Efficacy of formoterol Turbuhaler in the emergency treatment of patients with obstructive airway diseases

SummaryDry powder devices are rarely used in the emergency room (ER) treatment of acute and severe bronchoconstriction due to hesitations with respect to clinical efficacy.This study investigated the effects of two inhalers with formoterol in patients visiting the ER Department for acute and severe dyspnoea, mainly exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Two doses of 12 μg formoterol were given at enrolment, either via Turbuhaler or via pressurised metered dose inhaler, connected to a spacer device (pMDI+S) in a double-blind way and parallel design. Another two doses of 12 μg formoterol were given after 30 min. Forced expiratory volume in the 1 s (FEV1) and Borg dyspnoea score were assessed until 60 min. The study was designed to test non-inferiority in effects on FEV1. Seventy-seven patients were enrolled with a mean age of 66 years and a FEV1 of 1.03 L (39% of predicted). The effects of the two treatments were almost identical. The mean improvement in FEV1 at 60 min after formoterol Turbuhaler was 94% of the improvement after formoterol pMDI+S. A statistically significant non-inferiority was shown (p=0.037) at 60 min (primary endpoint) as well as at 5 and 30 min (secondary endpoints, p=0.0043 and 0.013, respectively). Improvements in the Borg dyspnoea score and other lung-function parameters did not differ significantly between the two devices.In conclusion, formoterol Turbuhaler was equally effective as formoterol pMDI+S in the treatment of acute bronchoconstriction within the ER.