Maintaining asthma control in persistent asthma: Comparison of three strategies in a 6-month double-blind randomised study

Abstract

In patients achieving asthma control with SFC250, stepping treatment down with SFC100 was at least as effective on lung function and symptoms as continuing SFC250, whereas FP250 was not.

Treating the Small Airways

“…Collectively, the studies have supported the notion that stable asthmatic patients on high-dose ICS may be over-treated and that reductions in the inhaled dose can be achieved without worsening disease control [53,54,55,56,57]. …”

Long-Acting β2-Agonist Step-off in Patients With Controlled Asthma

“…We found 5 randomized controlled trials that examined LABA step-off in patients with asthma compared with no change in use of LABAs and ICSs ( Table 1). [37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51] Four studies were published in peer-reviewed journals 37,39,42,47 and 1 was available only as a conference abstract 50 and a report in the manufacturer's online register of studies. 51 All studies included adult or older adolescent patients with a 6-month or longer history of mild to moderate asthma (Table 1).…”

Poor asthma control? — then look up the nose. The importance of co-morbid rhinitis in patients with asthma

“…In view of these considerations, and the demonstration in several studies that asthma control was achievable in most patients, [8][9][10][11][12][13] the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines currently recommend treatment based on achieving and maintaining asthma control. 1 This is defined as "the extent to which the manifestations of asthma have been reduced or removed by treatment" based on assessment of the dual PRIMARY CARE RESPIRATORY JOURNAL www.thepcrj.org http://dx.doi.org/10.4104/pcrj.2012.00035…”