Results Of Patient Rated Asthma Control Test In Comparison To Diary Card Data

Asthma Control Assessment Via ACT and DRC in Asthmatics Treated With Seretide (50/250) Over 12 Weeks

The majority of asthma patients are not well controlled, despite the availability of asthma medication that could effectively treat the disease. In this study uncontrolled patients who are steroid-naive or on low dose inhaled corticosteroids will be treated with Seretide (salmeterol/fluticasone combination, SFC) 50/250 µg twice daily. The asthma control test (ACT) will be used to detect differences in the level of asthma control during treatment. The study aims to show a correlation between improvements of ACT und the level of asthma control which will be reached by the patients.

The aim of the study is to show that most of symptomatic asthma patients can reach 'well controlled asthma' with SFC. We get information about ACT in daily practice and physicians are trained to use the asthma control test as a screening tool and for follow up of asthma management. Correlations are expected between the improvements in ACT, Quality of Life and asthma control according to the Gaining Optimal Asthma controL (GOAL) criteria.

Inclusion criteria:

• Diagnosis of asthma
• Reversibility >12% after inhalation of 200 µg Salbutamol
• willingness and ability to complete daily record card on daily basis and to measure morning PEF on daily basis
• 80% compliance in diary card completion asthma control status: Uncontrolled based on the GOAL criteria

Exclusion criteria:

• Change of asthma medication during the last 4 weeks
• Asthma exacerbation characterized by use of oral corticoids during the last 3 months Pretreatment with inhaled corticosteroids more than 500 mcg Beclometasondipropionat or equivalent per day or other controller therapy during the last 3 months
• upper or lower respiratory tract infection during the RUN-IN period moderate or severe asthma exacerbation during the RUN-IN period
• Non compliance with use of Discus, PEF-meter and incomplete diary card data