Influence of tiotropium bromide (TB) on the severity of clinical, functional symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in COPD patients (pts)

Abstract

Aim: To study influence of TB on the severity of clinical, functional symptoms and HRQL in COPD pts.

Materials and methods: We studied 24 pts in stable phase of COPD (age – 64,3±2,3 yrs), who used fenoterol/ipratropium bromide (Berodual-H), before and after 2-month's course of treatment with TB (Spiriva® HandyHaler). Measurements included clinical status (severity of cough score (1 – mild, 2 – moderate, 3 – severe), quality of mucus score (1 – low, 2 – moderate, 3 – high), severity of breathlessness MRC-score), spirometry, St.George's Hospital Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ).

Results: Results are presented in the Table.

Conclusion: 1) 2-month's course of treatment of COPD pts with TB leads to more rapidly improvement of clinical status than of functional one; 2) symptoms score of SGRQ reflects clinical changes of COPD pts and may be use as an objective parameter during introductions of new treatment programs.