A randomized open-label trial on the use of budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort®) as an alternative reliever medication for mild to moderate asthmatic attacks.
BACKGROUND Conventionally, a nebulized short-acting β-2 agonist like salbutamol is often used as the reliever in acute exacerbations of asthma. However, recent worldwide respiratory outbreaks discourage routine use of nebulization. Previous studies have shown that combined budesonide/formoterol (...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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2012
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| Online Access: | http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/11749/ http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/11749/1/IJEM%20Symbicort.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848837065407463424 |
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| author | Chew, Keng Sheng Kamarudin, Hamizah Hashim, Che Wan |
| author_facet | Chew, Keng Sheng Kamarudin, Hamizah Hashim, Che Wan |
| author_sort | Chew, Keng Sheng |
| building | UNIMAS Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | BACKGROUND
Conventionally, a nebulized short-acting β-2 agonist like salbutamol is often used as the reliever in acute exacerbations of asthma. However, recent worldwide respiratory outbreaks discourage routine use of nebulization. Previous studies have shown that combined budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort®, AstraZeneca) is effective as both a maintenance and reliever anti-asthmatic medication.
METHODS
We performed a randomized, open-label study from March until August 2011 to compare the bronchodilatory effects of Symbicort® vs. nebulized salbutamol in acute exacerbation of mild to moderate asthmatic attack in an emergency department. Initial objective parameters measured include the oxygen saturation, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and respiratory rate. During clinical reassessment, subjective parameters [i.e., Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and 5-point Likert scale of breathlessness] and the second reading of the objective parameters were measured. For the 5-point Likert scale, the patients were asked to describe their symptom relief as 1, much worse; 2, a little worse; 3, no change; 4, a little better; 5, much better.
RESULTS
Out of the total of 32 patients enrolled, 17 patients (53%) were randomized to receive nebulized salbutamol and 15 (47%) to receive Symbicort®. For both treatment arms, by using paired t- and Wilcoxon signed rank tests, it was shown that there were statistically significant improvements in oxygen saturation, PEFR and respiratory rate within the individual treatment groups (pre- vs. post-treatment). Comparing the effects of Symbicort® vs. nebulized salbutamol, the average improvement of oxygen saturation was 1% in both treatment arms (p = 0.464), PEFR 78.67 l/min vs. 89.41 l/min, respectively (p = 0.507), and respiratory rate 2/min vs. 2/min (p = 0.890). For subjective evaluation, all patients reported improvement in the VAS (average 2.45 cm vs. 2.20 cm), respectively (p = 0.765). All patients in both treatment arms reported either "a little better" or "much better" on the 5-point Likert scale, with none reporting "no change" or getting worse.
CONCLUSION
This study suggests that there is no statistical difference between using Symbicort® vs. nebulized salbutamol as the reliever for the first 15 min post-intervention. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-15T06:33:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | unimas-11749 |
| institution | Universiti Malaysia Sarawak |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-15T06:33:44Z |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| recordtype | eprints |
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| spelling | unimas-117492016-04-26T10:12:03Z http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/11749/ A randomized open-label trial on the use of budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort®) as an alternative reliever medication for mild to moderate asthmatic attacks. Chew, Keng Sheng Kamarudin, Hamizah Hashim, Che Wan R Medicine (General) RC Internal medicine RT Nursing RZ Other systems of medicine BACKGROUND Conventionally, a nebulized short-acting β-2 agonist like salbutamol is often used as the reliever in acute exacerbations of asthma. However, recent worldwide respiratory outbreaks discourage routine use of nebulization. Previous studies have shown that combined budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort®, AstraZeneca) is effective as both a maintenance and reliever anti-asthmatic medication. METHODS We performed a randomized, open-label study from March until August 2011 to compare the bronchodilatory effects of Symbicort® vs. nebulized salbutamol in acute exacerbation of mild to moderate asthmatic attack in an emergency department. Initial objective parameters measured include the oxygen saturation, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and respiratory rate. During clinical reassessment, subjective parameters [i.e., Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and 5-point Likert scale of breathlessness] and the second reading of the objective parameters were measured. For the 5-point Likert scale, the patients were asked to describe their symptom relief as 1, much worse; 2, a little worse; 3, no change; 4, a little better; 5, much better. RESULTS Out of the total of 32 patients enrolled, 17 patients (53%) were randomized to receive nebulized salbutamol and 15 (47%) to receive Symbicort®. For both treatment arms, by using paired t- and Wilcoxon signed rank tests, it was shown that there were statistically significant improvements in oxygen saturation, PEFR and respiratory rate within the individual treatment groups (pre- vs. post-treatment). Comparing the effects of Symbicort® vs. nebulized salbutamol, the average improvement of oxygen saturation was 1% in both treatment arms (p = 0.464), PEFR 78.67 l/min vs. 89.41 l/min, respectively (p = 0.507), and respiratory rate 2/min vs. 2/min (p = 0.890). For subjective evaluation, all patients reported improvement in the VAS (average 2.45 cm vs. 2.20 cm), respectively (p = 0.765). All patients in both treatment arms reported either "a little better" or "much better" on the 5-point Likert scale, with none reporting "no change" or getting worse. CONCLUSION This study suggests that there is no statistical difference between using Symbicort® vs. nebulized salbutamol as the reliever for the first 15 min post-intervention. 2012 Article PeerReviewed text en http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/11749/1/IJEM%20Symbicort.pdf Chew, Keng Sheng and Kamarudin, Hamizah and Hashim, Che Wan (2012) A randomized open-label trial on the use of budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort®) as an alternative reliever medication for mild to moderate asthmatic attacks. International journal of emergency medicine, 5. p. 16. ISSN 1865-1380 http://intjem.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/1865-1380-5-16 10.1186/1865-1380-5-16 |
| spellingShingle | R Medicine (General) RC Internal medicine RT Nursing RZ Other systems of medicine Chew, Keng Sheng Kamarudin, Hamizah Hashim, Che Wan A randomized open-label trial on the use of budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort®) as an alternative reliever medication for mild to moderate asthmatic attacks. |
| title | A randomized open-label trial on the use of budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort®) as an alternative reliever medication for mild to moderate asthmatic attacks. |
| title_full | A randomized open-label trial on the use of budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort®) as an alternative reliever medication for mild to moderate asthmatic attacks. |
| title_fullStr | A randomized open-label trial on the use of budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort®) as an alternative reliever medication for mild to moderate asthmatic attacks. |
| title_full_unstemmed | A randomized open-label trial on the use of budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort®) as an alternative reliever medication for mild to moderate asthmatic attacks. |
| title_short | A randomized open-label trial on the use of budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort®) as an alternative reliever medication for mild to moderate asthmatic attacks. |
| title_sort | randomized open-label trial on the use of budesonide/formoterol (symbicort®) as an alternative reliever medication for mild to moderate asthmatic attacks. |
| topic | R Medicine (General) RC Internal medicine RT Nursing RZ Other systems of medicine |
| url | http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/11749/ http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/11749/ http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/11749/ http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/11749/1/IJEM%20Symbicort.pdf |