title: Is high-dose fluticasone propionate via a metered-dose inhaler and Volumatic as efficacious as nebulized budesonide in adult asthmatics?
abstract: The efficacy and tolerability of fluticasone propionate (FP) 2 mg daily via a metered-dose inhaler and Volumatic (Glaxo Wellcome) spacer device was compared with nebulized budesonide (nBUD), 2 and 4 mg daily, in a multi-centre, open-label, cross-over study of adult asthmatics. Patients received, in random order, either 4 weeks of treatment with FP followed by 4 weeks of treatment with nBUD, or vice versa, with an intervening 4 week 'wash-out' period between treatments. Thirty patients completed the study, of whom 24 were evaluable. In terms of the primary efficacy parameter, change in mean morning peak expiratory flow (PEF) (l min-1) from baseline to the fourth week of each treatment period, FP was more effective than nBUD [mean difference (FP-nBUD) 21.1 l min-1, P = 0.007, 95% CI (6.5, 35.7)]. Sub-group analysis demonstrated FP to be superior to the 4 mg nBUD [mean treatment difference (FP-nBUD) 42.9 l min-1, P = 0.026, 95% CI (7.1, 78.8)] and at least as efficacious as the 2 mg nBUD sub-group [mean treatment difference (FP-nBUD) 10.2 l min-1, P = 0.211, 95% CI (-6.5, 26.9)]. Furthermore, larger reductions in diurnal variation were observed during FP treatment [mean treatment difference (FP-nBUD) -4.4 percentage points, P = 0.028, 95% CI (-8.4, -0.5)]. There was no significant difference between the treatments for the proportion of symptom-free 24 h periods. Of those expressing a preference, significantly more patients found FP via a metered-dose inhaler and spacer device both easier to administer (78%, P = 0.007) and more convenient to take (76%, P = 0.008) than nebulized budesonide. In addition, cost per patient analysis showed that nebulized budesonide was from 1.7 to 3.5 times more expensive than FP.
authors.affiliation: Blackpool Victoria Hospital NHS Trust, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Lancashire, U.K.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Weir
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Banham
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Basran
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019819:Budesonide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D000068298:Fluticasone; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000730:Androstadienes; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D019819:Budesonide; D000068298:Fluticasone