Early initiation of bronchodilators may delay first COPD exacerbation

A new study published in BMC Journal of Respiratory Research shows that initiation of long-acting bronchodilators within 30 days of the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) provided favorable outcomes..

It is uncertain if early therapy beginning with inhaled long-acting bronchodilators reduces exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease better than delayed treatment commencement. In order to determine if initiating long-acting bronchodilator medication within 30 days of a COPD diagnosis lowers the likelihood of exacerbations in COPD patients, Hideyasu Yamada undertook this study.

Based on data from claims and electronic medical records that were retrieved from the Real World Data database, this study was a retrospective cohort study of COPD patients. The first verified inpatient or outpatient diagnosis of COPD between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2018, was the index date. Participants who had COPD without a diagnosis of asthma and were under 40 years old at the index date were included. Patients were divided into two groups: "rapid therapy" patients who began inhaling long-acting bronchodilator medication within the first 30 days, and "delayed therapy" patients who did not. Both the entire population and those stratified by COPD phenotype, including chronic bronchitis (CB) and emphysema, were studied for the period of time from day 30 post-diagnosis to the initial exacerbation and the annual exacerbation rate (AER).