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Q In patients with asthma, is budesonide (BUD) plus formoterol (FORM) (BUD+FORM) both for maintenance and symptom relief more effective than fixed dosing using BUD+FORM plus a short acting β2 agonist (SABA) or a 4 fold higher dose of BUD plus SABA for reducing the rate of severe asthma exacerbations?
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ Internal medicine ★★★★★★☆ Respirology ★★★★★★★
METHODS
Design:
randomised controlled trial.
Allocation:
concealed.*
Blinding:
blinded (patients and healthcare providers).*
Follow up period:
1 year.
Setting:
246 centers in 22 countries
Patients:
2760 outpatients 4–80 years of age (mean age 36 y, 55% female; 12% children 4–11 y of age) with asthma who were using inhaled corticosteroids.
Intervention:
BUD+FORM (budesonide, 80 μg, plus formoterol, 4.5 μg) both for maintenance and as needed (BUD+FORM for both, n = 925), BUD+FORM for maintenance plus terbutaline, 0.4 …
Footnotes
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↵* See glossary.
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For correspondence: Dr P M O’Byrne, St Joseph’s Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. obyrnepmcmaster.ca
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Source of funding: AstraZeneca R&D, Lund, Sweden.