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Indacaterol, an investigational long-acting beta2-agonist, showed benefits over both placebo and salmeterol (Serevent) for moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a randomized trial, researchers reported here.
Through 26 weeks, the drug significantly improved bronchodilation, health status, and dyspnea over both control arms, although the benefits reached clinical importance over the placebo group only, according to Oliver Kornmann, MD, of Mainz University Hospital in Germany.
Indacaterol "shows a trend toward improvement over salmeterol," he reported at the American College of Chest Physicians meeting.
Action Points
* Explain to interested patients that indacaterol has not been approved in either the U.S. or Europe.
* Note that this study was published as an abstract and presented at a conference. These data and conclusions should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
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New study results showed that 42.3 percent of smokers with mild-to-moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who took CHANTIX/CHAMPIX® (varenicline) were able to quit smoking and remain abstinent during the last four weeks of treatment (weeks 9-12) compared with 8.8 percent of those given placebo (p<0.0001). These findings were presented by investigators at CHEST 2009, the 75th annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP).
"Quitting smoking is of paramount importance for all smokers, particularly those with a smoking-related illness, such as COPD," said Dr. Donald Tashkin, study investigator, emeritus professor of medicine at University of California, Los Angeles. "This study shows that varenicline is an effective means of smoking cessation for a highly nicotine-dependent, difficult-to-treat group of patients. The safety profile of varenicline in this study was consistent with its pre-approval clinical trials."
Up to one-half of all people who smoke may eventually develop COPD,
Much as it aided the general population of smokers, varenicline (Chantix) helped patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) quit too, a randomized trial showed.
From weeks nine to 12 of treatment, 42.3% of those taking varenicline remained abstinent, compared with 8.8% of those taking placebo (P<0.001), Donald Tashkin, MD, of the University of California Los Angeles, reported at the American College of Chest Physicians meeting here.
Also, a significantly greater number of patients taking varenicline remained abstinent from weeks nine through 52 (18.6% versus 5.6%, P<0.001), a secondary endpoint.
The magnitude of these benefits is similar to those observed in the pivotal trials of varenicline used in the FDA approval process, Tashkin said.
* Explain to interested patients that varenicline is one of two smoking-cessation medications recommended as first-line treatment for helping patients quit.
* Explain that this study showed that patients with COPD who smoked derived the same benefits from varenicline -- with similar side effects -- as the general population of smokers.
* Explain to interested patients that this analysis fails to support suggestions that women may respond differently to COPD treatment.
SAN DIEGO -- Men and women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) derive comparable benefits from treatment with tiotropium (Spiriva), researchers found.
A secondary analysis of a large clinical trial found improvements of similar magnitude in lung function, exacerbations, and health-related quality of life in both genders, according to Donald Tashkin, MD, of the University of California Los Angeles.
Realtors use a phrase to describe their key to success: location, location, location. Similarly, your doctor will offer a three-dose prescription for COPD relief: quit smoking, quit smoking, quit smoking.
While a small number of cases of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) can be attributed to a rare genetic enzyme deficiency, the majority of the 16 million Americans suffering breath-restricting COPD can directly link their condition to tobacco use.
Smoking damages your lungs irreversibly. But for people with moderate symptoms of COPD, there have been some recent advances in medication and symptom control that can significantly improve their quality of life.
A survey by the Australian Lung Foundation found 46 per cent of Queenslanders aged over 35 admit to being smokers, or to having been smokers in the past.
Dr Kwun Fong from Brisbane's Prince Charles Hospital says 600,000 cases of lung disease were reported in Queensland between 2007 and 2008.
He says smoking is one of the most common causes.
COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
This 10-week study is for people aged 40 to 80 who have been diagnosed with COPD.
The research site is in Phoenix, Ariz.
More information
Please see http://www.clinicalconnection.com/clinical_trials/condition/copd.aspx.
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Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
This study is for people who have chronic stable heart failure and have an ejection fraction of less than 40 percent. Participants will have an echocardiogram and will be asked to stay overnight. Compensation for time and travel is available up to $2,750 if you qualify.
The research site is in Tustin, Calif.
Please see http://www.clinicalconnection.com/clinical_trials/condition/heart_failure.aspx.
Conclusions: Smoking during pregnancy, place of residence, Inuit race, lack of breast-feeding, and overcrowding were all independently associated with increased risk of hospital admission for LRTI among Inuit children less than 2 years of age. Future research on the role of adoption and genetics on the health of Inuit children are required.
* Explain to interested patients that no additional benefits were seen when inhaled corticosteroids were added to beta-agonist therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
* Also tell them that the combination therapy was associated with increased risk of pneumonia and other adverse events.
Inhaled corticosteroids did not improve the efficacy of long-acting beta agonist therapy among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a systematic review has found.
The combination treatment failed to significantly decrease the number of severe COPD exacerbations (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.82 to 1.01) or all-cause mortality (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.06), according to Gustavo J. Rodrigo, MD, of the Hospital Central de las Fuerzas Armadas in Montevideo, Uruguay, and colleagues.
The effects of exposure to secondhand smoke in childhood may persist for decades, a researcher said here.
In a large cohort of nonsmokers, early signs of emphysema were noticeable on CT scans among those who had lived with one or more smokers in childhood, according to Gina Lovasi, Ph.D., of Columbia University.
Those signs -- a significant increase in the number of "air-like spaces" -- were not accompanied by any clinical symptoms, Dr. Lovasi said at the annual meeting of the American Thoracic Society.
"We do see a difference" in the structure of the lung, Dr. Lovasi told reporters, "but it's important to note that we didn't see a difference in lung function."
The aim of this study was to rank order the effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients.
We searched 10 databases to identify randomised trials of smoking cessation counselling (SCC) with or without pharmacotherapy or nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). We conducted a network meta-analysis using logistic regression analyses to assess the comparative effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions while preserving randomisation of each trial. . . .
A small body of evidence suggests that SCC combined with NRT is more effective than other combinations and single smoking cessation treatments in COPD, but substantially more research is needed for this most important COPD treatment.
We examined potential associations of ever asthma, and symptoms of wheeze (past 12 months), hay fever, eczema and bronchitis (cough with phlegm) among school children exposed to second-hand smoke (SHS) in cars, using a modified Irish International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) protocol. . . .
Approximately one in seven Irish schoolchildren are exposed to SHS in cars and could have adverse respiratory health effects. Further studies are imperative to explore such associations across different population settings.
Children who are regularly exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke when traveling by car have significantly higher rates of hayfever and wheezing than those without such exposure, results of an Irish study show.
Writing in the European Respiratory Journal, Luke Clancy, from the Tobacco Free Research Institute in Dublin, and team explain: “Children may be more vulnerable to second-hand smoke-induced respiratory diseases due to smaller airways and greater oxygen demand, as well as a less-mature immune system.”
But they add that “there is no evidence quantifying second-hand smoke-induced respiratory health effects in children exposed to second-hand smoke in cars.”
To address this, the team studied 2809 children, aged 13–14 years, selected randomly from schools throughout Ireland.
An advocacy group wants Kansas to ban smoking at its new casinos.
Smoke-Free Gaming, based in the Denver area, argues Kansas will violate the federal Americans with Disabilities Act if it allows customers to light up inside.
It says the state will be responsible for denying full access to individuals with lung and breathing problems because its lottery is legal owner of the new gambling in three planned casinos.