The comparison of clinical efficacy of formoterol and fluticasone versus salmeterol and fluticasone in patients of bronchial asthma

BACKGROUND: Fixed-dose combinations of Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and Long acting beta agonist (LABA) are established and widely used treatment for bronchial asthma when ICSs as monotherapy are ineffective. This study attempted to compare the efficacy of salmeterol and fluticasone with formoterol (newer LABA) and fluticasone in patients of bronchial asthma. METHODS: An open label, randomized, prospective, parallel and comparative study of eight-week duration was conducted on 80 patients of bronchial asthma, with the collaboration of Department of pharmacology and Department of Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases Hospital, Government medical college, Amritsar. Patients in Group A were treated with 2 actuations of Formoterol and Fluticasone (6/125µg) twice daily and group B patients were treated with 2 actuations of Salmeterol and Fluticasone (50/125µg) twice daily for 8 weeks with metered dose inhaler (MDI). Patients in group A and B were assessed on day zero, 4 weeks and 8 weeks for clinical assessment and computerized spirometry for FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC and PEFR. RESULTS: In group A mean±SD of FEV1 statistically significantly increased (<0.001) after eight week of therapy (1.50±0.12) from its baseline values (1.34±0.11). Similarly, in group B mean ± SD of FEV1 statistically significantly increased (<0.001) after eight weeks (1.48±0.13) from its baseline values (1.36±0.12). There was statistically significant (<0.001) improvement in other parameters of spirometry in patients of both the groups. CONCLUSIONS: It was observed that both the combination of Fluticasone + Formoterol and Fluticasone + Salmeterol are effective in the treatment of bronchial asthma.