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The role of fluticasone propionate/salmeterol combination therapy in preventing exacerbations of COPD

Authors Yawn B, Raphiou I, Hurley, Dalal A

Published 1 June 2010 Volume 2010:5 Pages 165—178

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S4159

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 2



Barbara P Yawn1, Ibrahim Raphiou2, Judith S Hurley3, Anand A Dalal2

1Olmsted Medical Center, University of Minnesota, Rochester, Minnesota, USA; 2GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA; 3Hurley Consulting, Placitas, New Mexico, USA

Abstract: Exacerbations contribute significantly to the morbidity of COPD, leading to an accelerated decline in lung function, reduced functional status, reduced health status and quality of life, poorer prognosis and increased mortality. Prevention of exacerbations is thus an important goal of COPD management. In patients with COPD, treatment with a combination of the inhaled corticosteroid fluticasone propionate (250 μg) and the long-acting β2-agonist salmeterol (50 μg) in a single inhaler (250/50 μg) is an effective therapy option that has been shown to reduce the frequency of exacerbations, to improve lung function, dyspnea and health status, and to be relatively cost-effective as a COPD maintenance therapy. Importantly, results of various studies suggest that fluticasone propionate and salmeterol have synergistic effects when administered together that improve their efficacy in controlling symptoms and reducing exacerbations. The present non-systematic review summarizes the role of fluticasone propionate/salmeterol combination therapy in the prevention of exacerbations of COPD and its related effects on lung function, survival, health status, and healthcare costs.

Keywords: Advair, COPD, disease exacerbation, fluticasone propionate, salmeterol, combination drug therapy

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