IMPACT OF FLUTICASONE PROPIONATE POWDER ON HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY-OF-LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH MODERATE ASTHMA

Because biological indicators alone do not adequately represent the co mprehensive health status of a patient with asthma, we also assessed p atients' health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a randomized, doubl e-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effects of the inhaled cortic osteroid fluticasone propionate (FP). A total of 342 patients with mod erate asthma were treated twice daily for 12 weeks with FP powder (50, 100, or 250 mu g) or placebo. At regular intervals, patients complete d the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36, acute version (SF-36A), a general health status questionnaire measuring eight dimensions of HRQO L; the 20-item Living with Asthma (LWA-20) questionnaire, a disease-sp ecific instrument measuring HRQOL; and three additional questions rela ted to sleep loss and number of nighttime awakenings. Each of the th r ee FP groups compared with placebo had significantly higher scores at study endpoint on the Physical Functioning (p < 0.001) and Role-Physic al (p less than or equal to 0.0001) dimensions of the SF-36A; the FP 1 00- or 250-mu g groups compared with placebo also had significantly hi gher scores on General Health Perceptions (p < 0.03), Vitality (p < 0. 007), and Mental Health (p < 0.02). at endpoint, all three FP groups c ompared with placebo had significantly better scores on the LWA questi onnaire (p < 0.05) and on the sleep-related items (p < 0.0001). These data, collected using both a general health status questionnaire and a n asthma-specific questionnaire, demonstrate th at fluticasone propion ate powder can improve HRQOL in patients with mild-to-moderate asthma.