Comparing Asthma Treatments: Salmeterol/Fluticasone vs. Formoterol/Budesonide
Author Information
Author(s): David B Price, Angela E Williams, Sally Yoxall
Primary Institution: University of Aberdeen
Hypothesis
Does stable-dose salmeterol/fluticasone improve health-related quality of life more than adjustable maintenance dosing of formoterol/budesonide in asthma patients?
Conclusion
Stable-dose salmeterol/fluticasone leads to more symptom-free days and fewer exacerbations compared to adjustable maintenance dosing of formoterol/budesonide.
Supporting Evidence
- Stable-dose SAL/FP resulted in 58.8% symptom-free days compared to 52.1% with FOR/BUD.
- The annual exacerbation rate was 47% lower in the SAL/FP group.
- A greater proportion of patients achieved a minimally important difference in AQLQ with SAL/FP.
Takeaway
This study found that using a steady dose of one asthma medication helped patients feel better and have fewer asthma attacks than using another medication that can be adjusted based on symptoms.
Methodology
Randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group trial over 52 weeks with 688 outpatients.
Potential Biases
The double-blind design minimized bias, but the complexity of the study may have influenced patient adherence.
Limitations
The study had a high attrition rate, with over one-third of patients not completing the AQLQ, which may affect the results.
Participant Demographics
Patients aged 18-<70 years with a clinical history of asthma and FEV1 60–90% of predicted normal.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.034
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 0.34–0.85
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website