BACKGROUND:Exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) commonly coexists with asthma. However, the data on the efficacy of maintenance therapies for asthma with EIB are scarce.
OBJECTIVE:This network meta-analysis assessed the comparative efficacy and safety of maintenance regimens for asthmatics with EIB.
METHODS:We searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase, the Cochrane Center of Controlled Trials, and Google Scholar for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that addressed the efficacy and safety of maintenance treatments in adolescent and adult asthmatics with EIB from inception to April 2024. The primary outcome was the change in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) post-exercise following maintenance therapy. The secondary outcome focused on treatment-related adverse events (AEs).
RESULTS:Eleven RCTs involving 1,054 patients were included. Low-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)-montelukast significantly improved EIB with a mean difference (95% CI) of 14.96% (9.61, 20.31), followed by low-to-medium (LM) dose ICS-salmeterol 13.7% (8.68, 18.72), high-dose ICS 13.30% (1.34, 25.26), montelukast 11.35% (5.76, 16.95), ICS-vilanterol 9.24% (4.41,14.07), zafirlukast 8.80% (2.28, 15.32), LM-dose ICS 7.55% (3.48, 16.63), and as-needed ICS-formoterol 6.91% (2.07, 11.75). Low-dose ICS-montelukast and LM-dose ICS-salmeterol were comparably effective. There were no significant efficacy differences among ICS monotherapy, as-needed ICS-formoterol, and anti-leukotrienes. Anti-leukotrienes were inferior to ICS monotherapy in reducing asthma exacerbation. Long-acting β2-agonist (LABA)-induced tachyphylaxis may occur despite using alongside ICS.
CONCLUSION:Low-dose ICS and as-needed ICS-formoterol were equally effective in managing asthmatics with EIB. Adding anti-leukotrienes or LABA to ICS should be considered for more severe cases, with close monitoring to assess treatment response and detect potential tachyphylaxis or AEs.