Management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease associated with chronic bronchitis with inhaled fluticasone propionate/salmeterol (ADVAIR DISKUS) 250/50: results of a patient experience trial
Stoloff, S.; Samuels, S.; Kerney, D.; Brown, C.P.
Medgenmed Medscape General Medicine 8(1): 86
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 1531-0132 PMID: 16915216 Document Number: 603908
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is recognized as a major healthcare problem in the United States and around the world. This survey regarding initial experience in patients with COPD collected feedback about newly initiated therapy with fluticasone propionate/salmeterol (FSC; ADVAIR DISKUS). Three telephone surveys were conducted; Survey 1 prior to initiating therapy with FSC 250/50, and Surveys 2 and 3 at 2 weeks and 30 days after initiating therapy with FSC 250/50, respectively. One thousand primary care physicians recruited outpatients into the trial. Patients were either newly diagnosed with COPD associated with chronic bronchitis or were still experiencing breathing difficulties on an anticholinergic medication. Patients initiated FSC 250/50 and received a 1-month supply of FSC 250/50 with an albuterol inhaler for rescue use. Outcome measures were patient perceptions of satisfaction, compliance, and convenience and changes in breathing on 1 (negative) to 9 (positive) point scales. Five hundred sixteen patients completed all 3 surveys. The mean age was 61 years, 63% were female, and 62% had been diagnosed with COPD associated with chronic bronchitis for 3 years or less (Table 1). Patients reported high satisfaction, compliance, and convenience with FSC 250/50 within 2 weeks of initiating therapy, all maintained over the trial period. Additionally, patients had positive changes in breathing, including improvements in the ability to breathe upon awakening in the morning.