Increased Inhaled Glucocorticoid Dosing and Asthma Control

Investigators from multiple institutions conducted a randomized trial to assess the safety and efficacy of increasing the daily dose of inhaled glucocorticoids (ICS) in children with asthma when they develop early signs of loss of asthma control. Children aged 5–11 years who had mild to moderate persistent asthma and a history of ≥1 asthma exacerbations treated with systemic glucocorticoids in the previous year were eligible. Demographic and asthma characteristics were collected at baseline.

After a 4-week run-in period to establish adherence to the baseline therapy of low-dose fluticasone (two 44-μg inhalations twice daily), participants were randomized to either the same low dose or a high dose (two 220-μg inhalations twice daily) of fluticasone for 7 days at the start of the loss of asthma control. Investigators provided participants with an …