantly prolonged (risk ratio 0.82; 95% confidence interval 0.63, 1.05). Budesonide/formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy reduced total exacerbations from 31 to 25 events/100 patients/year (P=0.039), and exacerbations requiring hospitalisation/emergency room (ER) treatment from 13 to 9 events/100 patients/year (P=0.046). The treatments showed no difference in measures of lung function or asthma symptoms. The mean dose of ICS received was lower using budesonide/formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy (792 microg/day budesonide [1238 microg/day beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) equivalent] versus 1000 microg/day fluticasone [2000 microg/day BDP equivalent] with salmeterol/fluticasone therapy; P<0.0001). Both treatments were well tolerated. CONCLUSION: In the treatment of uncontrolled asthma, budesonide/formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy reduces the incidence of severe asthma exacerbations and hospitalisation/ER treatment with similar daily symptom control compared with sustained high-dose salmeterol/fluticasone plus SABA. This benefit is achieved with substantially less ICS exposure.
Authors: M Diane Lougheed; Catherine Lemiere; Francine M Ducharme; Chris Licskai; Sharon D Dell; Brian H Rowe; Mark Fitzgerald; Richard Leigh; Wade Watson; Louis-Philippe Boulet Journal: Can Respir J Date: 2012 Mar-Apr Impact factor: 2.409
Authors: Anne Fuhlbrigge; David Peden; Andrea J Apter; Homer A Boushey; Carlos A Camargo; James Gern; Peter W Heymann; Fernando D Martinez; David Mauger; William G Teague; Carol Blaisdell Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol Date: 2012-03 Impact factor: 10.793