Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of tiotropium in the treatment of stable COPD ( chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) patients of group D. Methods Sixty-two subjects with stable COPD in group D classified by combined COPD assessment in GOLD 2011, were randomly divided into a treatment group ( n = 32) and a control group ( n = 30) . The treatment group was treated with tiotropium ( 18 μg, inhalation, once daily) plus salmeterol /fluticasone ( 50/500 μg, inhalation, twice a day)and the control group was treated only with salmeterol / fluticasone ( 50/500 μg, inhalation, twice a day) . The exercise tolerance, dyspnea score and lung function were measured before and 1, 8,24, and 48 weeks after the treatment respectively. Results 8, 24, 48 weeks after the treatment respectively, there were improvements of 6 minute walk test and the dyspnea score of medical research council scale( MRC) in both groups than before treatment, and which was better in the treatment group. Compared with baseline and the control group, significantly greater improvements in the FVC, FEV1 and FEV1% pred were seen in the treatment group at all time points. In the control group, FVC, FEV1 and FEV1% pred 1 and 8 weeks after treatment were higher than those before treatment, but there was no significant difference after treatment of 24 and 48 weeks.Conclusion Combination treatment with tiotropium and salmeterol / fluticasone inhalation results in greater therapeutic benefits than salmeterol / fluticasone inhalation alone in stable COPD patients of group D.
Objective To observe the effects of salmeterol / fluticasone combined with tiotropium in the treatment of sever to very sever COPD. Methods Eighty patients with severe to very severe stable COPD were recruited from outpatient of Central Hospital of Cangzhou between May 2008 and October 2009. The subjects were randomly divided into a salmeterol /fluticasone group and a combination group. The salmeterol / fluticasone group received salmeterol / fluticasone propionate, and the combination group received the combination therapy of tiotropium and salmeterol / fluticasone propionate. All patients had received the treatment for 12 months. At baseline and at the end of 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, 12-month, lung function ( FEV1 , IC and FVC) , six-minute walk distance and the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire ( SGRQ) score were assessed. The number of exacerbations and the time to the first exacerbation were also recorded. Results At every visit, lung function ( FEV1 , IC and FVC) , six-minute walk distance and the SGRQ score were improved in both groups compared with baseline ( Plt;0. 05) , especially in the combination group ( Plt;0.05) . Compared with the salmeterol /fluticason, the combination therapy with tiotropium significantly decreased the incidence of exacerbations and prolonged the time to the first exacerbation ( Plt;0.05) . And there was no significant difference between two groups in adverse effects ( Pgt;0.05) . Conclusions The combination therapy with salmeterol / fluticasone propionate and tiotropium was superior to salmeterol / fluticasone propionate in treatment of sever to very severe stable COPD patients in improving lung function, exercise tolerance, and quality of life, without additional adverse effects.