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| |  BTS: Adjustable Dosing Provides Greater Empowerment For Asthmatics LONDON, ENGLAND -- December 9, 2002 -- Asthma patients using an adjustable dosing regimen with Symbicort® Turbohaler® (budesonide / eformoterol) felt significantly more enabled compared to patients on a fixed Symbicort dosing regimen, according to new data presented at the British Thoracic Society (BTS) winter meeting.1 As part of the ASSURE study, 1553 asthma patients were randomised to receive either adjustable Symbicort dosing (within a range of one to four inhalations bd per day) as part of a self-management plan or a fixed two inhalations, twice daily regimen. A re-validated modified Patient Enablement Instrument (PEI) was used to question patients on how they felt as a result of their treatment in terms of their ability to cope, understand their illness and to keep themselves healthy. Patient enablement scores reflect changes in asthma status in terms of quality of life and asthma severity, with an individual score of >6 reflecting a relevant treatment benefit. 57% of ASSURE adjustable dosing patients scored a PEI of >6 compared to 43% of the flexible dosing group (p=0.04). 1 Dr John Haughney, ASSURE study investigator said, "This study provides further evidence that self management, together with adjustable Symbicort dosing, not only provides an excellent level of disease control but also helps reduce the impact that asthma has on patients' lives. Enabling patients to be more in control of their symptoms can be a key factor in improving treatment compliance". According to a recent patient survey to identify unmet needs of asthma patients, over 50% of patients did not take their inhaled corticosteroid as prescribed and 85% would prefer less medication2 ASSURE data already presented at the European Respiratory Society congress shows the benefits of adjustable dosing with Symbicort. Results showed that patients on adjustable treatment required an average of 16% less Symbicort inhalations daily than patients on fixed dosing to achieve similar levels of asthma control. The use of additional reliever medication (terbutaline) was also lower in the group taking a variable dose compared to the group taking a fixed dose, despite a similar level of asthma control.3 References 1. Haughney J, Price D, Rosen J-P et al. Symbicort used in a guided self management plan provides additional enablement to asthma patients compared with fixed dosing. Abstract presented at British Thoracic Society Winter Meeting, London, 6 December 2002. 2. Ståhl E & Hyland ME. Unmet needs of asthma patients, and how these are reflected in attitudes to the disease and its treatment. Eur Respir J 2002; 20 (Suppl 38): 410s, Abs 2618 3. Ind P, Haughney J, Rosen J-P, et al. Managed adjustable dosing of budesonide/formoterol combination is similarly well tolerated to fixed dosing. Eur Respir J 2002;20 (Suppl 38):42s, Abs P380 and Poster presented at the World Congress on Lung Health (European Respiratory Society Conference);2002 Sept 14-18;Stockholm, Sweden
SOURCE: Munro and Forster Communications
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