| Title | Insights into interventions in managing COPD patients: lessons from the TORCH and UPLIFT studies. | | Author(s) | Miravitlles M, Anzueto A | | Institution | Fundació Clínic, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain; | | Source | Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis 2009; 4(1):185-201. | | Abstract | Influencing the progression of COPD has long been an elusive goal of drug therapy. Directly or indirectly, this has again been investigated in two of the largest, long-term drug trials in COPD: Towards a Revolution in COPD Health (TORCH) and Understanding Potential Long-Term Impacts on Function with Tiotropium (UPLIFT((R))). Neither trial achieved statistical significance in their respective primary outcomes; however, both make considerable contributions to understanding of how the progression of COPD may be influenced. The objective of this article is to review the data from these different trials with a view to what can be learnt about the management of COPD. The long-term improvements in lung function, health-related quality of life, and possibly survival from the use of long-acting bronchodilators in these trials suggest an influence on progression of the disease. With the more optimistic view of benefits from drug treatment of COPD that these trials provide, a review of prescribing practices is warranted. | | Language | eng | | Pub Type(s) | Journal Article
| | PubMed ID | 19516917 |
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