Tiotropium in Early-Stage Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

BACKGROUND: Patients with mild or moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) rarely receive medications, because they have few symptoms. We hypothesized that long-term use of tiotropium would improve lung function and ameliorate the decline in lung function in patients with mild or moderate COPD. METHODS: before and after bronchodilator use from day 30 to month 24. RESULTS: after bronchodilator use was significantly less in the tiotropium group than in the placebo group (29±5 ml per year vs. 51±6 ml per year; difference, 22 ml per year [95% CI, 6 to 37]; P=0.006). The incidence of adverse events was generally similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: after bronchodilator use in patients with COPD of GOLD stage 1 or 2. (Funded by Boehringer Ingelheim and others; Tie-COPD ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01455129 .).

Tiotropium in Early-Stage Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease | Litlas