Budesonide-formoterol superior to salbutamol in mild asthma

In this RCT, 382 children aged 5-15 years with asthma using budesonide 50 μg-formoterol 3 μg, two actuations as needed, equivalent to 1 puff Symbicort 100/6 or Vannair 100/6, were compared to salbutamol 100 ug as needed.¹

The primary outcome was asthma attacks as rate per participant per year.

The annualised rate of asthma attacks was lower in the budesonide-formoterol group than in the salbutamol group, cluster-adjusted rates 0·23 versus 0·41 per participant per year (relative rate 0·55 [95% CI 0·35-0·86]; p=0·012).

The number of participants with at least one adverse event was 162 (91%) in the budesonide-formoterol group and 167 (92%) in the salbutamol group.

Conclusion: In children aged 5-15 years with mild asthma, budesonide-formoterol reliever monotherapy is superior to salbutamol for preventing asthma attacks, with a similar safety profile.

Reference:

Budesonide-formoterol versus salbutamol as reliever therapy in children with mild asthma (CARE): a 52-week, open-label, multicentre, superiority, randomised controlled trial Lancet. (2025)

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