Effects of fluticasone propionate and salmeterol hydrofluoroalkane inhalation aerosol on asthma-related quality of life.
BACKGROUND
Current asthma guidelines emphasize domains of impairment and risk for assessing severity and control, noting the need to consider separately the effects of asthma on asthma quality of life and functional capacity. Proper treatment to control asthma should result in improvements in patient well-being and functional status.


OBJECTIVE
To assess asthma-related quality of life after treatment with combination fluticasone propionate and salmeterol delivered via hydrofluoroalkane 134a metered-dose inhaler compared with the individual components alone.


METHODS
Asthma-related quality of life was assessed as part of two 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials comparing the fluticasone propionate-salmeterol combination administered via a single metered-dose inhaler with salmeterol, fluticasone propionate, and placebo administered via traditional chlorofluorocarbon metered-dose inhaler. The Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire was completed at baseline and end point. Score changes, overall and for the 4 separate domains, were compared within and among the treatment groups.


RESULTS
A total of 720 of 725 patients completed a baseline Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire and were included in the analyses. In both studies, all mean scores improved significantly from baseline with the fluticasone propionate-salmeterol combination, with significantly greater improvement in the overall score compared with salmeterol alone, fluticasone propionate alone, and placebo groups. Improvements with the combination were also clinically meaningful compared with changes with salmeterol and placebo in both studies and with fluticasone propionate in study 1.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with combination fluticasone propionate and salmeterol delivered via hydrofluoroalkane metered-dose inhaler resulted in significantly greater improvements in asthma-related quality of life compared with individual components and placebo administered via traditional chlorofluorocarbon metered-dose inhaler.
GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709-3398, USA.
Heather M
HM
Edin
Leslie B
LB
Andersen
Lynne
L
Schoaf
Catherine A
CA
Scott-Wilson
Shu-Yen
SY
Ho
Hector G
HG
Ortega
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D000335:Aerosol Propellants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D000068298:Fluticasone; D000068297:Fluticasone-Salmeterol Drug Combination; D006801:Humans; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D036501:Metered Dose Inhalers; D011788:Quality of Life; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D005466:Fluorocarbons
D000335:Aerosol Propellants; D000420:Albuterol; D000730:Androstadienes; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000068298:Fluticasone; D000068297:Fluticasone-Salmeterol Drug Combination; D006845:Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate; C094049:apaflurane; D005466:Fluorocarbons