Article Text
Statistics from Altmetric.com
Q In patients with chronic, stable asthma, can the dosage of inhaled corticosteroids be safely stepped down?
Clinical impact ratings GP/FP/Primary care ★★★★★☆☆ Internal medicine ★★★★★☆☆ Respirology ★★★★★☆☆
METHODS
Design:
randomised controlled trial.
Allocation:
concealed.*
Blinding:
clinicians, patients, {data collectors, outcome assessors, data analysts, and monitoring committee}†.*
Follow up period:
12 month follow up at 3 month intervals.
Setting:
general practices in western and central Scotland, UK.
Patients:
259 patients ⩾18 years of age (mean age 54 y, 58% women), who had been diagnosed with asthma for ⩾1 year and were receiving ⩾800 μg daily of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (or equivalent dosage of budesonide or fluticasone propionate). Exclusion criteria: need for oral corticosteroids, general practice visit or hospital visit for asthma in the past 2 months; inability to use a peak flow metre; treatment with immunosuppressive drugs; serious illness; alcohol, drug, or substance abuse; …
Linked Articles
- Glossary