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Commonly used inhalers ineffective, Mayo finds
Jump to full article: Saint Paul (MN) Pioneer Press, 2000-12-28
Author: Tom Majeski / who covers medical news, can be reached at tmajeski@pioneerpress.com or (651) 228-5583.
Intro: Commonly prescribed inhaled medications called corticosteroids produce very little long-term benefit for patients with a debilitating lung condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and elsewhere have found.
The discovery is important because the disease affects about 16 million Americans and kills more than 100,000 annually, making it the fourth leading cause of death in the country. Prevalence of the disease is on the rise, particularly among American women, who are smoking more.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a collective description for chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Scientists believe the disease is caused primarily by cigarette smoking, which triggers airway inflammation and a progressive decline in lung function.
In a study published in today's edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, the researchers found that corticosteroids do not inhibit the decline in lung function caused by the disease. The drugs also offer only a slight reduction in specific flare-ups and produce unwanted side effects, including slight bone loss and more instances of skin bruising.
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