Real-life effectiveness of asthma treatment with a fixed-dose fluticasone/formoterol pressurised metered-dose inhaler - Results from a non-interventional study.
OBJECTIVE
Prospective, non-interventional study of fixed-dose inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)/long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) combination therapy with fluticasone propionate/formoterol fumarate (FP/FORM) across a spectrum of community-based patients with asthma in a real-life setting.


METHODS
In FP/FORM-treated patients aged ≥12 years, asthma control (Asthma Control Test™ [ACT]), incidence of severe exacerbations, lung function, quality of life (asthma quality of life questionnaire [AQLQ]) and adverse events (AEs) were assessed over one year.


RESULTS
Almost 40% (n = 555) of the full analysis population (N = 1410) were receiving ICS/LABA therapy prior to enrolment; 69.8% completed the study. Asthma control (mean ACT ± standard deviation) improved from 16.3 ± 5.0 at baseline to 19.8 ± 4.5 at study end. ACT scores were significantly (p < 0.0001) higher than baseline at all observation timepoints, including the first assessment at 4-6 weeks. The percentage of patients with asthma control increased (baseline: 30.9%; study end: 62.4%), and the percentage of patients with ≥1 severe asthma exacerbation decreased (12 months before: 35.8%; during study: 5.9%). Lung function (forced expiratory volume in one second, peak expiratory flow) improved from baseline to each observation timepoint (p < 0.0001 for all). Improvement in asthma status was accompanied by ameliorated quality of life: AQLQ scores improved significantly from baseline to all observation timepoints (p < 0.0001 for all). AEs accorded with the summary of product characteristics. After study completion, 70% of patients continued FP/FORM treatment.


CONCLUSION
In this one-year study, FP/FORM treatment was associated with clinically relevant improvements in asthma status in a diverse population of patients under real-life conditions.
['Schmidt|O|O|', 'Petro|W|W|', 'Hoheisel|G|G|', 'Kanniess|F|F|', 'Oepen|P|P|', 'Langer-Brauburger|B|B|']
D000280:Administration, Inhalation D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D000730:Androstadienes D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents D001249:Asthma D002648:Child D018450:Disease Progression D004338:Drug Combinations D004983:Ethanolamines D005260:Female D000068298:Fluticasone D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate D006801:Humans D008297:Male D036501:Metered Dose Inhalers D008875:Middle Aged D011446:Prospective Studies D011788:Quality of Life D016896:Treatment Outcome D055815:Young Adult
Fluticasone Formoterol Non-interventional Asthma control Quality of life Fixed combination