Effectiveness and safety of salmeterol in nonspecialist practice settings

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of inhaled salmeterol in patients managed in nonspecialist practice settings.

A randomized, double-blind, 6-month, parallel-group study involving 253 centers.

Primarily nonspecialist practices (n = 232).

A total of 911 subjects (417 men; 494 women) who met American Thoracic Society asthma criteria were enrolled and randomized to treatment with either twice-daily salmeterol aerosol (50 microg; n = 455) or matching placebo twice daily (n = 456). Both groups were allowed to take salbutamol as needed. All subjects were previously treated with anti-inflammatory maintenance therapy that was continued throughout the study.

The primary outcome variable was the proportion of subjects with serious asthma exacerbations defined as an exacerbation requiring hospitalization, emergency department visit, or use of prednisone during the treatment period. A total of 712 subjects competed the study. There was no significant difference in the proportion of subjects experiencing serious exacerbations between the salmeterol and placebo groups (20.8% vs 20.9%, respectively; p = 0.935; power > 88%). Peak expiratory flow was significantly higher in the salmeterol group (398 L/min vs 386 L/min for placebo; p < 0.01). Median daily use of salbutamol was two inhalations for the salmeterol group and three inhalations for placebo (p < 0.001). The proportion of subjects sleeping through the night was significantly higher in the salmeterol group (74%) as compared to placebo (68%; p = 0.028).

Salmeterol treatment is effective in subjects typically cared for in the primary-care setting and does not increase the frequency of severe exacerbations.