Achieving asthma control in patients with moderate disease.
Patients with moderate asthma are symptomatic on an ongoing basis. They are usually treated initially with low-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) supplemented with a short-acting bronchodilator as a rescue medication. Most steroid-naive patients will achieve good control with this strategy. For patients in whom adherence, inhaler technique, environmental control, and comorbidities have been addressed but who still have uncontrolled symptoms, the addition of a long-acting beta-adrenergic agonist should be considered. Some patients might require a higher dose of ICS. Leukotriene receptor antagonists might be considered as alternate initial therapy or as an add-on to maintenance therapy with an ICS. All patients should receive a structured education program emphasizing the need for ongoing maintenance treatment, even when control is achieved. Patients should also be provided with a written action plan that clearly explains which additional anti-inflammatory therapy should be taken if asthma symptoms worsen. The most effective strategy in this situation has been shown to be the quadrupling of the maintenance dose of ICS.
University of British Columbia Respiratory Division and the Centre for Lung Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. markf@interchange.ubc.ca
J Mark
JM
FitzGerald
Neal
N
Shahidi
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents