Inhaled formoterol dry powder versus ipratropium bromide in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Dahl R., Greefhorst LAPM., Nowak D., Nonikov V., Byrne AM., Thomson MH., Till D., Cioppa GD., Burdon J., Carroll P., Frith P., Mitchell C., Peters M., Rubinfield A., Ruffin R., Scicchitano R., Tiechtahl H., Bedert L., Radermecker M., Siemons L., Bourbeau J., Abbound R., McIvor A., Leblanc P., Bay T., Cowie R., Chapman K., Madsen F., Backer V., Hansen M., Harving H., Lindqvist A., Saarelainen S., Liippo K., Aalbers R., Bantje TA., Dubois EFL., Eland ME., Hekking PRM., Den Hertog RW., De Jong PM., Kuipers AF., De Munck DRAJ., Sinninghe-Damste HEJ., Wijnands WJA., Lammers E., Walstad RA., Mellem H., Toft S., Johansen S., Kus J., Droszcz W., Tsoi A., Chuchalin A., Silvert B., Stradling J., Snashall P., Wedzicha J., Saul P., Thorley K., Campbell S., Candal F., Lawrence M., Levine B., Lockey R., Schelbar J.
© 2006, American Thoracic Society. All rights reserved. We compared the effectiveness of inhaled formoterol with that of ipratropium in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). After a 2-wk run-in period, 780 patients with COPD were randomized to receive for 12 wk formoterol dry powder 12 or 24 μg twice daily, ipratropium bromide 40 μg four times daily, or placebo in a multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group study. The primary efficacy variable was the area under the curve for forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) measured over 12 h after 12 wk of treatment. Secondary variables included diary symptoms and quality of life. Both doses of formoterol and ipratropium significantly increased the area under the curve for FEV 1 in comparison with placebo (all p < 0.001). Both doses of formoterol were also significantly superior to ipratropium (all p < 0.025). Compared with placebo, both doses of formoterol significantly improved symptoms (all p ≤ 0.007) and quality of life (p < 0.01 for total scores) whereas ipratropium did not show significant effects (all p ≥ 0.3). All study treatments exhibited a similar safety profile. We conclude that formoterol is more effective than ipratropium bromide in the treatment of COPD, as the efficacy of ipratropium on airflow obstruction does not translate into a clinical benefit that patients can perceive.