title: Ease of handling and clinical efficacy of fluticasone propionate Accuhaler/Diskus inhaler compared with the Turbohaler inhaler in paediatric patients. UK Study Group.
abstract: A total of 323 children aged 4-11 years who were receiving, or had symptoms indicating a clinical requirement for, inhaled corticosteroid at a daily dose of 400 micrograms budesonide (BUD) or beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP), or 200 micrograms fluticasone propionate (FP), were randomised into this multicentre, open-label, parallel group study. Patients received either FP 100 micrograms b.d. administered via the Accuhaler/Diskus inhaler (n = 159) or BUD 200 micrograms b.d. administered via a Turbohaler inhaler (n = 164) for four weeks and recorded daily their morning and evening peak expiratory flow (PEF), asthma symptoms and use of relief medication. Device handling was assessed by a questionnaire, with responses recorded on three- or five-point ordinal scales. The primary efficacy parameter was mean percent predicted morning PEF. The device handling results showed the Accuhaler/Diskus inhaler was rated more favourably than the Turbohaler inhaler in terms of ease of correct inhaler use, ease of telling how many doses were left, ease of knowing whether a dose had been inhaled and overall liking of the device. More patients in the Accuhaler/Diskus group (85%) than in the Turbohaler group (58%) said they would be happy to receive the same device again, while 8% and 25% respectively said they would not be happy to be given it again. In addition, the change from baseline to week 4 of treatment in mean percent predicted morning PEF was greater in the FP Accuhaler/Diskus group, indicating that FP 200 micrograms daily via Accuhaler/Diskus inhaler is at least as clinically effective as BUD 400 micrograms daily via the Turbohaler inhaler.
authors.affiliation: Glan Clwyd District General Hospital, Rhyl.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Richards
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019819:Budesonide; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D000068298:Fluticasone; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers / Q000191:economics; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011282:Pregnenediones / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000730:Androstadienes; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D011282:Pregnenediones; D019819:Budesonide; D000068298:Fluticasone; D001507:Beclomethasone