TY - JOUR T1 - Evaluating cardiac safety of tiotropium in patients with COPD: Combined analysis of Holter-ECG data from four trials JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 44 IS - Suppl 58 SP - P284 AU - Jens M. Hohlfeld AU - Armin Furtwaengler AU - Michael Könen-Bergmann AU - Gudrun Wallenstein AU - Beate Walter AU - Eric D. Bateman Y1 - 2014/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P284.abstract N2 - Background: Extensive clinical trial data have shown that different doses of tiotropium, administered via either HandiHaler® 18 μg (HH18) or Respimat®, improves lung function, quality of life and reduces exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); however, there is concern that antimuscarinic agents may induce cardiac arrhythmias in a vulnerable subpopulation of patients with cardiovascular comorbidity.Aims and objectives: To support the cardiac safety of tiotropium maintenance therapy by investigating heart rate and arrhythmia parameters.Methods: Combined analysis of all tiotropium trials (HH18 and/or R1.25-10) in COPD involving Holter-electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring conducted between 2003 and 2012. Men and women aged ≥40 years with a smoking history of ≥10 pack-years, and a clinical diagnosis of COPD were included. Holter-ECGs were evaluated for heart rate (HR), supraventricular premature beats (SVPBs), ventricular premature beats (VPBs) and pauses. Quantitative and categorical endpoints were derived for each of the Holter-monitoring days.Results: Four trials (n=727 patients) were included, ranging from 4-48 weeks' treatment duration. Mean age was 64.7 years. Neither R1.25-10 nor HH18 were associated with changes in HR, SVPBs, VPBs and pauses compared to placebo or the pretreatment baseline period. There was no evidence of an exposure-effect relationship for the cardiac arrhythmia endpoints.Conclusion: Tiotropium maintenance therapy with R1.25-10 or HH18 was well tolerated and not associated with an increased risk of cardiac arrhythmia in patients with COPD in this analysis.Funded by Boehringer Ingelheim and Pfizer. ER -