Efficacy and Cost Benefit of Inhaled Corticosteroids in Patients Considered to Have Mild Asthma in Primary Care Practice

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Inhaled corticosteroids are infrequently used as asthma therapy in patients considered to have mild asthma in primary care practice. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the use of low doses of inhaled corticosteroids (budesonide), supplemented with bronchodilators as needed, provides clinical benefit and is cost beneficial compared with therapy with bronchodilators alone, in patients considered by their physicians in a primary care setting to have mild asthma, not requiring inhaled corticosteroids.