fluticasone and Emergencies

Oral corticosteroids (CS) are standard treatment for patients discharged from the emergency department (ED) after treatment for acute asthma. Several recent, relatively small trials have investigated the replacement of CS with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), with varied results and conclusions. This systematic review examined the effect of using ICS in place of CS on outcomes in this setting.. Only randomized controlled trials were eligible for inclusion. Studies in which patients were treated for acute asthma in the ED or its equivalent, and on discharge compared ICS therapy to standard CS therapy, were eligible for inclusion. Trials were identified using the Cochrane Airways Review Group register, searching abstracts and bibliographies, and contacting primary authors and pharmaceutical companies. Data were extracted and methodologic quality assessed independently by two reviewers, and missing data were obtained from authors.. Seven trials, involving a total of 1,204 patients, compared high-dose ICS therapy vs CS therapy after ED discharge. There were no significant differences demonstrated between the treatments for relapse rates (odds ratio, 1.00; 95% confidence interval, 0.66 to 1.52) or in the secondary outcomes of beta-agonist use, symptoms, or adverse events. However, the sample size was not adequate to prove equivalence between the treatments, and severe asthmatics were excluded from these trials.. There is some evidence that high-dose ICS therapy alone may be as effective as CS therapy when used in mild asthmatics on ED discharge; however, there is a significant possibility of a type II error in drawing this conclusion.

Topics: Acute Disease; Administration, Inhalation; Administration, Oral; Adult; Androstadienes; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Asthma; Budesonide; Child; Emergencies; Fluticasone; Humans; Patient Discharge; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Inhaled corticosteroids have become the mainstay of asthma therapy. Few studies however, have compared inhaled steroids in children. We compared the efficacy of inhaled fluticasone propionate (FP), 880 microg/day (2 puffs of 220 microg/puff, BID) with inhaled flunisolide (FLU), 1500 microg/day (3 puffs of 250 microg/puff, BID).. Thirty children with moderate to severe asthma, mean age 12.7 years (range 10 to 17 years), mean duration of asthma 8.4 years, initially received flunisolide 1500 microg/day for 1 year, and then were switched to fluticasone propionate 880 microg/day and followed for an additional year. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were monitored and analyzed before and after the switch for the duration of study. Mean percent predicted for age values for FVC, FEV1, FEF25-75%, and FEFR were compared at 1 month, 2 to 6-month intervals, and 7 to 12-month intervals and during the same season of the year. Pulmonary function tests within 3 weeks of an exacerbation were not included in the study. The number of asthma exacerbations, emergency room visits, hospital admissions, and number of school days lost were also compared.. There was significant improvement in mean asthma exacerbations/patient/year (1.7 +/- 1.66 SD) versus (4 +/- 2.6) (P < .0002); mean emergency room visits/patient/year (0.23 +/- 0.62) versus (1.2 +/- 1.74) (P = .004); mean hospital admissions for asthma/patient/year (0.2 +/- 0.61) versus (1.13 +/- 1.45) (P < .0002); and number of school days lost/patient/year (1.4 +/- 2.38) versus (7.93 +/- 6.7) (P < .0002) while patients were receiving fluticasone propionate as compared with flunisolide. Also, the mean percent values predicted for age in all time-periods (at 1 month, 2 to 6 months, and 7 to 12 months) revealed significant improvement in FEV1 and FEF25-75% (P < .05 for both parameters). As PFT can be affected by seasonal changes, PFT parameters were compared during the same season of the year and significant improvement in FVC and FEV1 was observed in all seasons while patients were receiving fluticasone propionate (FP) compared with flunisolide (FLU) (P < .05 for all parameters). Significant improvement in PEFR and FEF25-75% was observed only in spring and summer season.. Fluticasone propionate 880 microg/day improved lung function and quality of life in adolescents with moderate-to-severe asthma when compared with flunisolide 1500 microg/day.

Topics: Absenteeism; Administration, Inhalation; Adolescent; Albuterol; Androstadienes; Asthma; Child; Cross-Over Studies; Drug Therapy, Combination; Emergencies; Female; Fluocinolone Acetonide; Fluticasone; Follow-Up Studies; Hospitalization; Humans; Male; Nebulizers and Vaporizers; Pulmonary Ventilation; Salmeterol Xinafoate; Seasons; Spirometry; Theophylline; Treatment Outcome

Inadequately controlled allergic rhinitis (AR) in asthmatic patients can contribute towards increased asthma exacerbations and poorer symptom control, which may increase medical resource use. We assessed asthma-related medical resource use and attacks in asthmatic patients who did and did not have concomitant AR and were adding montelukast or salmeterol to baseline treatment with inhaled fluticasone.. A post hoc resource use analysis of a 52-week, double-blind multicentre clinical trial (Investigation of Montelukast as a Partner Agent for Complementary Therapy) [corrected] including 1490 adults with chronic asthma, aged 15-72 years, with FEV(1) 50-90% of predicted and > or =12% increase in FEV(1) after salbutamol administration, treated with either montelukast 10 mg daily or salmeterol 50 microg twice daily in addition to fluticasone 200 microg, was undertaken. Asthma-related medical resource use included medical visits (defined as either an unscheduled visit [to a general practitioner, a specialist or a non-medical provider] or a specialist visit), emergency room visits and hospitalizations during follow-up. Asthma attacks were defined as the worsening of asthma requiring unscheduled visit, emergency visit, hospitalization or oral/intravenous/intramuscular corticosteroids.. A self-reported history of concomitant AR was identified in 60% of the patients (n=893). Univariate analysis suggests that significantly more patients with concomitant AR experienced emergency room visits (3.6% vs. 1.7%, P=0.029) and asthma attacks (21.3% vs. 17.1%, P=0.046). Multivariate analysis adjusting for treatment group, age and baseline asthma severity confirmed these results since the presence of concomitant AR in patients with asthma increases the likelihood of emergency room visit (odds ratio (OR)=2.35, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.12-4.80) and asthma attack (OR=1.35, 95% CI=1.03-1.77). Patients with asthma alone compared with patients with both conditions did not differ in terms of unscheduled or specialist visits and hospitalizations.. Presence of self-reported concomitant AR in patients with asthma resulted in a higher rate of asthma attacks and more emergency room visits compared with asthma patients without concomitant AR.

Topics: Acetates; Administration, Inhalation; Adult; Albuterol; Androstadienes; Anti-Allergic Agents; Anti-Asthmatic Agents; Asthma; Bronchodilator Agents; Cyclopropanes; Double-Blind Method; Emergencies; Female; Fluticasone; Humans; Male; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Quinolines; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial; Risk Factors; Salmeterol Xinafoate; Sulfides

With the recognition that airway inflammation is present even in patients with mild bronchial asthma, therapy with inhaled corticosteroids is now indicated in various stages of patients. In the present article, we retrospectively examined the prescriptions for inhaled corticosteroids and other drugs for the treatment of outpatients with bronchial asthma at Tokushima University Hospital. We also analyzed asthma control in these patients, in terms of the incidence of emergency consultations and hospitalizations due to asthma exacerbations. To analyze the recent trend, the patients observed from 1998 to 2000 (recent years) were included, and for control purpose, those in 1990 and 1991 (earlier years) were also included. The percentage of patients treated with inhaled corticosteroids remarkably increased in recent years (mean; 81.3%) compared to earlier years (mean; 23.5%). In contrast, the usage of oral corticosteroids, oral xanthine derivatives, beta-adrenergic receptor agonists and anti-allergic agents tended to decrease in the 10 years period. After the introduction in 1995, considerable patients up to 25% have been treated with anti-leukotrienes. Emergency consultations decreased in recent years (mean; 0.18/patient/year) compared to earlier years (mean; 0.79/patient/year). Emergency hospitalizations also decreased in recent years (mean; 0.043/patient/year) compared to earlier years (mean; 0.23/patient/ year). In the present study, spread of inhaled corticosteroid therapy and decline in incidence of emergency consultation and hospitalization were simultaneously observed at Tokushima University Hospital, and the former has, at least in part, a contribution to the latter.

Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Adrenergic beta-Agonists; Androstadienes; Anti-Allergic Agents; Anti-Asthmatic Agents; Asthma; Bronchodilator Agents; Cholinergic Antagonists; Drug Utilization; Emergencies; Female; Fluticasone; Hospitalization; Hospitals, University; Humans; Incidence; Leukotriene Antagonists; Male; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Retrospective Studies; Theophylline

Topics: Administration, Inhalation; Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Adult; Androstadienes; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Asthma; Bronchodilator Agents; Drug Therapy, Combination; Emergencies; Fluticasone; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Methylprednisolone; Treatment Outcome