TY - JOUR T1 - On demand use of β<sub>2</sub> agonists led to better asthma control than regular use in moderate to severe asthma JF - Evidence Based Medicine JO - Evid Based Med SP - 15 LP - 15 DO - 10.1136/ebm.6.1.15 VL - 6 IS - 1 A2 - , Y1 - 2001/01/01 UR - http://ebm.bmj.com/content/6/1/15.abstract N2 - (2000) J Intern Med 247, 657; Richter B, Bender R, Berger M.. Effects of on-demand β2-agonist inhalation in moderate-to-severe asthma. A randomized controlled trial.. Jun;. :. –66.OpenUrlCrossRefPubMedWeb of Science
 
 QUESTION: In patients with moderate to severe asthma, is on demand use of β2 agonists as effective and safe as regular use? Randomised {allocation concealed*}†, blinded (outcome assessors and statistician),* crossover trial with 24 weeks follow up for each treatment condition. Outpatient clinic at Düsseldorf University Medical Centre in Germany. 80 patients (mean age 48 y, 74% women) with moderate to severe asthma on regularly scheduled β2 agonist (minimum daily intake of 6 puffs) and inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) for ≥2 years. Exclusion criteria were non-respiratory illnesses or pregnancy. 73 patients (91%) completed the study. Two 24 week periods in which patients were allocated to on demand inhalation (salbutamol or fenoterol) or regular use of β2 agonist (2 inhalations 4 times daily plus salbutamol or fenoterol on demand) and crossed over to the … ER -