Clinical and cost effectiveness of switching asthma patients from fluticasone-salmeterol to extra-fine particle beclometasone-formoterol: a retrospective matched observational study of real-world patients

Prim Care Respir J. 2013 Dec;22(4):439-48. doi: 10.4104/pcrj.2013.00088.

Abstract

Background: Efficacy trials suggest that extra-fine particle beclometasone dipropionate-formoterol (efBDP-FOR) is comparable to fluticasone propionate-salmeterol (FP-SAL) in preventing asthma exacerbations at a clinically equivalent dosage. However, switching from FP-SAL to efBDP-FOR has not been evaluated in real-world asthma patients.

Aims: The REACH (Real-world Effectiveness in Asthma therapy of Combination inHalers) study investigated the clinical and cost effectiveness of switching typical asthma patients from FP-SAL to efBDP-FOR.

Methods: A retrospective matched (1:3) observational study of 1,528 asthma patients aged 18-80 years from clinical practice databases was performed. Patients remaining on FP-SAL (n=1,146) were compared with those switched to efBDP-FOR at an equivalent or lower inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) dosage (n=382). Clinical and economic outcomes were compared between groups for the year before and after the switch. Non-inferiority (at least equivalence) of efBDP-FOR was tested against FP-SAL by comparing exacerbation rates during the outcome year.

Results: efBDP-FOR was non-inferior to FP-SAL (adjusted exacerbation rate ratio 1.01 (95% CI 0.74 to 1.37)). Switching to efBDP-FOR resulted in significantly better (p<0.05) odds of achieving overall asthma control (no asthma-related hospitalisations, bronchial infections, or acute oral steroids; salbutamol ≤200μg/day) and lower daily short-acting β2-agonist usage at a lower daily ICS dosage (mean -130μg/day FP equivalents; p<0.001). It also reduced mean asthma-related healthcare costs by £93.63/patient/year (p<0.001).

Conclusions: Asthma patients may be switched from FP-SAL to efBDP-FOR at an equivalent or lower ICS dosage with no reduction in clinical effectiveness but a significant reduction in cost.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Albuterol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Albuterol / economics
  • Albuterol / therapeutic use
  • Androstadienes / economics
  • Androstadienes / therapeutic use*
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / economics
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Asthma / drug therapy*
  • Asthma / economics
  • Beclomethasone / economics
  • Beclomethasone / therapeutic use*
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Drug Combinations
  • Drug Costs
  • Drug Substitution / economics
  • Ethanolamines / economics
  • Ethanolamines / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Fluticasone-Salmeterol Drug Combination
  • Formoterol Fumarate
  • Health Care Costs
  • Health Services / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Androstadienes
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents
  • Drug Combinations
  • Ethanolamines
  • Fluticasone-Salmeterol Drug Combination
  • Beclomethasone
  • Albuterol
  • Formoterol Fumarate