In an article published in the June 2018 edition of The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers reviewed safety concerns over long-acting β2 – agonists (LABAs) in asthma management. To conduct the study, researchers “performed a combined analysis of the four trials comparing an inhaled glucocorticoid plus a LABA (combination therapy) with an inhaled glucocorticoid alone.” They then reviewed for asthma-related intubation, death, serious asthma-related events, and asthma exacerbations. After reviewing the results, the researchers concluded “combination therapy with a LABA plus an inhaled glucocorticoid did not result in a significantly higher risk of serious asthma related events than treatment with an inhaled glucocorticoid alone but resulted in significantly fewer asthma exacerbations.”
To view the article’s abstract, click here.