Effect of commonly used medications on important clinical outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
| FEV1 | Lung volume | Dyspnoea | HRQoL | AE | Exercise endurance | Disease modifier by FEV1 | Mortality | Side-effects | |
| Short-acting β‐agonists | Yes (A) | Yes (B) | Yes (A) | NA | NA | Yes (B) | NA | NA | Some |
| Ipratropium bromide | Yes (A) | Yes (B) | Yes (A) | No (B) | Yes (B) | Yes (B) | No | NA | Some |
| Long-acting β‐agonists | Yes (A) | Yes (A) | Yes (A) | Yes (A) | Yes (A) | Yes (B) | No | NA | Minimal |
| Tiotropium | Yes (A) | Yes (A) | Yes (A) | Yes (A) | Yes (A) | Yes (B) | NA | NA | Minimal |
| Inhaled corticosteroids | Yes (A) | NA | Yes (B) | Yes (A) | Yes (A) | NA | No | NA | Some |
| Theophylline | Yes (A) | Yes (B) | Yes (A) | Yes (B) | NA | Yes (B) | NA | NA | Important |
FEV1: forced expiratory volume in one second
HRQoL: health-related quality of life
AE: exacerbation of COPD
NA: evidence not available
GOLD grade levels are indicated in brackets (see text for explanation)