Helgo Magnussen, Bernd Disse, Roberto Rodriguez-Roisin, Anne Kirsten, Henrik Watz, Kay Tetzlaff, Lesley Towse, Helen Finnigan, Ronald Dahl, Marc Decramer, Pascal Chanez, Emiel F M Wouters, Peter M A Calverley
BACKGROUND: Treatment with inhaled glucocorticoids in combination with long-acting bronchodilators is recommended in patients with frequent exacerbations of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the benefit of inhaled glucocorticoids in addition to two long-acting bronchodilators has not been fully explored. METHODS: In this 12-month, double-blind, parallel-group study, 2485 patients with a history of exacerbation of COPD received triple therapy consisting of tiotropium (at a dose of 18 μg once daily), salmeterol (50 μg twice daily), and the inhaled glucocorticoid fluticasone propionate (500 μg twice daily) during a 6-week run-in period...
October 2, 2014: New England Journal of Medicine