| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4211988 | Respiratory Medicine | 2006 | 9 Pages |
SummaryAdherence to maintenance therapy is often poor in patients with asthma. Simplifying dosing regimens has the potential to improve both adherence and asthma-related morbidity. In this 12-week, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group study, 617 patients with mild to moderate persistent asthma (mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV1] 78.5% predicted) who were not optimally controlled on inhaled corticosteroids (200–500 μg/day) were randomized to once-daily budesonide/formoterol (80/4.5 μg, 2 inhalations in the evening), twice-daily budesonide/formoterol (80/4.5 μg, 1 inhalation), or a corresponding dose of budesonide once-daily (200 μg, 1 inhalation in the evening). All patients received budesonide (100 μg twice daily) during a 2-week run-in. Changes in mean morning peak expiratory flow (PEF) were similar for od budesonide/formoterol (23.4 l/min) and twice-daily budesonide/formoterol (24.1 l/min), and both were greater than with budesonide (5.5 l/min; both P<0.001). Evening PEF, symptom-free days, reliever-free days, and asthma control days were improved with budesonide/formoterol therapy vs. budesonide (P<0.05 vs. budesonide for all variables). All treatments were well tolerated. Budesonide/formoterol administered once daily in the evening is a convenient treatment regimen that is as effective in improving asthma control as twice-daily dosing in patients with mild to moderate persistent asthma.
