A Study Comparing Rescue Medications: Arformoterol and Salbutamol Nebulization in Exacerbation of Non-severe Asthma at a Tertiary Care Center, Not Needing Hospitalization

Objectives: Arformoterol is the (R, R) enantiomer of formoterol, a short and long acting β-2 agonist bronchodilator and is distinguishable from the racemic (R, R/S,S) diasteriomer of formoterol, which is most commonly used. Some in vitro data show significant bronchodilatation, inhibition of inflammation and marked baseline airway reversibility with arformoterol. Yet, there is a dearth of study literature demonstrating its role as immediate reliever medication, in patients with exacerbation of non-severe asthma. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of arformoterol with salbutamol nebulisation therapy, as a rescue medication, in acute nonsevere asthma, not requiring hospitalisation, at a tertiary care centre. Methods: 40 patients, with exacerbation of non-severe asthma, were randomly allotted to Group A=20 and Group B=20. After every 30 minutes, 3 doses of salbutamol or arformoterol nebulization were given, respectively. Peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR) were measured at the baseline and 6 min, after each dose. Results: In the demographic profile, there were comparable results, with no statistically significant difference between both the study groups, nebulized with salbutamol and arformoterol. The baseline PEFRs were also comparable, in both the study groups. There was significant increase in the mean PEFR, compared to the baseline, in both the groups. Final increase in PEFR, after the first, second and the third dose, was more in case of arformoterol, than that of salbutamol. There were negligible adverse effects, in both the groups. Conclusion: Arformoterol was more effective, but equally safe, as compared to salbutamol, in exacerbation of non-severe asthma. INTRODUCTION: Worldwide, asthmatic morbidity and the associated economic burden, is clearly threatening 1 .