Pharmacoecomonic analysis of efficacy of combined inhaled steroids in therapy of severe asthma

Abstract

Severe asthma patients admitted to a hospital during a year have been examined. All of them had severe poorly controlled asthma. According to the basic treatment, the patients were divided into 3 groups. The 1st group patients (n = 23, or 31.9 %) were treated with fluticasone / formoterol 1000 / 100 μg daily; the 2nd group patients (n = 25, or 34.7 %) used beclomethasone dipropionate 2000 μg daily plus fenoterol as a rescue medication; and the 3rd group patients (n = 24, or 33.4 %) received budesonide / formoterol 640 / 18 μg daily. The groups were comparable for age. Analysis of clinical status showed that dyspnea increased in all the patients during acute exacerbation of asthma but it was more severe in the 2nd group. The 1st group patients achieved good control of asthma while being at the stable period; their FEV₁ significantly improved by 20.8 %. The 2nd group did not achieve asthma control, FEV₁ improved by 10 % (non significant). The 3rd group achieved full control of asthma with FEV₁ being increased by 25.2 %. Therefore, combination of inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β₂ -agonists helps to achieve full or good asthma control on the contrary to the 2nd group patients who did not achieve control of the disease.