Efficacy and safety of salmeterol/fluticasone propionate delivered via a hydrofluoroalkane metered dose inhaler in Chinese patients with moderate asthma poorly controlled with inhaled corticosteroids.

A randomised, open-label, multicentre study compared the efficacy and tolerability of salmeterol 25 µg/fluticasone propionate 125 µg (two puffs, twice daily) delivered via a hydrofluoroalkane metered-dose inhaler (HFA-MDI) and salmeterol 50µg/fluticasone propionate 250 µg (one puff, twice daily) delivered via a Diskus™ inhaler in Chinese patients with moderate asthma uncontrolled with inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs). Morning peak expiratory flow (PEF) was the primary efficacy endpoint. Secondary endpoints included evening PEF, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, day and night symptom scores, rescue medication and patient self-evaluation of efficacy. Safety was assessed according to adverse events recorded. Both treatments were equipotent and significantly improved morning PEF (HFA-MDI 40 l/min; Diskus™ 42 l/min; p < 0.05) and all secondary endpoints (p < 0.05) from baseline, over 1–4 weeks. Similarly, both treatments were well tolerated. Salmeterol/fluticasone propionate delivered via an HFA-MDI or Diskus™ inhaler provides a choice of efficacious delivery systems in Chinese patients whose asthma is poorly controlled on ICSs alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]