Debate on long-acting β agonists for asthma:they think it's all over

At last, we can apparently relax in the secure knowledge that long-acting β agonists (LABA) are safe to use in persistent asthma when given in combination with inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), on the basis of the US Food and Drug Administration-mandated studies1,2 with either fluticasone–salmeterol or budesonide–formoterol. These combinations showed no increase in serious asthma-related events and both reduced exacerbations compared with ICS alone. Do these results mean we can now prescribe ICS–LABA combination inhalers with impunity at step 3 and above of asthma guidelines