Journal Article

Stepped treatment algorithm using budesonide-formoterol for chronic respiratory diseases: A single arm interventional study

Negin, Joel, Marks, Guy B., Nguyen, Viet Nhung, Pham, Ngoc Yen, Fox, Greg J., Nguyen, Thu Anh, Huang, Wan-Chun, Jan, Stephen, Vu, Van Giap, Ngo, Quy Chau

2022

Overview

While the safety and efficacy of inhaled budesonide-formoterol, used as-needed for symptoms, has been established for patients with asthma, it has not been trialed in undifferentiated patients with chronic respiratory diseases. We aimed to assess the feasibility of a pragmatic intervention that entails a stepped algorithm using inhaled budesonide-formoterol (dry powder inhaler, 160[mu]g/4.5[mu]g per dose) for patients presenting with chronic respiratory diseases to three rural district hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam. We recruited patients with evidence of airflow obstruction on spirometry and/or symptoms consistent with asthma. The algorithm consisted of three steps: 1. as-needed inhaled budesonide-formoterol for symptoms, 2. maintenance plus as-needed inhaled budesonide-formoterol, and 3. referral to a higher-level healthcare facility. All participants started at step 1, with escalation to the next step at review visits if there had been exacerbation(s) or inadequate symptom control. Patients were followed for 12 months. Among 313 participants who started the treatment algorithm, 47.2% had [greater than or equal to] 1 episode of acute respiratory symptoms requiring a visit to hospital or clinic and 35.4% were diagnosed with an exacerbation. Twelve months after enrolment, 50.7% still adhered to inhaled budesonide-formoterol at the recommended treatment step. The mean and median number of doses per day was 1.5 (standard deviation 1.2) doses and 1.3 (interquartile range 0.7-2.3) doses, respectively. The proportion of patients taking more than 800[mu]g budesonide per day was 3.8%. This novel therapeutic algorithm is feasible for patients with chronic respiratory diseases in a rural setting in Vietnam. Further studies are required to establish the effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of similar approaches in different settings.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Air flow / Algorithms / Analysis / Asthma / Biology and Life Sciences / Budesonide / Care and treatment / Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / Complications and side effects / Dosage / Drug stores / Feasibility / Formoterol / Health care facilities / Health services / Hospitals / Inhalers / Intervention / Lung diseases / Medical diagnosis / Medical personnel / Medicine and Health Sciences / Patient outcomes / Patients / People and Places / Pharmacists / Physicians / Questionnaires / Research and Analysis Methods / Respiratory diseases / Respiratory tract diseases / Safety / Signs and symptoms / Spirometry / Steroids