Comparison of Two Treatment Regimens in Asthmatic Patients
Comparison of Two Treatment Regimens in Asthmatic Patients
The objective of the study was to compare in real life clinical practice two treatment
 regimens: inhaled glucocorticosteroid + salmeterol and inhaled glucocorticosteroid +
 montelukast.
48 month pre/post retrospective repeated measures design was used to compare the level of
 asthma control among patients continuously treated at the Outpatient Asthma and Allergy
 Treatment Center, Chair of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, Medical University of Lodz,
 Poland.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Clinical diagnosis of asthma according to the WHO/GINA 2006 definition by the
 physicians of the Centre, backed up by detailed medical history and physical
 examination as well as additional spirometry and bronchodilatation test or
 methacholine challenge where necessary

 -  Occurrence of an index event (intervention) defined as the first prescription for
 salmeterol or montelukast, establishing a 12-month pre-index and three consecutive
 12-month post-index periods

 -  At least one inhaled glucocorticosteroid prescription in the pre-index period, and at
 least one salmeterol/montelukast prescription depending on the arm in every post-index
 period

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Incomplete diagnostics