Once-daily dosing with budesonide/formoterol compared with twice-daily budesonide/formoterol and once-daily budesonide in adults with mild to moderate asthma.
Adherence to maintenance therapy is often poor in patients with asthma. Simplifying dosing regimens has the potential to improve both adherence and asthma-related morbidity. In this 12-week, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group study, 617 patients with mild to moderate persistent asthma (mean forced expiratory volume in 1s [FEV1] 78.5% predicted) who were not optimally controlled on inhaled corticosteroids (200-500 microg/day) were randomized to once-daily budesonide/formoterol (80/4.5 microg, 2 inhalations in the evening), twice-daily budesonide/formoterol (80/4.5 microg, 1 inhalation), or a corresponding dose of budesonide once-daily (200 microg, 1 inhalation in the evening). All patients received budesonide (100 microg twice daily) during a 2-week run-in. Changes in mean morning peak expiratory flow (PEF) were similar for od budesonide/formoterol (23.4 l/min) and twice-daily budesonide/formoterol (24.1 l/min), and both were greater than with budesonide (5.5 l/min; both P<0.001). Evening PEF, symptom-free days, reliever-free days, and asthma control days were improved with budesonide/formoterol therapy vs. budesonide (P<0.05 vs. budesonide for all variables). All treatments were well tolerated. Budesonide/formoterol administered once daily in the evening is a convenient treatment regimen that is as effective in improving asthma control as twice-daily dosing in patients with mild to moderate persistent asthma.
Kuna
P
P
Division of Pneumonology and Allergy, Barlicki University Hospital, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland. pkuna@bg.p.lodz.pl
Creemers
J P H M
JP
Vondra
V
V
Black
P N
PN
Lindqvist
A
A
Nihlen
U
U
Vogelmeier
C
C
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D019819:Budesonide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000069502:Budesonide, Formoterol Fumarate Drug Combination; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D000069502:Budesonide, Formoterol Fumarate Drug Combination; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004983:Ethanolamines; D019819:Budesonide