INGELHEIM--28 Aug--PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ Infoquest
- New UPLIFT(R) Analysis Shows Tiotropium Significantly Improves Lung Function and Quality of Life in COPD Patients With Early Stage Disease
- Not for US Media
A new analysis of the landmark UPLIFT(R) trial, published today in the Lancet, shows that tiotropium (SPIRIVA(R) Handihaler(R) 18 micro g) administered to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients with moderate disease severity (GOLD - Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease - Stage II) produced significant and sustained improvements in lung function for up to 4 years.[1] This pre-specified subgroup analysis involved 2,739 patients - the largest group of early stage COPD patients treated with a long-acting anticholinergic in a randomised, placebo-controlled study.
The new UPLIFT(R) analysis shows that in patients with GOLD Stage II COPD, tiotropium may slow the progression of COPD as measured by the rate of decline in lung function. Tiotropium reduced the rate of decline in postbronchodilator FEV1* over 4 years compared with control** (43 mL per year vs. 49 mL per year; p=0.024). The rate of decline in prebronchodilator FEV1* was similar between the groups.
Improvements in pre- and postbronchodilator FEV1* were maintained vs. control throughout the trial (101-119 mL and 52-82 mL respectively; p