Bronchodilator reversibility testing in morbidly obese non-smokers: a comparative study– few concerns

TL;DR

This letter questions the value of a combination medication for bronchodilator testing in non-smokers with morbid obesity.

Contribution

The letter highlights that the combination medication did not provide new insights beyond standard benchmarks.

Findings

Both salbutamol and Fluticasone/salmeterol met the 12%- and 200-mL FEV1 reversibility benchmarks.

The combination medication did not offer novel benefits over salbutamol.

Abstract

This is a letter in response to an article by Ahmed et al., which concluded that in comparison to salbutamol, Fluticasone/salmeterol combination increases FEV1, FEV1% of predicted, and FEV1/FVC ratio, however it did not offer novel insights, as both agents met the 12%- and 200-mL reversibility benchmarks and Concerns about incorporating a combination medication that includes an inhaled corticosteroid, inhaled corticosteroids are not typically associated with bronchodilation.