[Evaluation of the clinical efficacy and the safety of salmeterol/fluticasone propionate accuhaler compared to budesonide turbuhalar in the control of adult asthma].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and the safety of low dose salmeterol/fluticasone (SM/FP) combination therapy as compared to morate dose of budesonide (BUD) in the management of adult asthma.


METHODS
A multicentre, randomised, open-label, parallel-group, 6-week treatment study was conducted. 398 patients (18 - 70 years) were given SM/FP (50/100 microg) twice daily via Accuhaler or BUD 400 microg twice daily via Turbuhaler.


RESULTS
The morning and the evening peak expiratory flow (PEF) measurements both increased significantly (P < 0.01) in the SM/FP group, and the increase was greater than that in the BUD group. The significant benefit of SM/FP was evident from the first week. SM/FP led to a more significant reduction in the use of rescue medication and in the day- and night-time asthma symptom scores, as compared to budesonide. Both treatments were well tolerated, and the adverse reactions showed no significant difference between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Combination use of low doses of SM/FP is a better choice for the control of asthma. The addition of a low-dose long-acting beta(2) agonist is superior to the simple increase of the dosage of inhaled corticosteroids.
Zhong
Nan-shan
NS
Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou 510120, China.
Zheng
Jing-ping
JP
Cai
Bai-qiang
BQ
Xie
Can-mao
CM
Sun
Tie-ying
TY
Wang
Dan-qi
DQ
Lin
Yan-ping
YP
Chen
Bao-yuan
BY
Tao
Jia-ju
JJ
Kang
Jian
J
Li
Qiang
Q
Xu
Yi-ping
YP
Zhou
Xin
X
Guo
Xue-jun
XJ
Chen
Xiao-dong
XD
Yin
Kai-sheng
KS
Zhang
De-ping
DP
Zhou
Jian-ying
JY
Shen
Hua-hao
HH
Qiu
Chen
C
Feng
Yu-lin
YL
Xiao
Bang-rong
BR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019819:Budesonide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D000068298:Fluticasone; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011208:Powders; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000730:Androstadienes; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D011208:Powders; D019819:Budesonide; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate; D000068298:Fluticasone; D000420:Albuterol