Elnaz Vahidi - associate professor of emergency medicine at Tehran university of medical sciences
Hojat Sheikh-Motahar-Vahedi - Tehran university of medical sciences
Maryam Habibi-Samadi - Tehran university of medical sciences
Morteza Saeedi - Tehran university of medical sciences

Background and Aim : Introduction: Asthma is one of acute respiratory diseases leading toemergency department (ED) referral. Management of acute attack plays an important role in itsoutcome. Objective: This trial was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of nebulized budesonideversus placebo in moderate to severe acute asthma attack in adults in the ED.Methods : Method: In this clinical trial, we enrolled patients with acute exacerbation of asthmaand standard treatment of acute asthma attack was administered to all of them. 41 patients in ourstudy were randomly entered into 2 groups. In one group, we prescribed nebulized budesonide andin the other group nebulized placebo (normal saline) was administered. Patients’ demographicdata, vital signs, symptoms’ acuity and the time of symptom relief, patient and physicia nsatisfaction were all recorded and compared between the 2 groups. All cases were followed anddisease outcome, readmission, mortality and morbidity rates were documented.Results : Results: In this study, 20 patients were entered the budesonide group and 19 patientswere enrolled in the placebo group. The mean age ranges were 55.70±15.30 and 60.32±18.41 yearsold respectively. Heart rate, respiratory rate and O2 saturation in the first group were improvedsignificantly after the treatment in comparison to the second group (p<0.05). The mean time ofrecovery and length of hospital stay were better in the first group than the second group but thisdifference was not significant (p> 0.05).Conclusion : Conclusion: The addition of nebulized budesonide to standard asthma treatmentmight result in more improvement in O2 saturation and less patient’s distress.

Adult; Asthma; Budesonide; Emergency department; Placebos