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In asthma, moderate-to-severe, receiving inhaled glucocorticoid-containing maintenance treatment The Use of
combination of inhaled corticosteroids and short-acting beta2-agonists (beclomethasone, albuterol) as on-demand reliever Tt
As Treatment, Chronic
Is better Than
short-acting b2-agonists (albuterol) on-demand reliever alone
To reduce severe asthma exacerbations (43 per 100 patient/years combination VS 58 albuterol alone), reduce total inhaled corticosteroids use and improve quality-of-life scores
N Engl J Med. 2022 May 15. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2203163 [Citation]
Albuterol-Budesonide Fixed-Dose Combination Rescue Inhaler for Asthma
Papi A, Chipps BE, Beasley R, Panettieri RA Jr, Israel E, Cooper M, Dunsire L, Jeynes-Ellis A, Johnsson E, Rees R, Cappelletti C, Albers FC
From the Department of Respiratory Medicine, University of Ferrara Medical School, Ferrara, Italy (A.P.); the Capital Allergy and Respiratory Disease Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: As asthma symptoms worsen, patients typically rely on short-acting β2-agonist (SABA) rescue therapy, but SABAs do not address worsening inflammation, which leaves patients at risk for severe asthma exacerbations. The use of a fixed-dose combination of albuterol and budesonide, as compared with albuterol alone, as rescue medication might reduce the risk of severe asthma exacerbation.

Methods: We conducted a multinational, phase 3, double-blind, randomized, event-driven trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of albuterol-budesonide, as compared with albuterol alone, as rescue medication in patients with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe asthma who were receiving inhaled glucocorticoid-containing maintenance therapies, which were continued throughout the trial. Adults and adolescents (≥12 years of age) were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to one of three trial groups: a fixed-dose combination of 180 μg of albuterol and 160 μg of budesonide (with each dose consisting of two actuations of 90 μg and 80 μg, respectively [the higher-dose combination group]), a fixed-dose combination of 180 μg of albuterol and 80 μg of budesonide (with each dose consisting of two actuations of 90 μg and 40 μg, respectively [the lower-dose combination group]), or 180 μg of albuterol (with each dose consisting of two actuations of 90 μg [the albuterol-alone group]). Children 4 to 11 years of age were randomly assigned to only the lower-dose combination group or the albuterol-alone group. The primary efficacy end point was the first event of severe asthma exacerbation in a time-to-event analysis, which was performed in the intention-to-treat population.

Results: A total of 3132 patients underwent randomization, among whom 97% were 12 years of age or older. The risk of severe asthma exacerbation was significantly lower, by 26%, in the higher-dose combination group than in the albuterol-alone group (hazard ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.62 to 0.89; P = 0.001). The hazard ratio in the lower-dose combination group, as compared with the albuterol-alone group, was 0.84 (95% CI, 0.71 to 1.00; P = 0.052). The incidence of adverse events was similar in the three trial groups.

Conclusions: The risk of severe asthma exacerbation was significantly lower with as-needed use of a fixed-dose combination of 180 μg of albuterol and 160 μg of budesonide than with as-needed use of albuterol alone among patients with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe asthma who were receiving a wide range of inhaled glucocorticoid-containing maintenance therapies.

Funded by Avillion; MANDALA ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03769090.

Pubmed record:  PMID: 35569035
Notes: albuterol = salbutamol = Ventoline(r)
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