A Canadian study to determine which inhaler regimen would best prevent a bout of worsening symptoms in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) found that there was not much difference between the patient groups.
Although the combination of Advair and Spiriva improved quality of life and lung function, it did not affect the number of exacerbations in patients with moderate or severe COPD.
The proportion of patients who had exacerbations was 63% in the group given Spiriva plus placebo, 65% in the group given Spiriva plus Serevent, another Glaxo drug, and 60% in the group given Spiriva plus Advair. The trial involved 449 adults with COPD.