ß-Blockers in COPD: A Cohort Study From the TONADO Research Program.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease is a frequent comorbidity in patients with COPD. Many physicians, particularly pulmonologists, are reluctant to use ß-adrenoceptor blocking agents (ß-blockers) in patients with COPD, despite their proven effectiveness in preventing cardiovascular events. METHODS: The large (5,162 patients) phase III TONADO 1 and 2 studies assessed lung function and patient-reported outcomes in patients with moderate to very severe COPD receiving long-acting bronchodilator treatment across 1 year. This post hoc analysis characterized lung-function changes, patient-reported outcomes, and safety in the subgroup of patients receiving ß-blockers in the studies. RESULTS: In total, 557 of 5,162 patients (11%) received ß-blockers at baseline. Postbronchodilator FEV1 at baseline was higher in the ß-blocker group (1.470 L) compared with that in the no ß-blocker group (1.362 L). As expected, patients receiving ß-blockers had a more frequent history of cardiovascular comorbidities and medications. Lung function improved from baseline in patients with or those without ß-blocker treatment, and no relevant between-group differences were observed in trough FEV1 or trough FVC at 24 or 52 weeks. No relevant differences were observed for St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire results and Transition Dyspnea Index in patients with ß-blockers compared with those in patients without. Safety findings were comparable between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Lung function, overall respiratory status, and safety of tiotropium/olodaterol were not influenced by baseline ß-blocker treatment in patients with moderate to very severe COPD. Results from this large patient cohort support the cautious and appropriate use of ß-blockers in patients with COPD and cardiovascular comorbidity. TRIAL REGISTRY: ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT01431274 and No. NCT01431287; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Comorbidities in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients: a systematic literature review.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is associated with a fatal prognosis and manifests in patients over 60 years old who may have comorbidities. The prevalence and impact of comorbidities on the clinical course of IPF is unclear.This systematic literature review examined the prevalence of comorbidities and mortality associated with comorbidities in IPF patients. Relevant observational studies published in English from January 1990 to January 2015 identified via MEDLINE and EMBASE were included; bibliographies of articles were also searched.Among the 126 studies included, prevalence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) was 3-86%, 6-91% for obstructive sleep apnoea, 3-48% for lung cancer and 6-67% for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Nonrespiratory comorbidities included ischaemic heart disease (IHD) (3-68%) and gastro-oesophageal reflux (GER) (0-94%). Mortality was highest among patients with IPF and lung cancer. Most studies assessed relatively small samples of patients with IPF.PH, COPD, lung cancer, GER and IHD are significant comorbidities; differences in IPF severity, case definitions and patient characteristics limited the comparability of findings. The identification and prompt treatment of comorbidities may have a clinically significant impact on overall outcome that is meaningful for patients with IPF.

Randomized, Double-Blind, Dose-Finding Study for Tiotropium when Added to Olodaterol, Administered via the Respimat® Inhaler in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

INTRODUCTION: Combining long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs) and long-acting ß2-agonists (LABAs) is beneficial in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as the two classes of bronchodilator have complementary modes of action. The optimal dose for the fixed-dose combination of the LAMA tiotropium and the LABA olodaterol needed to be determined. In this phase II trial, the dose response of tiotropium on top of olodaterol was investigated in a free-dose combination, while other phase II studies have explored different doses of olodaterol on top of tiotropium, with both drugs delivered using the Respimat(®) inhaler. METHODS: This was a double-blind incomplete crossover trial in which 233 patients with moderate or severe COPD were randomized to receive four out of eight free-dose combinations of olodaterol (5 or 10 µg) and tiotropium (1.25, 2.5, or 5 µg) or placebo for 4 weeks each. Primary end point was trough forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) change from baseline (response) after 4 weeks. RESULTS: Addition of tiotropium 1.25, 2.5, and 5 µg to olodaterol 5 µg increased mean trough FEV1 response by 0.054, 0.065, and 0.084 L, respectively; addition of tiotropium 1.25, 2.5, and 5 µg to olodaterol 10 µg increased mean trough FEV1 response by 0.051, 0.083, and 0.080 L, respectively. All treatments were well tolerated and incidence of adverse events was similar with all treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, a dose response for tiotropium on top of both doses of olodaterol was observed, with increasing improvements in trough FEV1 compared to olodaterol alone as the tiotropium dose was increased. FUNDING: Boehringer Ingelheim. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01040403.