Efficacy of fluticasone propionate compared with beclomethasone dipropionate in bronchial asthma: improvement in compliance and symptoms by fluticasone.
Recent studies have shown that fluticasone propionate (FP) was more effective than beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) inhalation even at a dose reduced by twofold or more in the treatment of bronchial asthma. Here, we further compared the effectiveness of FP and BDP, including rates of drug compliance. Forty-two symptomatic patients were treated by BDP (1000 +/- 345; mean +/- SD; microgram/day) for 8 weeks, followed by FP at one-half the respective dose, and peak expiratory flow and forced expiratory volume in 1 second were investigated. In addition, the patients were asked about drug compliance and factors related to compliance (expressed using a visual analogue scale). Significant increases of peak expiratory flow (from 316 +/- 96 L/minute to 345 +/- 86 L/minute) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (from 1.7 +/- 0.5 L to 1.9 +/- 0.4 L) were found. Furthermore, significantly higher scores were obtained for compliance and various factors related to compliance. These data indicate that FP is more effective than a twofold higher dosage of BDP and that better compliance with the use of FP, probably because of improved various factors associated with FP compliance, contributes to FP efficacy.
Suzuki
Tomoko
T
Department of Pharmacy, Niigata University Medical Hospital, Niigata, Japan.
Hasegawa
Takashi
T
Suzuki
Eiich
E
Sasahara
Kazuhisa
K
Kawada
Tomie
T
Koya
Toshiyuki
T
Akazawa
Kohei
K
Satoh
Hiroshi
H
Gejyo
Fumitake
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D000068298:Fluticasone; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D036501:Metered Dose Inhalers; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000730:Androstadienes; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D000068298:Fluticasone; D001507:Beclomethasone