Recent clinical studies have demonstrated that chronic maintenance therapy in patients with COPD can significantly decrease the frequency of exacerbations. These studies show that long-active bronchodilators, including long-acting bagonists (LABAs) (e.g. salmeterol and formoterol) [62]; and long-acting anticholinergics (e.g. tiotropium) reduce the mean rate of COPD exacerbation [15, 63–65]. These effects have also been reported with combination therapy of inhaled corticosteroids and LABAs [66–69]. Furthermore, these studies have demonstrated that the reduction in exacerbations results in a significant decrease in hospitalisations and healthcare utilization [63–69]. Other chronic therapies, such as carbocisteine and N-acetylcysteine, showed a decrease in COPD exacerbations [70–73], while other studies failed to show these effects [74]. These findings could be explained by severity of patients enrolled in these studies and the use of concomitant medications. More detailed discussion is presented elsewhere in the present issue of the European Respiratory Review [75, 76].
Recent clinical studies have demonstrated that chronic maintenance therapy in patients with COPD can significantly decrease the frequency of exacerbations. These studies show that long-active bronchodilators, including long-acting bagonists (LABAs) (e.g. salmeterol and formoterol) [62]; and long-acting anticholinergics (e.g. tiotropium) reduce the mean rate of COPD exacerbation [15, 63–65]. These effects have also been reported with combination therapy of inhaled corticosteroids and LABAs [66–69]. Furthermore, these studies have demonstrated that the reduction in exacerbations results in a significant decrease in hospitalisations and healthcare utilization [63–69]. Other chronic therapies, such as carbocisteine and N-acetylcysteine, showed a decrease in COPD exacerbations [70–73], while other studies failed to show these effects [74]. These findings could be explained by severity of patients enrolled in these studies and the use of concomitant medications. More detailed discussion is presented elsewhere in the present issue of the European Respiratory Review [75, 76].
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