Abstract
Common colds often trigger asthma exacerbations. The present study compared cold-related severe exacerbations during budesonide/formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy, and different regimens of maintenance inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), with or without long-acting β 2-agonists (LABA), and with as-needed short-acting β 2-agonists (SABA) or LABA. Reported colds and severe exacerbations (defined by oral corticosteroid use and/or hospitalisation/emergency room visit) were assessed for 12,507 patients during 6-12 months of double-blind treatment. Exacerbations occurring ≤14 days after onset of reported colds were analysed by a Poisson model. The incidence of colds was similar across treatments. Asthma symptoms and reliever use increased during colds. Budesonide/formoterol maintenance and reliever therapy reduced severe cold-related exacerbations by 36% versus pooled comparators plus SABA (rate ratio (RR) 0.64; p=0.002), and for individual treatment comparisons, by 52% versus the same maintenance dose of ICS/LABA (RR 0.48; p
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 584-593 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | European Respiratory Journal |
Volume | 38 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sept 2011 |
Keywords
- Asthma
- Drug therapy
- Exacerbations
- Respiratory tract infections