Sexual HealthBudesonide/formoterol Plus Tiotropium Improves The Quality Of Life Of Patients With Severe COPD
Preliminary results from a double-blind, randomised, multicentre trial among 660 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) show that budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort®: AstraZeneca) plus tiotropium (Spiriva™: Boehringer Ingelheim Limited) significantly improves disease control and patients" quality of life.1,2
The study known as CLIMB, compared 12 weeks treatment with budesonide/formoterol (400/12 mcg one inhalation twice-daily) plus tiotropium (18 ÷µg one inhalation once daily) vs. tiotropium alone plus placebo.
"Combined inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) therapy with budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort®) is indicated for COPD patients with a forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) Notes
An estimated 3.7 million people in the UK have COPD; COPD is the 5th biggest killer in the UK; around 30,000 people in the UK die from COPD each year, which is more than from bowel cancer, breast cancer or prostate cancer.6
References
1. Welte T, et al. Budesonide/formoterol added to tiotropium improves the management of COPD patients. American Thoracic Society International Conference, San Diego, USA, 15-20 May 2009; Abst 953775.
2. Welte T, et al. Budesonide/formoterol added to tiotropium is well tolerated and reduces the risk of severe exacerbations in COPD patients. American Thoracic Society International Conference, San Diego, USA, 15-20 May 2009; Abst 953763.
3. Symbicort 400/12® Summary of Product Characteristics, December 2008.
4. Miravitlles M et al. Patient"s perception of exacerbations of COPD - The PERCEIVE study. Respir Med 2007; 101: 453-60.
5. "Unleash the life within..." a patient"s perspective of living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Survey. Sponsored by AstraZeneca UK Ltd.
6. British Lung Foundation. Invisible Lives. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) - finding the missing millions, November 2007.
AstraZeneca