AsthmaQUARTZNCT07787117
QUARTZ: Comparative Effectiveness of Switching From Albuterol to Albuterol/Budesonide Versus Adding Low-dose ICS or LTRA to Albuterol
An observational study of Asthma, run by AstraZeneca at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The QUARTZ study is a retrospective observational cohort study using a prevalent new-user design and U.S. healthcare claims data to evaluate treatment effectiveness among patients with asthma. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 99 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Asthma
- What is being tested?
- None (observational study)
- How many people
- 8,681 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 3 Aug 2026to 30 Sep 2026
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 99 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Adults asthma patients
Who may be able to join
- Asthma patients with at least one prescription record (identified by NDC or Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System [HCPCS] codes) for Airsupra (Airsupra cohort), LD ICS or LTRA, (comparator cohort) since January 2023.
- Patients with at least one prescription record (based on NDC or HCPCS codes) of albuterol within the 12 months prior to the first Airsupra or the controller medications prescription date
- Patients aged ≥18 years on the index date
- Patients with ≥12 months of continuous insurance enrolment prior and 12 months after index date.
Who cannot join
- Patients with at least one medical claim with an ICD-10 code within the 12 months prior to the index date for any of the chronic respiratory conditions or systemic inflammatory diseases routinely treated with systemic corticosteroids (SCS)
- Patients with any prescription record for any ICS or other controller therapies (including SAMA, LABA, LAMA, LTRA, theophylline or biologics) within the 12 months prior to the and inclusive of index date (the index therapy defining cohort entry (LD ICS for the LD ICS cohort; LTRA for the LTRA cohort is permitted on the index date)
- Patients with maintenance OCS use within the 12 months prior to and inclusive of the index date
- Airsupra patients with a concomitant SABA prescription record on the index date
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: QUARTZ: Comparative Effectiveness of Switching From Albuterol to Albuterol/Budesonide Versus Adding Low-Dose Inhaled Corticosteroids or Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists to Albuterol Among Adults With Asthma in the United States
The QUARTZ study is a retrospective observational cohort study using a prevalent new-user design and U.S. healthcare claims data to evaluate treatment effectiveness among patients with asthma. The study compares the real-world effectiveness of switching from albuterol-only rescue therapy to albuterol/budesonide versus adding low-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) or leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA) while continuing albuterol. The primary objective is to assess the comparative effectiveness of these treatment strategies in reducing severe asthma exacerbations in routine clinical practice in the United States.
- Conditions
- Asthma
- Being tested
- None (observational study)
- Medical subject headings
- Asthma
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
None (observational study)Other
Also called Observational study
Not applicable since it's an observational study. There are three study cohorts: 1) Airsupra cohort 2)Albuterol and low-dose ICS comparator cohort and 3) Albuterol and LTRA comparator cohort.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Airsupra cohort | Patients who switch from albuterol to Airsupra (albuterol/budesonide) as their rescue therapy. Receives: Other: None (observational study) | |
| Albuterol and low-dose ICS comparator cohort | Patients who add low-dose inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) to their ongoing albuterol rescue regimen. Receives: Other: None (observational study) | |
| Albuterol and LTRA comparator cohort | Patients who add leukotriene modifiers (LTRA) to their ongoing albuterol rescue regimen. Receives: Other: None (observational study) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Severe exacerbations during follow-up: annualized asthma exacerbation rates (AAER) by cohort, overall and by setting (IP, ED/urgent care, outpatient); plus absolute rates and rate ratios comparing Airsupra with each comparator cohort
To describe and compare the occurrence of severe exacerbations observed among the Airsupra cohort and each comparator cohort.
Measured: Follow-up starts the day after index and ends at the earliest of death, data end, insurance disenrollment, loss to follow-up, or switch to the alternative rescue treatment, up to 36 months; add-on maintenance therapy does not censor follow-up.
Secondary outcomes (5)
Time to first severe exacerbation: KM curves, median time by arm (if estimable), and Cox PH HRs comparing Airsupra with each comparator. Also, the proportion with at least 1 severe exacerbation at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after treatment initiation.
To describe and compare the time to first severe exacerbation among the Airsupra cohort and each comparator cohort.
Measured: Follow-up period for each patient starts the day after the index date and ends at the earliest date of death, end of data, end of insurance enrollment, loss to follow up, or switch to the alternative rescue treatment up to 36 months
Cumulative inhaled corticosteroid exposure (beclomethasone equivalent µg/year)
To describe exposure to corticosteroid treatments among the Airsupra cohort and each comparator cohort
Measured: Follow-up period for each patient starts the day after the index date and ends at the earliest date of death, end of data, end of insurance enrollment, loss to follow up, or switch to the alternative rescue treatment up to 36 months
Cumulative systemic corticosteroid exposure (prednisone equivalent mg/year)
To describe exposure to corticosteroid treatments among the Airsupra cohort and each comparator cohort
Measured: Follow-up period for each patient starts the day after the index date and ends at the earliest date of death, end of data, end of insurance enrollment, loss to follow up, or switch to the alternative rescue treatment up to 36 months
Total SCS exposure days
To describe exposure to corticosteroid treatments among the Airsupra cohort and each comparator cohort
Measured: Follow-up period for each patient starts the day after the index date and ends at the earliest date of death, end of data, end of insurance enrollment, loss to follow up, or switch to the alternative rescue treatment up to 36 months
SCS burst rates
To describe exposure to corticosteroid treatments among the Airsupra cohort and each comparator cohort
Measured: Follow-up period for each patient starts the day after the index date and ends at the earliest date of death, end of data, end of insurance enrollment, loss to follow up, or switch to the alternative rescue treatment up to 36 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted26 Aug 2026
- Study start3 Aug 2026
- Primary completion30 Sep 2026
- Study completion30 Sep 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for AsthmaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by AstraZenecaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Retrospective
- Enrolment
- 8,681 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- AstraZeneca
- Sponsor type
- Industry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07787117
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- D6930R00011
- Acronym
- QUARTZ
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 3 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 26 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Qualified researchers can request access to anonymized individual patient-level data from AstraZeneca group of companies sponsored clinical trials via the request portal Vivli.org. All requests will be evaluated as per the AZ disclosure commitment: https://astrazenecagrouptrials.pharmacm.com/ST/Submission/Disclosure. Yes, indicates that AZ are accepting requests for IPD, but this does not mean all requests will be shared.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 26 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- QUARTZ: Comparative Effectiveness of Switching From Albuterol to Albuterol/Budesonide Versus Adding Low-Dose Inhaled Corticosteroids or Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists to Albuterol Among Adults With Asthma in the United States
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07787117
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- QUARTZ / D6930R00011
- Conditions
- Asthma
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 8,681 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- AstraZenecaIndustry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Study start
- 3 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Sep 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 26 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The QUARTZ study is a retrospective observational cohort study using a prevalent new-user design and U.S. healthcare claims data to evaluate treatment effectiveness among patients with asthma. The study compares the real-world effectiveness of switching from albuterol-only rescue therapy to albuterol/budesonide versus adding low-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) or leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA) while continuing albuterol. The primary objective is to assess the comparative effectiveness of these treatment strategies in reducing severe asthma exacerbations in routine clinical practice in the United States.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Retrospective
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Airsupra cohort | – | Other: None (observational study)Patients who switch from albuterol to Airsupra (albuterol/budesonide) as their rescue therapy. |
| Albuterol and low-dose ICS comparator cohort | – | Other: None (observational study)Patients who add low-dose inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) to their ongoing albuterol rescue regimen. |
| Albuterol and LTRA comparator cohort | – | Other: None (observational study)Patients who add leukotriene modifiers (LTRA) to their ongoing albuterol rescue regimen. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 99 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Adults asthma patients
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Asthma patients with at least one prescription record (identified by NDC or Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System [HCPCS] codes) for Airsupra (Airsupra cohort), LD ICS or LTRA, (comparator cohort) since January 2023.
- Patients with at least one prescription record (based on NDC or HCPCS codes) of albuterol within the 12 months prior to the first Airsupra or the controller medications prescription date
- Patients aged ≥18 years on the index date
- Patients with ≥12 months of continuous insurance enrolment prior and 12 months after index date.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Patients with at least one medical claim with an ICD-10 code within the 12 months prior to the index date for any of the chronic respiratory conditions or systemic inflammatory diseases routinely treated with systemic corticosteroids (SCS)
- Patients with any prescription record for any ICS or other controller therapies (including SAMA, LABA, LAMA, LTRA, theophylline or biologics) within the 12 months prior to the and inclusive of index date (the index therapy defining cohort entry (LD ICS for the LD ICS cohort; LTRA for the LTRA cohort is permitted on the index date)
- Patients with maintenance OCS use within the 12 months prior to and inclusive of the index date
- Airsupra patients with a concomitant SABA prescription record on the index date
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| None (observational study)Also: Observational studyNot applicable since it's an observational study. There are three study cohorts: 1) Airsupra cohort 2)Albuterol and low-dose ICS comparator cohort and 3) Albuterol and LTRA comparator cohort. | Other | Airsupra cohort, Albuterol and LTRA comparator cohort, Albuterol and low-dose ICS comparator cohort |
Primary outcome
Severe exacerbations during follow-up: annualized asthma exacerbation rates (AAER) by cohort, overall and by setting (IP, ED/urgent care, outpatient); plus absolute rates and rate ratios comparing Airsupra with each comparator cohort
Time frame: Follow-up starts the day after index and ends at the earliest of death, data end, insurance disenrollment, loss to follow-up, or switch to the alternative rescue treatment, up to 36 months; add-on maintenance therapy does not censor follow-up.
To describe and compare the occurrence of severe exacerbations observed among the Airsupra cohort and each comparator cohort.
5 secondary outcomes
Time to first severe exacerbation: KM curves, median time by arm (if estimable), and Cox PH HRs comparing Airsupra with each comparator. Also, the proportion with at least 1 severe exacerbation at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after treatment initiation.
Time frame: Follow-up period for each patient starts the day after the index date and ends at the earliest date of death, end of data, end of insurance enrollment, loss to follow up, or switch to the alternative rescue treatment up to 36 months
Cumulative inhaled corticosteroid exposure (beclomethasone equivalent µg/year)
Time frame: Follow-up period for each patient starts the day after the index date and ends at the earliest date of death, end of data, end of insurance enrollment, loss to follow up, or switch to the alternative rescue treatment up to 36 months
Cumulative systemic corticosteroid exposure (prednisone equivalent mg/year)
Time frame: Follow-up period for each patient starts the day after the index date and ends at the earliest date of death, end of data, end of insurance enrollment, loss to follow up, or switch to the alternative rescue treatment up to 36 months
Total SCS exposure days
Time frame: Follow-up period for each patient starts the day after the index date and ends at the earliest date of death, end of data, end of insurance enrollment, loss to follow up, or switch to the alternative rescue treatment up to 36 months
SCS burst rates
Time frame: Follow-up period for each patient starts the day after the index date and ends at the earliest date of death, end of data, end of insurance enrollment, loss to follow up, or switch to the alternative rescue treatment up to 36 months
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 26 Oct 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Qualified researchers can request access to anonymized individual patient-level data from AstraZeneca group of companies sponsored clinical trials via the request portal Vivli.org. All requests will be evaluated as per the AZ disclosure commitment: https://astrazenecagrouptrials.pharmacm.com/ST/Submission/Disclosure. Yes, indicates that AZ are accepting requests for IPD, but this does not mean all requests will be shared.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Asthma, run by AstraZeneca at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Severe exacerbations during follow-up: annualized asthma exacerbation rates (AAER) by cohort, overall and by setting (IP, ED/urgent care, outpatient); plus absolute rates and rate ratios comparing Airsupra with each comparator cohort (time frame: Follow-up starts the day after index and ends at the earliest of death, data end, insurance disenrollment, loss to follow-up, or switch to the alternative rescue treatment, up to 36 months; add-on maintenance therapy does not censor follow-up.). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 26 Oct 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.