The study is published in _The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.Study is the first to look at variations in exacerbation rates and related oues linked to two frequently used drugs COPD treatment.Primary endpoint of the INSPIRE study was aparative decrease in exacerbations, an abrupt deterioration of symptoms, which are debilitating and grow as the disease advances.While the total exacerbations described between the two study groups were not substantially different, overall rates were 1.Seretide and 1.Tiotropium bromide (p=0.Treatment for the acute exacerbation chosen by investigators whilst blinded was different.Needed antibiotics happened more often among those taking Seretide, while exacerbations that required systemic steroids happen more often among those taking tiotropium - this suggests that the nature of the exacerbations was different and that people are affected in different ways by COPD treatments.The study also revealed that COPD patients taking Seretide had a 52% lower risk of dying from any cause,pared to those taking tiotropium bromide a statistically significant finding (p=0.This lowering of mortality risk was observed by the thirteenth week of treatment and continued to increase as the study progressed.Study also showed that the Seretide patients had significant improvements in quality of life from early in the studypared to patients on tiotropium bromide (2.Improvement at 2 years, p=0.Measured by the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), a validated instrument used to assess the impact of airway disease on overall health, daily life, and perceived well-being.Lasted through the length of the 104 week study."The results seen in INSPIRE showing improvements in quality of life and survival are important for patients with COPD.Is no cure for COPD so we must manage the disease as effectively as possible to provide patients with the best oues," Professor Wisia Wedzicha, Royal Free Hospital, London, said.SAFETY AND TOLERABILITY The study reported an 8% increase in pneumonias among those taking Seretide,pared to a 4% increase among those receiving tiotropium bromide.Of the Seretide group reported candidiasis,pared to 3% in the tiotropium group.Those receiving tiotropium were 29% more likely to drop out from the study.Probability of withdrawing prior to week 104 was 34.And 41.Tiotropium bromide (p=0.The withdrawals were much higher among participants who had worse health status and who deteriorated faster.More patients drop out of a study it can lead to a 'health survivor' effect with less severe patients in one treatment group beingpared to more severe patients in the other treatment group.INSPIRE was a European, 2-year multicentre, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy controlled trial involving 1,300 COPD patients - itpared the effects of Seretide and tiotropium bromide."The study raises important questions regarding the nature of this progressive disease.Appeared to experience differences in the nature of their exacerbations, with different treatment being prescribed for each group, Seretide patients received more antibiotics during their exacerbations, and tiotropium patients more oral corticosteroid treatments and this resulted in different oues for patients.Study therefore could have important implications for the choice of medication used to manage patients with COPD," Wedzicha concluded._"THE PREVENTION OF CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE EXACERBATIONS BY SALMETEROL/FLUTICASONE PROPIONATE OR TIOTROPIUM BROMIDE" _ Jadwiga A.Peter M.Calverley, Terence A.Gerry Hagan, Zainab Ansari and Robert A.For the INSPIRE Investigators _American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine_ Vol 177.19-26, (2008) doi: 10.Written by - Christian Nordqvist Copyright: Medical News Today NOT TO BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF MEDICAL NEWS TODAY HOW INTERESTING WAS THIS ARTICLE?Not Very.= Very) 1 2 3 4 5 I AM A: Please Select Healthcare Professional Member of the Public VISITOR RATINGS: Healthcare Professional:4.Votes) General Public: 4.Read more Adjunctive use of tafluprost with timolol provides additive effects for reduction in intraocular pressure in patients with glaucoma
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