Maintenance and symptom relief with budesonide plus formoterol reduced severe asthma exacerbations
Q In patients with asthma, is budesonide (BUD) plus formoterol (FORM) (BUDFORM) for both maintenance and symptom relief more effective than fixed dosing using BUDFORM or a 4 fold higher dose of BUD, both with a short acting β2 agonist (SABA), for reducing the rate of severe asthma exacerbations?
METHODS
Design:
randomised controlled trial.
Allocation:
concealed.
Blinding:
blinded (patients and healthcare providers).
Follow up period:
1 year
Setting:
246 centres in 22 countries.
Patients:
2760 outpatients (mean age 36 y, 55% women/girls; 12% children 4–11 y) with asthma who were using inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs).
Intervention:
BUDFORM (BUD, 80 μg plus FORM, 4.5 μg) both for maintenance and as needed (BUDFORM for all, n = 925); BUDFORM for maintenance plus terbutaline, 0.4 mg as needed (BUDFORM plus SABA, n = 909); or BUD, 320 …
