Improving quality of life in asthmatic children.
OBJECTIVE
To assess quality of life changes in pediatric asthmatic patients switched into a single inhaler device of Budesonide/Formoterol.


METHODS
Thirty pediatric patients (ages 6-15 years) with moderate to severe chronic asthma previously treated with inhaled beclometasone dipropionate at a daily dose of 400 g were selected to participate in an open label study. At the baseline- phase (one month), pulmonary function tests (PFTs), indicators of asthma control, and a quality of life assessment (using a special questionnaire) were evaluated. Patients were initiated on a single inhaler device containing budesonide 160 g/formoterol 4.5 microg, one inhalation twice daily instead of their previous inhaled corticosteroid and followed for two months. PFTs, indicators of asthma control, and a quality of life assessment were evaluated at each visit.


RESULTS
After switching to the new therapy, patients showed significant changes towards better quality of life in all aspects. The overall score dropped from 1.75+/- 0.04 to 0.80 +/- 0.07 (mean +/- SEM), p< 0.001 (Score scale varies between 0: excellent to 2: very bad Health related quality of life). There was an improvement in the PFTs, where the FEV1% improved from 62.7+/- 2.8 to 87.4 +/- 4.6 (mean +/- SEM), and the FVC% improved from 83.2 +/- 3.5 to 101.9 +/- 5.3 (mean +/-SEM), p < 0.001, and better control of asthma.


CONCLUSIONS
Switching treatment from beclomethasone dipropionate to budesonide/formoterol combination appeared to improve quality of life in the patient population evaluated and in the appropriate clinical indices.
Albsoul-Younes
Abla M
AM
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science & Technology, King Hussein Medical Center, Jordan. ablabsou@just.edu.jo
Al-Doghim
Imad A
IA
Al-Safi
Safan A
SA
Najada
Abdelhammed S
AS
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019819:Budesonide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D004983:Ethanolamines; D019819:Budesonide; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate