This study is being conducted to find out if the use of inhaled corticosteroids has an affect on upper airway (UAW) collapsibility and sleep apnea risk. An inhaled corticosteroid is a common asthma controller medication like Flovent. Sleep apnea or sleep deprived breathing (SDB) is when someone stops breathing for a short period of time during sleep. For some reason, people with asthma have more sleep apnea and upper airway (UAW) collapsibility (weakness) than the general population. There are many possible reasons for this and one might be related to the use of inhaled corticosteroids.

The overall hypothesis of this study is to determine whether inhaled fluticasone propionate (FP) increases UAW collapsibility and to assess tongue (genioglossus muscle) dysfunction as a potential underlying mechanism.

To address this hypothesis, we specifically aim is to determine the effects of 16 weeks of treatment with inhaled FP hydrofluoroalkane-propelled metered dose inhaler (HFA-MDI), 880 mcg twice daily, on:

Specific Aim 1: UAW collapsibility, as measured by Pcrit during NREM sleep; Specific Aim 2: Severity of obstructive SDB and sleep quality, and quality of life related to sleep apnea assessed on validated questionnaires (Sleep Apnea scale of the Sleep Disorders Questionnaire [SA-SDQ], Epworth Sleepiness Scale [ESS]) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI], and Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Index [SAQLI]); Specific Aim 3: Tongue strength and fatigability (assessed using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument)

Inclusion Criteria:

1. age 18-65;
2. history consistent with asthma
3. symptoms consistent with NAEPP26 asthma severity step ≥2 (in the past 2-4 weeks, presence of any of the following: daytime symptoms >2 days/week; or nighttime symptoms 3-4x/month; or short acting bronchodilator use (not for prevention of exercise induced asthma) >2 days/week, requiring addition on a controller therapy, using the NAEPP Asthma Step Categorization guidelines
4. FEV1≥65%
5. confirmation of asthma diagnosis by bronchodilator reversibility (≥12% improvement in FEV1 from baseline following 2 puffs of a β-2 agonist) or a provocative concentration of methacholine needed to produce a 20% fall in FEV1 (PC20) of ≤ 8 mg/ml.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. any use of inhaled corticosteroid for >2 weeks at a time during the last 6 months, or any use in the last 6 weeks
2. as needed use of nasal steroids in the prior 6 months (regular use is allowed without washout needed prior to testing visits)
3. use of medications listed in Table 1. Inhaled long acting β-adrenergics are permitted for entry and should be continued during this study
4. respiratory infection during the prior 4 weeks or asthma exacerbation during the prior 6 weeks to enrollment
5. presence of other lung diseases
6. evidence of significant medical (such as angina, heart failure, stroke) or psychiatric illnesses
7. diagnosed osteopenia (on treatment) or osteoporosis
8. established diagnosis of neuromuscular disease (e.g. multiple sclerosis, syringomyelia, transverse myelitis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), poliomyelitis, Lambert Eaton syndrome, Guillain-Barre syndrome, myasthenia gravis, myotonic dystrophy, mononeuritis multiplex, in the setting of polymyositis/dermatomyositis or severe cervical spine disease)
9. BMI greater than 35 kg/m2
10. currently on treatment for OSA
11. new diagnosis of OSA if OAI > 10/hour or desaturation <70% on dPSG (V2
12. pregnancy or desire to get pregnant in the upcoming 6 months (subjects of child-bearing potential must agree to use an acceptable method of birth control per ACRN guidelines, as stated in the consent form: i.e. if not post-menopausal [1 year or more since last menses] or surgically sterile [hysterectomy, tubal ligation, or vasectomy in monogamous partner], subject must use one of the following acceptable birth control methods: abstinence, birth control pills, diaphragm, intra-uterine device [IUD], Norplant, Depo-Provera, NuvaRing, birth control patches [e.g., Ortho Evra], single or double barrier methods [condom plus foam/jelly or condom plus diaphragm])
13. cigarettes > 1pack/month or cigars in the year before study or overall tobacco use greater than 10 pack years
14. inability to abstain from alcohol ingestion for 24 hours prior to sleep studies
15. any current use of benzodiazepins, opioids or barbiturates; 16) any current use of recreational drugs.

Adverse events were collected for 2 years.

We were unsuccessful at securing placebo MDI, and the lack of a control group raises the possibility that our findings may reflect natural history of pharyngeal upper airway patency in asthma.