Clar C, Busse R, Gericke C; Health Technology Assessment International. Meeting (3rd : 2006 : Adelaide, S. Aust.).

Handb Health Technol Assess. 2006; 3: 227.

Berlin University of Technology, EB2 - Strasse des 17. Juni 145, Berlin, Germany, D-10717

Background: Combinations of anti-inflammatory agents and bronchodilators in one inhaler may provide advantages over use of those agents separately or other forms of treatment for managing asthma and COPD. Aims: To assess the effects of fixed combinations (in one inhaler) of salmeterol and fluticasone for long-term management of asthma or COPD on patient-oriented outcomes and adverse effects in comparison with variable combinations of salmeterol and fluticasone, combinations of other substances, or monotherapy. Methods: Standard systematic review methodology is used. We included RCTs of 3 months duration of children/adults with asthma or adults with COPD, comparing the interventions above with respect to relevant outcomes. Systematic searches of Medline (1966-Dec 2005), Embase (1980-Dec 2005) and the Cochrane Library (issue 4, 2005) were carried out. The searches for asthma yielded 2871 citations, 172 of which were retrieved in full after checking against our inclusion criteria. Of the 754 citations identified for COPD, 60 were retrieved in full. From scanning the full publications, we expect about 45 included trials for asthma, and 10 for COPD. Data are extracted using a specifically developed and pilot-tested data extraction form. A meta-analysis will be carried out if possible. Final results will be available by March 2006. Conclusions: Other systematic reviews suggest that there are considerable gaps in the literature comparing fixed combinations of salmeterol and fluticasone with standard treatments as recommended in clinical guidelines. We will elicit whether this is still the case at the present time and suggest further areas for research.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Adult
• Albuterol
• Androstadienes
• Asthma
• Bronchodilator Agents
• Child
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Dyphylline
• Glucocorticoids
• Guaifenesin
• Humans
• Nebulizers and Vaporizers
• Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive
• United States
• fluticasone
• salmeterol
• hsrmtgs

UI: 103724993

From Meeting Abstracts