Published in:
01-02-2014
Cardiovascular Safety of Long Acting Beta Agonist-Inhaled Corticosteroid Combination Products in Adult Patients with Asthma: A Systematic Review
Authors:
Imran H. Iftikhar, Muhammad Imtiaz, Allan S. Brett, David J. Amrol
Published in:
Lung
|
Issue 1/2014
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Abstract
Introduction
Long-acting beta agonists and inhaled corticosteroids combination products (LABA-ICS) are widely used in the treatment of asthma. However, there appears to be little data on their cardiovascular safety. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the available studies and trials on the cardiovascular safety of LABA-ICS in adults with asthma.
Methods
Two independent reviewers screened citations from PubMed and National Clinical Trials registry to identify studies and trials on the cardiovascular effects of LABA-ICS in patients with asthma.
Results
A total of 15 studies (with 17 cohorts on LABA-ICS to compare with a comparator or placebo) with 5,440 total study participants met the inclusion criteria. Two studies on budesonide–formoterol and one on fluticasone–salmeterol reported treatment emergent cardiovascular adverse events, all of which were dysrhythmias. For comparison, the pooled estimate of the Peto odds ratio (0.72; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.17–3; p = 0.65) and the summary risk ratio (0.77; 95 % CI 0.26–2.3; p = 0.64) indicated a nonsignificant difference between LABA-ICS and comparator/placebo groups.
Conclusions
Our systematic review found that few studies and trials reported treatment emergent cardiovascular adverse events with LABA-ICS. However, the Peto odds ratio and risk ratio for these outcomes was statistically nonsignificant. This suggests that LABA-ICS products may have a safe cardiovascular profile in asthma patients.