CTS position statement: Pharmacotherapy in patients with COPD-An update

RATIONALE: Since the last published Canadian Thoracic Society (CTS) COPD guideline in 2007 and the 2008 update – highlights for primary care, many new clinical trials have challenged COPD treatment practices. The current Canadian position statement provides the reader with an update on pharmacotherapy of patients with COPD as reviewed by the CTS. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this position statement are: 1) to summarize the literature on topics relevant to the pharmacological therapy of patients with stable COPD; and 2) to provide clinical guidance with evidence-based recommendations and expert-informed key messages for the pharmacological therapy for patients with stable COPD. METHODS: The authors systematically reviewed the relevant literature focusing on randomized controlled trials and when available, systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials. The proposed key messages, based on scientific evidence and expert-informed opinion, were agreed upon by a majority consensus. MAIN RESULTS: There is typically a significant delay in seeking medical care by patients with dyspnea, often waiting until symptoms affect the performance of activities of daily living. The diagnosis of COPD requires spirometry to confirm the presence of airflow obstruction in any patient presenting with symptoms and/or risk factors of COPD. An effective management plan for individuals with COPD should include: smoking cessation, vaccination and education. A number of non-pharmacological treatments are available for COPD patients with symptoms to improve outcomes such as self-management with coaching from a health care professional; pulmonary rehabilitation; supplemental oxygen in selected patients; and surgery. Current pharmacotherapy for COPD has been shown to alleviate symptoms and prevent exacerbations and related complications such as hospital admissions. In symptomatic patients with stable COPD not having or having infrequent exacerbation, treatment should be started with inhaled LAMA or LABA monotherapy, and if experiencing persistent or increased dyspnea, exercise intolerance, and/or reduced health status despite use of monotherapy, patients should be considered for treatment “step up” with an inhaled LAMA plus LABA dual therapy. In this situation, the use of a single inhaler would be preferred to simplify the treatment regimen and minimize the cost. In patients with stable COPD experiencing exacerbations despite the use of LAMA or LABA monotherapy, treatment “step up” with inhaled LAMA plus LABA dual therapy should be considered unless a patient has concomitant asthma (Asthma/COPD overlap (ACO)). There has been recent interest in using biomarkers to identify patients who are more likely to respond to ICS. Most of the studies have demonstrated that high blood eosinophils could be valuable to predict an increase response in terms of reduction of exacerbation rate when treated with combination ICS/LABA; there is still uncertainty about the exact cut-off level of blood eosinophils having potential therapeutic value. If a patient is still experiencing exacerbations despite the use of LAMA and LABA dual therapy, treatment “step up” with LAMA plus ICS/LABA triple therapy can be considered. Because the superiority of inhaled triple or dual therapy may not be achieved in every patient, the notion of treatment “step down” may be a consideration in some patients. These patients would be those not demonstrating expected benefits or having side effects exceeding benefits. In any circumstance, when a physician decides using a treatment “step down”, this approach should be undertaken under close medical supervision. Individuals with ACO are a population of medical interest, however, the paucity of original studies precluded evidence-based recommendations. The position statement, therefore, presents key messages from a survey which at best reflects the practice in our Canadian community and academic respirologists on assessment, diagnosis, and pharmacotherapy of ACO patients.