Fluticasone versus placebo for chronic asthma in adults and children

Adams NP, Bestall JC, Lasserson TJ, Jones P, Cates CJ

Published Online:

October 7, 2009

Fluticasone is a well-established inhaled steroid for use a preventative agent in controlling asthma symptoms. This review found that it is highly effective even in low doses. The effect does appear to increase with higher doses, but these improvements are small. This drug is associated with symptoms such a thrush, sore throat and hoarseness and these get worse with higher doses. In people with severe asthma who need oral steroid tablets to control their asthma, it can reduce the dose of oral steroids they need and improve their asthma at the same time. However, high or very high doses are needed for this effect. The drug appears to work in children and adults.

Abstract (click to read)

Background:

Inhaled fluticasone propionate (FP) is a relatively new inhaled corticosteroid for the treatment of asthma.

Objectives:

To assess efficacy and safety outcomes in studies that compared FP to placebo for treatment of chronic asthma.

Search strategy:

We searched the Cochrane Airways Group Specialised Register (January 2008), reference lists of articles, contacted trialists and searched abstracts of major respiratory society meetings (1997-2006).

Selection criteria:

Randomised trials in children and adults comparing FP to placebo in the treatment of chronic asthma. Two reviewers independently assessed articles for inclusion and risk of bias.

Data collection and analysis:

Two review authors extracted data. Quantitative analyses were undertaken using Review Manager software.

Main results:

Eighty-six studies met the inclusion criteria, recruiting 16,160 participants. In non-oral steroid treated asthmatics with mild and moderate disease FP resulted in improvements from baseline compared with placebo across all dose ranges (100 to 1000 mcg/d) in FEV1 (between 0.1 to 0.43 litres); morning PEF (between 23 and 46 L/min); symptom scores (based on a standardised scale, between 0.44 and 0.7); reduction in rescue beta-2 agonist use (between 1 and 1.4 puffs/day). High dose FP increased the number of patients who could withdraw from prednisolone: FP 1000-1500 mcg/day Peto Odds Ratio 14.07 (95% CI 7.17 to 27.57). FP at all doses led to a greater likelihood of sore throat, hoarseness and oral Candidiasis.

Authors' conclusions:

Doses of FP in the range 100-1000 mcg/day are effective. In most patients with mild-moderate asthma improvements with low dose FP are only a little less than those associated with high doses when compared with placebo. High dose FP appears to have worthwhile oral-corticosteroid reducing properties. FP use is accompanied by an increased likelihood of oropharyngeal side effects.

This record should be cited as:

Adams NP, Bestall JC, Lasserson TJ, Jones P, Cates CJ. Fluticasone versus placebo for chronic asthma in adults and children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD003135. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003135.pub4

Assessed as up to date:

July 4, 2008

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Primary Review Group:

Airways Group

Asthma topics:

Treating with Medications > Chronic Asthma > Steroids, inhaled

Health topics:

Lungs & airways > Asthma (chronic) > Corticosteroids (inhaled, oral or intranasal)

Cochrane Summaries^beta

Independent high-quality evidence for health care decision making

Fluticasone versus placebo for chronic asthma in adults and children

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