SERETIDE 100/50 bd (Twice Daily) Versus FLIXOTIDE 100 bd As Initial Maintenance Therapy In Moderate Asthma In Adults

Mini Wright Peak Flow Meter used to allow patients to monitor their asthma - Peak Flow (or PEF - peak expiratory flow) is a measurement of how fast you can blow out. When someone is well, their PEF is higher - when the airways are narrow (as in asthma), PEF is lower. Readings based on age, height and gender.

FEV1 is the amount of air (in liters) you can blow out within one second. A spirometer is the device used to measure FEV1. With normal lungs and airways you can normally blow out most of the air from your lungs within one second. Age, height and gender is used to determine what is normal. Change from baseline could have been measured at any time during the study (up to Week 12), using the LOCF. In the LOCF approach, for each individual, missing values are replaced by the last observed value of that variable.

Percent predicted is based on tables of normal values that use variables such as age, gender, and weight as a method of standardization. Spirometry results are expressed as a percentage, and are generally considered abnormal if less than 80 percent of the normal predicted value. Change from baseline could have been measured at any time during the study (up to Week 12), using the LOCF. In the LOCF approach, for each individual, missing values are replaced by the last observed value of that variable.

Reversibility is calculated as the percentage improvement of FEV1 from baseline. Change from baseline could have been measured at any time during the study (up to Week 12), using the LOCF. In the LOCF approach, for each individual, missing values are replaced by the last observed value of that variable. Percent reversibility of FEV1 was calculated as follows: (Post-bronchodilator FEV1 - pre-bronchodilator FEV1)/pre-bronchodilator FEV1 x 100. A negative difference indicates less reversibility.

FVC is the total amount of air that can forcibly be blown out after full inspiration, measured in liters. A spirometer is the device used to measure FVC. Age, height and gender is used to determine what is normal. Change from baseline could have been measured at any time during the study (up to Week 12), using the LOCF. In the LOCF approach, for each individual, missing values are replaced by the last observed value of that variable.

Forced Expiratory Flow 25-75% (measured by a spirometer) is the average flow (or speed) of air coming out of the lung during the middle portion of the expiration. Age, height, and gender is used to determine what is normal. Change from BL could have been measured at any time during the study (up to Week 12), using the LOCF (for each individual, missing values are replaced by the last observed value of that variable). Change from BL is measured as percentage of predicted value, with height, gender, age, and race as variables (percentage of predicted value at endpoint minus value at BL).

Subjects will record exacerbations (defined as temporary PEF decrease, increase in salbutamol use) in a Daily Record Card (DRC). The number of events are categorized as those that showed a deterioration in asthma requiring administration of oral corticosteroids and/or a deterioration in asthma requiring emergency room visit and/or hospitalization (hosp.).

Well-controlled asthma is defined as 2 or more of the following: symptoms on no more than 2 days with symptom score of >1; no more than 2 days of rescue meds (maximum of 4 per week); >=80% predicted morning PEF. And no night time awakenings, exacerbations, emergency room visits, and treatment related adverse effects requiring a change to therapy. The number of participants who achieved "well-controlled" asthma at any time during Week 5-12 of the study period will be summarized by treatment groups. The difference between treatment groups will be assessed using logistic regression.

Well-controlled asthma is defined as 2 or more of the following: symptoms on no more than 2 days with symptom score of >1; no more than 2 days of rescue meds (maximum of 4 per week); >=80% predicted morning PEF. And no night time awakenings, exacerbations, emergency room visits, and treatment related adverse effects requiring a change to therapy. The median number of weeks to first achieve "well-controlled" asthma during Week 5-12 of the study period will be summarized by treatment groups. The difference between treatment groups will be assessed using logistic regression.

Totally-controlled asthma is defined as no daily symptoms, no night-time awakenings, no exacerbations, no rescue medication, no emergency visits, no treatment related adverse events resulting in change in asthma therapy, >=80% predicted PEF. The number of subjects who achieved "total-controlled" asthma at any time during Week 5-12 of the study period will be summarized by treatment groups. The difference between treatment groups will be assessed using logistic regression.

5 question test with various responses rating frequency of asthma events over 4-week period. Questions include occurrence of asthma affecting work/school; causing shortness of breath; symptoms (wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, pain) wake you up at night; causing need for rescue medication; asthma control. Scale: 1=all of time, 2=most of time, 3=some of the time, 4=a little of the time, 5=none of the time. Possible ACT scores range from 5 to 25.

Score is ranged from 5 (poor control) to 25 (complete control).

7-point scale where 1=total impairment and 7=no impairment. Questions contain 32 items in four domains. Domains include Activity Limitation (11 items), Symptoms (12 items), Emotional Function (5 items), and Environmental Stimuli (4 items). 32 items produce one overall quality of life score. The 7 points scoring are different and depend on the item : they are the translation in French of the original questionnaire from Juniper. Possible AQLQ scores range from 1 to 7 (the mean of all the questions).