Onset of action of formoterol versus salmeterol via dry powder inhalers in moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study

• Background: Bronchodilator therapy is central to the symptomatic management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and treatment with short-acting bronchodilators is recommended in patients with mild COPD. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the onset of effect of single-dose formoterol 9 μg versus single-dose salmeterol 50 μg in patients with moderate COPD. Methods: In this multicentre, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled, three-way single-dose crossover study, patients ≥40 years of age with moderate COPD were randomized to single-dose formoterol 9 μg via Turbuhaler® plus placebo via Diskus®, single-dose salmeterol 50 μg via Diskus® plus placebo via Turbuhaler® or placebo via Turbuhaler® and Diskus® (washout period 2-7 days). Terbutaline 0.5mg/actuation via Turbuhaler® was used as reliever medication throughout. The primary endpoint was forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1) at 5 minutes post-dose. Secondary endpoints included proportion of patients achieving ≥12%increase in FEV1 at 5 minutes post-dose. Results: 109 patients were randomized, and 108 completed the study. The increase in FEV1 5 minutes post-dose versus pre-dose was 7.2% for formoterol, 4.1% for salmeterol and 0.7% for placebo, and significantly greater for formoterol versus salmeterol (ratio of treatment effects: 1.030; 95% CI 1.008, 1.052; p = 0.009), for formoterol versus placebo (1.064, 95% CI 1.041, 1.087; p < 0.001) and for salmeterol versus placebo (1.033, 95% CI 1.011, 1.056; p = 0.003). The proportions of patients with ≥12% increase in FEV 1 5 minutes post-dose were 23.1%, 9.2%and 6.4%for formoterol, salmeterol and placebo, respectively; this was statistically significantly larger after formoterol than salmeterol (p = 0.008) or placebo (p < 0.001). All treatments were well tolerated. Conclusion: In COPD patients, formoterol 9 μg has an onset of bronchodilatory effect that is more rapid than salmeterol 50 μg based on FEV 1 at 5minutes post-dose. © 2012 Adis Data Information BV. All rights reserved.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Lungmedicin och allergi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Respiratory Medicine and Allergy (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

COPD

crossover

formoterol

onset of effect

salmeterol

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)