Budesonide–formoterol versus terbutaline reliever in adults with asthma using maintenance inhaled corticosteroids in New Zealand (INFORM ASTHMA): an open-label, parallel-group, randomised, controlled, phase 4 trial
Affiliations & Notes
aMedical Research Institute of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand
bVictoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
cMassey University, Wellington, New Zealand
dUniversity of Otago Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
eRespiratory Medicine Unit, Nuffield Department of Medicine, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
Article Info
Publication History:
Published January 8, 2026
DOI: 10.1016/S2213-2600(25)00327-3 External LinkAlso available on ScienceDirect External Link
Copyright: © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.
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- Redefining asthma relievers: from immediate relief to disease modificationThe Lancet Respiratory MedicineJanuary 8, 2026
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Figure 1 Trial profile
FeNO=fractional exhaled nitric oxide. ITT=intention-to-treat.
Figure 2 Differential effect of budesonide–formoterol versus terbutaline on FeNO
Potential effect-modifying baseline variables for geometric mean ratio of FeNO. Inhaled corticosteroid dose at baseline was classified as very low (>0–200 μg budesonide equivalent per day or using budesonide–formoterol reliever therapy), low (>200–400 μg budesonide equivalent per day), or medium–high (>400 μg budesonide equivalent per day). Only the 25th and 75th percentiles were compared for age and FEV1 as per the statistical analysis plan. Other ethnicities included south Asian, Southeast Asian, and Latin American. FeNO=fractional exhaled nitric oxide. FEV1=forced expiratory volume in 1 s.
Figure 3 Time-course of home FeNO measurements
Bars indicate 95% CI. (A) Geometric mean FeNO by group for the first 14 days of daily home FeNO testing. (B) Geometric mean FeNO by group from week 0 (randomisation) to week 12 for once per week FeNO testing. (C) LOESS plot of each home geometric mean FeNO measurement. Non-linear y-axis scales are used for clarity. Participants had daily measurements for 14 days after random assignment then once per week measurements for 10 weeks. FeNO=fractional exhaled nitric oxide.
Supplementary appendix
