Characteristics and first treatment dose of Dutch patients (12-60 years old) receiving prescriptions for asthma and initiating inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) therapy as either extra-fine (EF) ciclesonide or standard-particle (SP)-ICS

Abstract

Background Asthma management guidelines suggest little difference between EF and SP-ICS other than potency and therefore EF-ICS should be used at same dose as fluticasone (FP) and half the dose of SP-beclomethasone (BDP). Cohort studies suggest EF-BDP patients can achieve better asthma control than FP patients at lower doses. We compared baseline characteristics and first prescribed doses of patients initiating ciclesonide vs. SP-ICS.