Extract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is defined by partially reversible airflow limitation as a result of either small airway obstruction or loss of elastic recoil due to emphysematous lung destruction, or both [1]. Airflow limitation resulting from small airway obstruction is treated with bronchodilators. Resulting improvements in airflow limitation are in turn quantitatively assessed by measuring the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), which is the most widely used spirometric measure in COPD. In fact, most of our knowledge about the magnitude of improvements from bronchodilator therapy comes from this standard measurement of lung function. So we know that the simultaneous inhalation of long-acting muscarinic antagonists and long-acting beta-2 agonists from one inhaler once or twice daily results in improvements in FEV1 that are superior to the inhalation of the individual components [2–5] and clearly exceed the threshold for clinical importance of ∼100 mL [6].
Abstract
Dual bronchodilation results in better lung deflation but similar exercise capacity compared to LAMA monotherapy http://ow.ly/7zL1309M6LK
Footnotes
Conflict of interest: Disclosures can be found alongside this article at erj.ersjournals.com
- Received February 27, 2017.
- Accepted February 28, 2017.
- Copyright ©ERS 2017