title: Impact of Fluticasone Diskhaler on health-related quality of life in asthmatic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess effect of a breath-actuated inhaled steroid, Fluticasone Diskhaler (Flutide) on health-related quality of life in asthmatic patients using Hyland's living with asthma questionnaire (LWAQ).
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomly selected asthmatic patients filled out the LWAQ (the first study). Then, the eight physicians switched inhaled steroid from pressurelized metered-dose inhaler of beclomethasone (BDI) to Flutide according to their own decision. Consequently some patients were switched their prescriptions and others were not. In 12 weeks after the first study, all the patients again filled out the LWAQ (the second study).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients treated with Flutide were 87 and without were 159. The scale scores of the Flutide group (mean, 1.900) were significantly higher than those of the BDI-group (mean, 1.789). In the second study, there was no significant difference between the scale scores in the two groups (mean, 1.782 vs. 1.705). Among the 8 domains, only medication score significantly decreased by Flutide therapy. More than 80% of the patients favored easy handling of Flutide including no necessity of the spacer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Flutide therapy significantly improved quality of life in asthmatic patients. The possible mechanisms are the stronger effectiveness of fluticasone propionate and improvement of adherence to inhaled steroid.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuri
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Toshimori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanigaki
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: Gen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tazaki
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Urano
authors.forename: Sakurako
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tajiri
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eguchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D000068298:Fluticasone; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000730:Androstadienes; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D000068298:Fluticasone; D001507:Beclomethasone