Review: long term use of common medications for asthma reduces exacerbations in adults
Q In adults with asthma, does long term use of common pharmacological antiasthmatic agents reduce rates of exacerbations?
METHODS
Data sources:
Medline, EMBASE/Excerpta Medica, and the Cochrane databases (all from 1980 to April 2004); bibliographies of relevant articles; and experts.
Study selection and assessment:
randomised controlled trials (RCTs) (published in English) that lasted ⩾3 months, evaluated common pharmacological treatments for adults (>19 y of age) with asthma, and reported relevant outcomes. Study quality was assessed using the Jadad scale.
Outcomes:
exacerbation rates and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1).
MAIN RESULTS
4 categories of pharmacological medications were evaluated. Meta-analyses were done using a random effects model when significant data heterogeneity was detected. (1) Inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) v a control group of placebo or short acting β2 agonists (SABAs). Exacerbation rates were lower in the ICS group …
