112-118 P Sarac.indd

Materials and Methods: This was an open, prospective, randomized trial in COPD patients whose FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second) levels were between 80% and 50% predicted. A total of 44 patients who met the inclusion and exlusion criteria and who gave written informed consent were included in the study. At the end of the two week wash-out period, the patients were randomized to receive either salmeterol 50 μg/fluticasone 500 μg combination as dry powder inhaler twice daily (SF Group) or tiotropium dry powder inhaler 18 μg once daily (T Group) for one year. These were equally distributed in the two groups (22 patients in each study group). At follow-up, the patients were required to come to the outpatient clinic at the third, sixth, ninth and twelfth months.