title: Increased versus stable doses of inhaled corticosteroids for exacerbations of chronic asthma in adults and children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Written action plans providing guidance in the early treatment of asthma exacerbations have traditionally advocated doubling of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) as one of the first steps in treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the clinical effectiveness of increasing the dose of ICS versus keeping the usual maintenance dose as part of a patient-initiated action plan at the onset of asthma exacerbations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched the Cochrane Airways Group Specialised Register (last search October 2009) which is derived from searches of CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL, as well as handsearched respiratory journals and meeting abstracts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the strategy of increasing the daily dose of ICS to continuing the same ICS dose in the home management of asthma exacerbations in children or adults with persistent asthma on daily maintenance ICS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two review authors independently selected trials, assessed quality and extracted data. We contacted authors of RCTs for additional information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five RCTs (four parallel-group and one cross-over) involving a total of 1250 patients (28 children and 1222 adults) with mild to moderate asthma were included. The mean daily baseline ICS dose was 555 mcg (range 200 mcg to 795 mcg) and the mean daily ICS dose achieved following increase was 1520 mcg (range 1000 mcg to 2075 mcg), in CFC beclomethasone dipropionate equivalents. Three parallel-group studies in adults (two doubling and one quadrupling; mean achieved daily dose of 1695 mcg with a range of 1420 to 2075 mcg), involving 1080 patients contributed data to the primary outcome. There was no significant reduction in the need for rescue oral corticosteroids when patients were randomised to the increased ICS compared to stable maintenance dose groups (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.58 to 1.26). There was no significant difference in the overall risk of non-serious adverse events associated with the increased ICS dose strategy, but the wide confidence interval prevents a firm conclusion. No serious adverse events were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is very little evidence from trials in children. In adults with asthma on daily maintenance ICS, a self-initiated ICS increase to 1000 to 2000 mcg/day at the onset of an exacerbation is not associated with a statistically significant reduction in the risk of exacerbations requiring rescue oral corticosteroids. More research is needed to assess the effectiveness of increased ICS doses at the onset of asthma exacerbations (particularly in children).
authors.affiliation: Medicine, University of British Columbia, #31-795 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z 1C9.
authors.forename: Bradley S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Quon
authors.forename: J Mark
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lemière
authors.forename: Neal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shahidi
authors.forename: Francine M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Ducharme
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D001507:Beclomethasone