Switching asthmatics from a Seretide to a Fostair inhaler could reduce NHS costs and achieve better health outcomes, a respiratory expert has said.

Dermot Ryan, respiratory lead at East Midlands NHS, highlighted the benefits of switching to Fostair this week (January 20), after he co-authored a study that found it could save the NHS £93.63 a year per asthma patient.

The study of clinical trials, involving 1,528 UK patients, examined the outcomes over two years for those who remained on fluticasone propionate (FP-SAL) compared with those who switched to extra-fine salmeterol beclometasone-formoterol (efBDP-FOR).

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	efBDP-FOR was no less effective than FP-SAL in preventing exacerbations when given at an equivalent or lower inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) dose, according to the study published in the Primary Care Respiratory Journal on November 2.

The authors found that it led to greater asthma control, including fewer asthma-related hospitalisations and bronchial infections, and resulted in cost savings, when taking into account the price of the drugs and costs of hospital visits and GP consultations. 

They also found the switch reduced beta 2 agonist usage and improved adherence to ICS medication when the steroid was given at a lower daily dose.

The study was sponsored by Fostair manufacturer Chiesi, which said it had no input into the methodology or interpretation of results.