- Prescribing Advice for GPs - https://www.prescriber.org.uk -

SMART Study Published

The Salmeterol Multicenter Asthma Research Trial (SMART) has been published by Chest. This study led to additional warnings being added to Long-Acting Beta-2 Agonists (LABAs) in America, as reported here. The study is available online as abstract and PDF.

The full publication of the study may raise awareness of these warnings again. There are some key points from the study that can assist in allaying patients' fears.

This study was:

Despite all of these potential confounders clinicians should be aware that the study might have identified a trend to harm. The MHRA issued advice to inform clinicians as follows:

The MHRA remind prescribers that:

Action: Clinicians involved in the treatment of asthma should ensure that the MHRA advice is being followed.