BACKGROUND The active-treatment comparative safety information for all inhaled medications in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is limited. We aimed to compare the risk of overall and cardiovascular death for inhaled medications in patients with COPD. METHODS Through systematic database searching, we identified randomised controlled trials of tiotropium Soft Mist Inha...

BACKGROUND A considerable number of children with asthma remain symptomatic despite treatment with inhaled corticosteroids, resulting in significant morbidity, reduced quality of life, increased healthcare costs and lost school days. The aim of our study was to assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of once-daily tiotropium Respimat® 5 μg, 2.5 μg and 1.25 μg add-on to medium-dose inhaled ...

The aim of this paper is to assess the health economic consequences of substituting ipratropium with the new, once-daily bronchodilator tiotropium in patients with a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This prospective cost-effectiveness analysis was performed alongside two 1-yr randomised, double-blind clinical trials in the Netherlands and Belgium. Patients had a diagno...

BACKGROUND/AIM Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an inflammatory disease of the lung associated with progressive airflow limitation. The aim of this study is to assess the influence of tiotropium treatment on airway inflammation and symptoms in stable COPD patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS Inflammatory markers were measured in the expired breath condensate fluid (EBC) before start...

BACKGROUND Combination therapy (inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta2-agonists) and tiotropium are both used in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). There is uncertainty about the relative benefits and harms of these treatments. OBJECTIVES To compare the relative effects of inhaled combination therapy and tiotropium on markers of exacerbations, symptoms, qual...

Bronchodilators are central in the symptomatic management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs) and long-acting β(2)-agonists (LABAs) are the main classes of long-acting bronchodilators. To date, tiotropium is the only once-daily LAMA available for the treatment of COPD. Glycopyrronium is a novel LAMA, currently in development for COPD. Phas...

INTRODUCTION Among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the frequency and severity of past exacerbations potentiates future events. The impact of current therapies on exacerbation frequency and severity in patients with different exacerbation risks is not well known. METHODS A post hoc analysis of patients at low (≤1 exacerbation [oral steroids/antibiotics requirement] ...

OBJECTIVES The long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) glycopyrronium (NVA237) has recently been approved as a once-daily treatment for COPD. The objectives of this study were to determine the dose delivery characteristics of glycopyrronium and compare them with those of the LAMA tiotropium, both delivered by their respective capsule-based dry-powder inhalers (DPIs). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METH...

The majority of deaths in COPD are from cardiovascular causes. Several large randomized controlled trials demonstrate that inhaled anticholinergic agents ipratropium and tiotropium increase the risk of serious cardiovascular events, including cardiovascular mortality. Tiotropium Respimat is associated with a statistically significant increased risk of mortality (RR 1.52; 95% CI 1.06 to 2.16) an...

BACKGROUND Long-acting inhaled bronchodilators, including anticholinergic tiotropium, are recommended for the maintenance therapy of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It has been shown in a number of studies that treatment with tiotropium alleviates symptoms, improves exercise tolerance, health status, and reduces exacerbations in patients with moderate to very severe stage COPD. ...