SMART therapy associated with a lower risk of asthma exacerbations
KEY POINT
A meta-analysis of 16 trials evaluating use of a single maintenance and reliever therapy (SMART), with the majority of studies using a combination of budesonide and formoterol in a dry-powder inhaler, found that the risk of asthma exacerbations was lower in patients using this regimen compared with an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) as the controller therapy (with or without a long-acting beta-agonist [LABA]) plus a short-acting beta-agonist (SABA) as the relief therapy.
SOURCES
Sobieraj DM, et al. Association of inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β-agonists as controller and quick relief therapy with exacerbations and symptom control in persistent asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2018;319(14):1485–96.
Krishnan JA, et al. Time to converge FDA decisions and evidence syntheses for long-acting muscarinic antagonists and SMART in guidelines for the treatment of asthma. JAMA. 2018;319(14):1441–3.
National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP): Expert Panel Report 3. Asthma care quick reference: diagnosing and managing asthma. Accessed November 3, 2018.
