From large clinical trials to management of COPD in the real world

Abstract

Large clinical trials in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are analyzed and discussed. Unfortunately, all of them have failed to reach their primary endpoint, which has mainly been the effect on the rate of decline in mean FEV₁ (forced expiratory volume in 1 second). Nonetheless, almost all trials have demonstrated benefits in important outcomes such as exacerbation frequency, symptoms, quality of life and other measures of health status, which are arguably more meaningful to individual patients than FEV₁ per se.

Keywords

COPD clinical trials formoterol salmeterol tiotropium budesonide fluticasone

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