Journal article
Azithromycin for acute bronchitis: a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial
The Lancet (British edition), Vol.359(9318), pp.1648-1654
2002
DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(02)08597-5
PMID: 12020525
Abstract
The value of azithromycin for treatment of acute bronchitis is unknown, even though this drug is commonly prescribed. We have investigated this question in a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial.
Methods Adults diagnosed with acute bronchitis, without evidence of underlying lung disease, were randomly assigned azithromycin (n=112) or vitamin C (n=108) for 5 days (total dose for each 1·5 g). All individuals were also given liquid dextromethorphan and albuterol inhaler with a spacer. The primary outcome was improvement in health-related quality of life at 7 days; an important difference was defined as 0·5 or greater. Analysis was by intention to treat.
The study was stopped by the data-monitoring and safety committee when 220 patients had been recruited. On day 7, the adjusted difference in health-related quality of life was small and not significant (difference 0·03 [95% CI -0·20 to 0·26], p=0·8). 86 (89%) of 97 patients in the azithromycin group and 82 (89%) of 92 in the vitamin C group had returned to their usual activities by day 7 (difference 0·5% [−10% to 9%], p>0·9). There were no differences in the frequency of adverse effects; three patients in the vitamin C group discontinued the study medicine because of perceived adverse effects, compared with none in the azithromycin group. Most patients (81%) reported benefit from the albuterol inhaler.
Azithromycin is no better than low-dose vitamin C for acute bronchitis. Further studies are needed to identify the best treatment for this disorder.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Azithromycin for acute bronchitis: a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial
- Creators
- Arthur T Evans - Collaborative Research Unit, Department of Medicine, Cook County Hospital and Rush Medical College, Chicago, ILShahid Husain - Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PALakshmi Durairaj - Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Occupational Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USALaura S Sadowski - Collaborative Research Unit, Department of Medicine, Cook County Hospital and Rush Medical College, Chicago, ILMarjori Charles-Damte - Collaborative Research Unit, Department of Medicine, Cook County Hospital and Rush Medical College, Chicago, ILYue Wang - Collaborative Research Unit, Department of Medicine, Cook County Hospital and Rush Medical College, Chicago, IL
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Lancet (British edition), Vol.359(9318), pp.1648-1654
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- DOI
- 10.1016/S0140-6736(02)08597-5
- PMID
- 12020525
- ISSN
- 0140-6736
- eISSN
- 1474-547X
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 2002
- Academic Unit
- Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Occupational Medicine; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984094548902771
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