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The role of combination therapy with corticosteroids and long-acting β2-agonists in the prevention of exacerbations in COPD

Authors Mario Cazzola, Nicola A Hanania

Published 15 January 2007 Volume 2006:1(4) Pages 345—354



Mario Cazzola1, Nicola A Hanania2

1Antonio Cardarelli Hospital, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Unit of Pneumology and Allergology, Naples, Italy; 2Baylor College of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

Abstract: Acute exacerbations of COPD can complicate the course of the disease in patients with severe airway obstruction. Reduction of exacerbations is an important clinical outcome in evaluating new therapies in COPD. Combination therapies with long-acting β-agonists and inhaled corticosteroids have now been approved for use. Three 1-year randomized clinical trials, which studied the effect of combining a long-acting β2-agonist with an inhaled corticosteroid in COPD, documented that exacerbation frequency was lower with therapy than placebo. Combination therapy had a similar effect to its monocomponents in the trial evaluating salmeterol/fluticasone combination. However, when patients with more severe COPD were studied using a combination of budesonide and formoterol, a clear improvement was seen in the overall exacerbation rates compared with the use of a long-acting β2-agonist alone.  

Keywords: COPD, exacerbation, inhaled corticosteroids, inhaled long-acting β2-agonists, budesonide, fluticasone, formoterol, salmeterol, combination therapy