Budesonide/formoterol and formoterol provide similar rapid relief in patients with acute asthma showing refractoriness to salbutamol

Table 2 Treatment comparisons (budesonide/formoterol vs formoterol) for all FEV₁ outcome variables

	Mean % change from baseline^a
Variable	Formoterol (n = 57)	Budesonide/formoterol (n = 58)	Budesonide/formoterol vs formoterol: mean ratio, % (95% confidence limits)	p value
E_av	16.5	17.4	100.8 (96.1, 105.7)	0.74
E_max	26.3	27.2	100.7 (95.1, 106.7)	0.80
E₃	13.3	14.1	100.7 (96.5, 105.1)	0.75
E₁₅	15.8	16.4	100.5 (95.9, 105.3)	0.82
E₆₀	17.2	18.6	101.2 (95.8, 106.9)	0.67
E₉₀	18.2	19.7	101.3 (95.5, 107.3)	0.67
E₁₈₀	16.5	16.5	100.0 (93.7, 106.7)	1.0

^aBased on adjusted ratios from an analysis of variance model.
E_av is the average FEV₁ (area under the curve) from the first intake of study drug (-5 minutes) to the +90-minute measurement (primary outcome variable). E_max is the change in FEV₁ from pre-administration to the maximal value after administration. E₃, E₁₅, E₆₀, E₉₀ and E₁₈₀ are the changes in FEV₁ from pre-administration to 3, 15, 60, 90 and 180 minutes after the last administration of the study drug, respectively.
FEV₁ = forced expiratory volume in 1 second.

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