Long-term safety of budesonide/formoterol for the treatment of elderly patients with bronchial asthma

The long-term safety of budesonide/formoterol (BUD/FM) inhalation has not been fully evaluated, particularly in elderly patients with bronchial asthma. To evaluate the 12-month safety of BUD/FM inhalation for elderly asthmatic patients, the changes in serum potassium levels and pulse rate were examined. A retrospective chart review was conducted of consecutive patients who were treated with BUD/FM inhalation (two inhalations of 160/4.5 mg, twice daily; Symbicort Turbuhaler, AstraZeneca) at a hospital between February 2010 and January 2012. A total of 350 patients were treated with BUD/FM inhalation during the study period and were followed up over 12 months. The mean age of the patients was 60 years, and 19.4% and 21.4% of the patients were aged 65-74 years and ≥75 years, respectively. One hundred and fourteen (32.6%) of the 350 patients continued the inhalation therapy for >12 months. Compared with the pretreatment data, reductions in serum potassium levels at 1, 6 and 12 months were not observed, even in the patients aged 65-74 and ≥75 years. There was also no increase in the pulse rate at 1, 6 and 12 months, even in the patients aged 65-74 and ≥75 years. The usual dosage of BUD/FM showed no adverse effects on the serum potassium levels and pulse rate in the adults, including the elderly with persistent asthma.