The addition of long-acting beta2-agonists to inhaled steroids compared to higher doses of inhaled steroids alone as maintenance treatment for chronic asthma

When asthma is inadequately controlled with inhaled corticosteroids, either adding medication such as long-acting beta2-agonists (LABAs) or increasing the dose of inhaled corticosteroids is recommended. The purpose of this review was to establish the benefits and safety of adding long-acting beta2-agonists or increasing the dose of inhaled corticosteroids in patients with asthma that is inadequately controlled on their current dose of inhaled corticosteroids. This review analysed data from identified randomised controlled trials comparing the addition of long-acting beta2-agonists to inhaled corticosteroids versus increasing to a higher dose of inhaled corticosteroids in asthmatic children and adults.

Based on the identified trials:

1. There is a modest advantage in adding long-acting beta2-agonists to inhaled corticosteroids, compared with increasing the dose of inhaled corticosteroids, in preventing exacerbations but many patients (more than 70) need to be treated for one to have an exacerbation prevented. The results apply particularly to adults, as no group differences were observed in children. Reduction in symptoms and use of rescue beta2-agonists as well as improvement in lung function tests also slightly favour the combination of long-acting beta2-agonists to inhaled corticosteroids over a higher corticosteroid dose.

2. Apart from an increased rate of tremor and less oral thrush, there is no apparent difference in the risk of side effects or rates of withdrawal from treatment because of side effects between the treatment options, but the long-term side effects of inhaled corticosteroids were seldom monitored. However, the trends towards an increased risk of moderate and severe exacerbations in children receiving combination therapy raises concern about this therapy, particularly in view of the modest improvement shown.

Authors' conclusions: 

In adolescents and adults with sub-optimal control on low dose ICS monotherapy, the combination of LABA and ICS is modestly more effective in reducing the risk of exacerbations requiring oral corticosteroids than a higher dose of ICS. Combination therapy also led to modestly greater improvement in lung function, symptoms and use of rescue ß2 agonists and to fewer withdrawals due to poor asthma control than with a higher dose of inhaled corticosteroids. Apart from an increased rate of tremor and less oral candidiasis with combination therapy, the two options appear relatively safe in adults although adverse effects associated with long-term ICS treatment were seldom monitored. In children, combination therapy did not lead to a significant reduction, but rather a trend towards an increased risk, of oral steroid-treated exacerbations and hospital admissions. These trends raised concern about the safety of combination therapy in view of modest improvement in children under the age of 12 years.

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Background: 

In asthmatic patients inadequately controlled on inhaled corticosteroids and/or those with moderate persistent asthma, two main options are recommended: the combination of a long-acting inhaled ß2 agonist (LABA) with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) or use of a higher dose of inhaled corticosteroids.

Objectives: 

To determine the effect of the combination of long-acting ß2 agonists and inhaled corticosteroids compared to a higher dose of inhaled corticosteroids on the risk of asthma exacerbations, pulmonary function and on other measures of asthma control, and to look for characteristics associated with greater benefit for either treatment option.

Search strategy: 

We identified randomised controlled trials (RCTs) through electronic database searches (MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL), bibliographies of RCTs, clinical trial registries and correspondence with manufacturers until May 2008.

Selection criteria: 

RCTs that compared the combination of inhaled LABA and ICS to a higher dose of inhaled corticosteroids, in children and adults with asthma.

Data collection and analysis: 

Two authors independently assessed methodological quality and extracted data. We obtained confirmation from the trialists when possible. The primary endpoint was the number of patients experiencing one or more asthma exacerbations requiring oral corticosteroids.

Main results: 

This review included 48 studies (15,155 participants including 1155 children and 14,000 adults). Participants were inadequately controlled on their current ICS regimen, experiencing ongoing symptoms and with generally moderate (FEV1 60% to 79% of predicted) airway obstruction. The studies tested the combination of salmeterol or formoterol with a median dose of 400 mcg/day of beclomethasone or equivalent (BDP-eq) compared to a median of 1000 mcg/day of BDP-eq, usually for 24 weeks or less. There was a statistically significantly lower risk of exacerbations requiring systemic corticosteroids in patients treated with LABA and ICS (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.98, 27 studies, N = 10,578) from 11.45% to 10%, with a number needed to treat of 73 (median study duration: 12 weeks). The study results were dominated by adult studies; trial data from three paediatric studies showed a trend towards increased risk of rescue oral steroids (RR 1.24, 95% CI 0.58 to 2.66) and hospital admission (RR 2.21, 95% CI 0.74 to 6.64) associated with combination therapy. Overall, there was no statistically significant difference in the risk ratios for either hospital admission (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.67 to 1.56) or serious adverse events (RR 1.12, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.37). The combination of LABA and ICS resulted in significantly greater but modest improvement from baseline in lung function, symptoms and rescue medication use than with higher ICS dose. Despite no significant group difference in the risk of overall adverse events (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.03), there was an increase in the risk of tremor (RR 1.84, 95% CI 1.20 to 2.82) and a lower risk of oral thrush (RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.86)) in the LABA and ICS compared to the higher ICS group. There was no significant difference in hoarseness or headache between the treatment groups. The rate of withdrawals due to poor asthma control favoured the combination of LABA and ICS (RR 0.65, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.83).