title: Dose-response relationship of inhaled budesonide in adult asthma: a meta-analysis.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the dose-response relationship of inhaled budesonide in adolescents and adults with asthma. A meta-analysis was carried out on placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trials, presenting data on at least one outcome measure of asthma and using at least two doses of budesonide, delivered by turbuhaler or metered-dose inhaler + spacer twice daily. A total of six studies of 1,435 adolescents and adults, with mild to moderately severe asthma, met the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis. A negative exponential model indicated that 80% of the benefit at 1,600 micrograms.day-1 was achieved at doses of approximately 200-400 micrograms.day-1 and 90% by 300-600 micrograms.day-1. Meta-regression with a quadratic term in dose showed that the maximum effect was obtained with doses of approximately 1,000 micrograms.day-1. In conclusion, the available published data indicate that, in adolescents and adults with mild to moderate asthma, most of the therapeutic benefit of budesonide delivered by turbuhaler or metered-dose inhaler + spacer is achieved with a dose of approximately 400 micrograms.day-1 and the maximum effect is achieved at approximately 1,000 micrograms.day-1. This conclusion is qualified by the recognition that there is considerable individual variability in the response to inhaled corticosteroids and that the subjects included in this meta-analysis had predominantly mild to moderate asthma.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, PO Box 10055, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masoli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weatherall
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beasley
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019819:Budesonide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D010919:Placebos; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D010919:Placebos; D019819:Budesonide