The effect of adding long acting beta 2 agonists to inhaled corticosteroids versus increasing dose of inhaled corticosteroids in improving asthma control

To asthmatic patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma, two main treatment options are recommended: The combination of a long-acting inhaled β2-agonist with inhaled corticosteroids or the use of a higher dose of inhaled corticosteroids. The aim of this study was to evaluate which drug option is more favorable.Patients and methodsThis study included 60 asthmatic patients uncontrolled on low doses of ICSs. They were randomized into two groups. Group (1): 30 patients received twice daily inhaled formetrol and budesonide in a dose of 12 mcg and 400 mcg, respectively. Group (2): 30 patients received two fold the previous dose of budesonide 800 mcg/BID alone. A comparative study was carried out at Outpatient Chest Clinic of Fayoum Hospital University for a period of 24 weeks using the spirometric data of patients of the two groups before and after treatment.ResultsResults showed that the combination therapy of inhaled formetrol and budesonide is modestly more effective in the reduction of symptoms and in improving the lung functions than with a higher dose of budesonide alone.ConclusionAdding formetrol in a dose of 12 μg plus budesonide in a dose 400 μg b.i.d. is more favorable in treatment of asthma than a higher dose of budesonide (800 μg b.i.d).