Quality of life assessment in asthmatic patients receiving fluticasone compared with equipotent doses of beclomethasone or budesonide

• Main Authors: Thomas Sabin, Parthasarathi Gurumurthy, Palaksha Shilpa, Jayaraj B, Gowda H, Mahesh P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2005-01-01
• Series: Lung India
• Subjects: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS); Quality of life (QoL); Asthma
• Online Access: http://www.lungindia.com/article.asp?issn=0970-2113;year=2005;volume=22;issue=3;spage=86;epage=91;aulast=Thomas

<b>Aims:</b> To assess the quality of life in patients with asthma receiving either fluticasone or other inhaled steroids like beclomethasone or budesonide. To assess the effect of equipotent dosage of inhaled steroids at 3 months duration. <b>Methods:</b> Patients were randomised to receive either fluticasone or beclomethasone/budesonide. After spirometry, St. George&#x2032;s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) was administered at baseline and at 15^th , 30^th , 45^th , 60^th and 90^th day, to assess improvement in lung function and HRQoL. <b>Results:</b> Out of 96 patients who were enrolled, eighty patients completed three months duration of the study, while sixteen patients dropped out. Forty patients received fluticasone and forty received either beclomethasone or budesonide. No significant difference (p>0.05) was found in the baseline values of St. George&#x2032;s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) scores and Forced Expiratory Volume at first second (FEV₁ ) between the two groups. However, significant difference (p&#60; 0.05) was noted between the above two groups, in Quality of Life (QoL) but not in pulmonary functions, on 15th day favoring fluticasone. No significant difference (p>0.05) was noted either in QoL or in pulmonary function tests on subsequent follow-ups. <b>Conclusion:</b> Early response in terms of improved QoL was observed in fluticasone treated group in patients with moderate to severe asthma.