SELECTED ARTICLES FROM THE RECENT LITERATURE 2008

9/15/2008

Salmeterol and fluticasone favorably affect the accelerated decline in lung function seen in COPD

Summary
This investigation represents a post-hoc analysis of the towards a Revolution in COPD Health (TORCH) study. This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation conducted from September 2000 to November 2005 in 42 countries. It included 6,112 patients. The present investigation evaluated 5,343 of the subjects.

The end result was that pharmacotherapy with salmeterol plus fluticasone or either alone reduced the rate of decline in FEV1 in patients with moderate to severe COPD. The combination of the two agents was superior to either one alone. The study also noted that smoking and a diminished BMI were associated with a faster decline in FEV1.

Reference
Celli B, et al. Effect of pharmacotherapy on rate of decline of lung function in COPD. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 2008; 178:332-338.

 

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