The effect of budesonide combined with bifidobacteria and lactobacilli on lung function and gut microbiota of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of budesonide combined with Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli on the lung function and intestinal microbiota of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

METHODS: Clinical data of 124 COPD patients admitted to Fengcheng Hospital, Fengxian District, Shanghai from February 2021 to February 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients either received budesonide treatment alone (n=59, control group) or budesonide combined with Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli (n=65, observation group). Levels of lung function indicators, symptom relief time, gut microbiota levels, and quality of life were compared between the two groups before and after the treatment.

RESULTS: After two weeks of treatment, the improvement of lung function in the observation group was better than that in the control group ( P <0.05). Compared to budesonide treatment alone, combined budesonide, Bifidobacteria, and Lactobacilli treatment were associated with shorter symptom relief time ( P <0.05), and with more significant improvement of intestinal microbiota level ( P <0.05) and the quality of life ( P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Budesonide combined with Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli can effectively alleviate clinical symptoms, regulate intestinal microbiota, improve lung function and the quality of life of COPD patients.