Study design (if review, criteria of inclusion for studies)
Multicentre parallel RCT comparing 2 dosing regimens (daily versus weekly) of azithromycin.
Participants
208 CF patients (6-58 years).
Interventions
250 mg daily versus 1200 mg weekly doses of azithromycin.
Outcome measures
Change in FEV1 (%) at 1,3 and 6 months from baseline. Also time to PEx, adverse effects, days in hospital, QoL, changes in inflammatory markers, acquisition of azithromycin resistant S. aureus.
Main results
Equivalence was demonstrated between the two groups (daily versus weekly) with respect to improvements in lung function (forced expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity), C-reactive protein, days spent in hospital, admission rates and nutrition (body mass index, z-scores) using 95% confidence intervals with a tolerance interval of +/-10%. In patients aged <18 yrs the daily group had significantly better improvements in z-scores for height and weight after 6 months. In children, a nutritional advantage for daily administration was found. Gastro-intestinal adverse effects were more common with weekly therapy.
Authors' conclusions
Apart from these findings, daily and weekly administered azithromycin demonstrated similar outcomes for cystic fibrosis patients.