
There’s new and compelling evidence that demonstrates the effectiveness of combining inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) with either short-acting beta agonists (SABA) or long-acting bronchodilator medication such as formoterol for asthma management.
The results come from the study, “Inhaled Reliever Therapies for Asthma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” which was published in JAMA Network and presented at the 2024 American College of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting in Boston. The study analyzed data from 27 randomized clinical trials involving more than 50,000 patients. It revealed significant improvements in asthma control with these combination therapies compared to just SABA alone.
The research indicates that both combinations — ICS-SABA and ICS-formoterol — are associated with a substantial reduction in severe asthma exacerbations. Specifically, ICS-formoterol reduced the risk of severe exacerbations by 10.3%, while ICS-SABA achieved a 4.7% reduction. These findings suggest that incorporating ICS into asthma treatment regimens can significantly enhance patient outcomes.
Study participants included 50,496 adult and pediatric patients, with a mean age of 41 years. The primary outcomes measured asthma symptom control, asthma-related quality of life, risk of severe exacerbations and risk of serious adverse events. Neither ICS-formoterol nor ICS-SABA increased the risk of serious adverse events, making them safe options for asthma management.
According to the study’s authors, the practice of combining therapies offers a more effective and safer approach to asthma management compared to SABA alone. Further, the authors expect the study’s results to influence clinical guidelines in the future while reducing the frequency and severity of asthma attacks.