Effect of tiotropium and olodaterol on symptoms and patient-reported outcomes in patients with COPD: results from four randomised, double-blind studies.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Trials of maintenance chronic obstructive pulmonary disease treatments focus on improvement in lung function and reductions in exacerbations, while patients are much more concerned about symptoms and health status. Our aim was to investigate the effects of tiotropium + olodaterol on patient-reported health outcomes, breathlessness and night-time rescue medication use in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, compared to placebo, tiotropium or olodaterol monotherapy. Two pairs of replicate, phase III studies of 12 (OTEMTO 1 + 2) and 52 weeks' (TONADO 1 + 2) duration were evaluated, in which patients received either tiotropium + olodaterol 2.5/5 or 5/5 μg, tiotropium 2.5 or 5 μg, olodaterol 5 μg or placebo, all delivered once daily via Respimat inhaler. Patient-reported outcomes included breathlessness assessed by transition dyspnoea index focal score, health status assessed by St George's Respiratory Questionnaire total score and night-time rescue medication use at 12 or 24 weeks. Outcomes from the pooled study data are reported. Overall, 1621 and 5162 patients were treated in the OTEMTO and TONADO trials, respectively. Significantly larger improvements in St George's Respiratory Questionnaire and transition dyspnoea index focal scores were observed and a greater proportion of patients were responders to therapy (based on minimum clinically important differences in St George's Respiratory Questionnaire and transition dyspnoea index) with tiotropium + olodaterol compared to either monotherapy or to placebo. Tiotropium + olodaterol 5/5 µg significantly reduced night-time rescue medication usage. CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE: COMBINED INHALER PROVES EFFECTIVE: Results from four in-depth studies show that a combined inhaler is very effective for treatment of moderate to severe chronic lung disease. Alleviating the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), particularly sleep disturbance, is crucial to enhancing patients' quality of life. Gary Ferguson at the Pulmonary Research Institute of Southeast Michigan, together with other scientists across the USA and Germany, analysed data from four large-scale studies to evaluate the efficacy of STIOLTO Respimat, a combination of two bronchodilators-tiotropium, and olodaterol, which tackle airway obstruction and breathlessness, improving long-term lung function. They found that the new drug combination triggered significant improvements in patients' quality of life and levels of breathlessness. Use of night-time rescue medication in patients on STIOLTO Respimat was considerably reduced. A greater number of patients responded positively to the combined inhaler than to monotherapy.