Results From One-Year Study Suggest Advair(R) Provides Important Benefits for African American Patients W...(William Bailey M.D. lead author andDirec...),Health

Current treatment guidelines recommend the addition of a LABA to an ICS in patients with moderate to severe asthma who are uncontrolled on an ICS alone. Taken in combination, an ICS and LABA fight the two main components of asthma -- inflammation (swelling in the airways) and airway constriction (the tightening of muscles that surround the airways). Inhaled corticosteroids treat the inflammation, while LABAs treat the airway constriction. Optimal therapy for many patients with persistent moderate to severe asthma requires treatment of both these components.

The study was designed to primarily show that Advair improved the rate of exacerbations compared to Flovent. While Advair patients had a lower exacerbation rate than those patients in the Flovent group, the difference was not statistically significant. On most of the secondary endpoints, patients given Advair performed better than patients who used Flovent. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) improved in Advair patients. Both morning and evening peak expiratory flow (PEF) were also improved in the Advair group. Patients using Advair were also less likely to awake at night due to asthma-related breathing difficulties. Additionally, the Advair group showed reductions in the rate of daily symptoms and the need for a rescue inhaler.

Both Advair and Flovent were well tolerated. Over a one-year period, the overall incidence of adverse events was similar between the two groups.

Important Information about Advair Diskus

Advair Diskus won't replace fast-acting inhalers for sudden symptoms and should not be taken more than twice a day. Advair Diskus contains salmeterol. In patients with asthma, medicines like salmeterol may increase the chance of asthma-related death.
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