Duration of action of the salmeterol/fluticasone combination inhaler administered in the evening: a randomized controlled trial in childhood asthma.

Objective And Background: To investigate the duration of bronchodilator action of a salmeterol/fluticasone combination (SFC) inhaler when administered in the evening to children with asthma.

Design: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study.

Setting: Hospital inpatient.

Subjects: Fourteen children aged between 4 and 11 years with mild to moderate asthma (FEV(1) > 60% predicted) who exhibited a 15% increase in FEV(1) with bronchodilator.

Interventions: SUBJECTS inhaled, in random order, either SFC (100/50 microg) or placebo, via accuhaler, at 20.00 hours on two separate occasions with at least 3 days between study days.

Outcome Measures: Lung function measurements including FEV(1), PEF, specific airways conductance (sGaw) and maximum expiratory flow at 25-75% of vital capacity were measured at baseline, 2, 12, 16, 20 and 24 h.

Results: For all lung function parameters SFC resulted in significantly greater bronchodilation than placebo for at least 20 h after inhalation. At 24 h, the increase in FEV(1) and PEF compared with placebo was 0.08 L (95% confidence interval: -0.18 to 0.02, P = 0.16) and 27 L/min (95% confidence interval: -47 to -6, P = 0.004), respectively.

Conclusions: The single administration of SFC via an accuhaler in the evening resulted in significant bronchodilation for at least 20 h in children with asthma.