Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29364929›Full record

ArticlePloS one2018

Real-life effectiveness and safety of salbutamol Steri-Neb™ vs. Ventolin Nebules® for exacerbations in patients with COPD: Historical cohort study.

David B Price, Eran Gefen, Gokul Gopalan, Rosie McDonald, Vicky Thomas, Simon Wan Yau Ming, Emily Davis

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

David B PriceCentre of Academic Primary Care, Division of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-9728-9992
Eran GefenTeva Pharmaceuticals, Petach Tikva, Israel.
Gokul GopalanTeva Pharmaceuticals, Frazer, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
Rosie McDonaldObservational & Pragmatic Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore.
Vicky ThomasObservational & Pragmatic Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore.
Simon Wan Yau MingObservational & Pragmatic Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore.
Emily DavisObservational & Pragmatic Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionVentolin Nebules® (reference product; GlaxoSmithKline) was the first licensed nebulizer solution containing the rapid-onset, short-acting β2-agonist salbutamol. Salbutamol Steri-Neb™ (comparator; Teva Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) has the same chemical composition as the reference product. This study evaluated whether the effectiveness of the comparator is non-inferior to the reference product alongside concomitant medications during real-life clinical management of COPD exacerbations. Safety in terms of adverse events (AEs) was also examined.

methodsThis matched (1:1) historical cohort study evaluated data from 2 UK primary care databases on patients prescribed the salbutamol comparator or reference. The study included a 1-year baseline period, starting 1 year before the index prescription date, and 1-year outcome period. Cohorts were matched for baseline COPD respiratory medications. The primary outcome was analysis of non-inferiority for the comparator versus reference product for the rate of moderate and severe COPD exacerbations. Non-inferiority was satisfied if the 95% confidence interval (CI) upper limit for mean differences in proportions between treatments was <15%. Secondary outcomes were examined through rate ratios (RR) of severe exacerbations and AEs.

resultsAfter matching, 1191 patients were included in each cohort. Adjusted upper 95% CI for the difference in proportion of patients experiencing moderate or severe exacerbations between comparator and reference groups was 0.032 (3.2%), demonstrating non-inferiority. No significant differences were observed in rates of moderate and severe exacerbations (RR: 1.00; 95% CI: 0.91, 1.10), severe exacerbations (RR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.49, 1.17), or AEs (RR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.78, 1.22) after adjusting for baseline confounders. No significant differences across cohorts were observed for rates of any AE or death.

conclusionThis matched cohort study of real-life management of COPD patients supports the salbutamol comparator as non-inferior to the reference product, providing an effective treatment alternative for COPD exacerbations. Comparator and reference safety profiles were similar.

Indexed as

Administration, InhalationAdrenergic beta-2 Receptor AgonistsAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAlbuterolBronchodilator AgentsCohort StudiesDisease ProgressionFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNebulizers and VaporizersPulmonary Disease, Chronic ObstructiveTreatment OutcomeAdrenergic beta-2 Receptor AgonistsAlbuterolBronchodilator Agents

Identifiers

PMID29364929
PMCPMC5783390

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.