Asthma Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Asthma, including details on symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, causes, medications.

Short-acting beta 2-agonist and oral corticosteroid use in asthma patients prescribed either concurrent beclomethasone and long-acting beta 2-agonist or salmeterol/fluticasone propionate combination.

Angus R, Reagon R, Cheesbrough A

Aintree Chest Centre, Liverpool L9 7AL, UK. robert.angus@aht.nwest.nhs.uk

Prescriptions for short-acting beta(2)-agonists (SABAs) and oral corticosteroids recorded in a primary care database were used as markers of asthma control. Drug use in the 6 months before and after step-up in treatment from inhaled corticosteroids [ICs; total daily dosage of < or =1000 microg beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) or equivalent] to either salmeterol/fluticasone propionate combination (SFC) or concurrent BDP and long-acting beta(2)-agonists (LABAs) given in separate inhalers was compared. After step-up, the calculated median number of doses of SABAs prescribed fell by 100 in the SFC group (n = 211) but was unchanged with BDP + LABA (n = 377, p < 0.0001), and fewer patients in the SFC group were prescribed oral corticosteroids (13.7 vs. 20.7%, p = 0.036). Other measures of SABA use after step-up indicated lower use in the SFC group. In clinical practice, adding LABA to IC therapy by using a combination inhaler produces significantly better asthma control than administering the drugs in separate inhalers.

Published 27 April 2005 in Int J Clin Pract, 59(2): 156-62.
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