Usefulness of QVAR^TM for the Treatment of Bronchial Asthma—With and Without Use of an Inhalation Device

Abstract

The treatment of bronchial asthma with QVAR (hydrofluoroalkane-134a BDP; 3M Pharmaceuticals, St. Paul, MN, USA) is usually conducted without an inhalation assistance device. However, Japanese patients who experience difficulty in coordinating activation with inspiration of inhaled steroid drugs are instructed on the use of such a device. We therefore examined the necessity of using an inhalation assistance device (INSPIR-EASE, IE) and its effect on quality of life (QOL) in the treatment of patients with bronchial asthma taking QVAR. Hence, lung function and QOL associated with taking QVAR plus IE or QVAR alone were examined by a cross-over method in 44 bronchial asthma patients (STEP 2 or 3) over 20 years of age. In all patients, lung function tests conducted 12 weeks after start of treatment indicated significant improvements of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) with QVAR alone compared with QVAR plus IE (p < 0.05). In patients less than 70 years of age, significant improvements of forced vital capacity (FVC) and nitric oxide (NO) were also observed with QVAR alone compared with QVAR plus IE (p < 0.05). Examination of QOL the Living with Asthma Questionnaire indicated that medication usage was significantly improved with QVAR alone compared with QVAR plus IE. Significant improvement of FEV₁ was observed with QVAR alone compared with QVAR plus IE, and additionally in patients less than 70 years of age improvement of FVC and NO was also marked. This study confirmed the usefulness of QVAR alone in patients with bronchial asthma.

Keywords:

• HFA-BDP
• bronchial asthma
• inhaled corticosteroid
• inhalation device