ICS plus LABA ‘improves lung function in preterm-born kids’
Combination treatment appears to target both functional and inflammatory processes, researchers say
Combining inhaled corticosteroids with long-acting beta agonists improves spirometry results in school-age children who were born prematurely, according to promising results from a UK study.
The combination treatment also led to favourable post-exercise bronchodilator response, the Cardiff University-led researchers say, but had no impact on exercise capacity.
In a randomised placebo-controlled trial, the team investigated whether twice-daily inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) alone or in combination with LABAs would improve lung function in 53 children (mean age 11) over a 12-week period.
The patients were all preterm-born and had a per cent predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (%FEV1) of ≤85%.
