title: Efficacy and safety of formoterol in Japanese patients with COPD.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of the formoterol Turbuhaler at dosages of 4.5, 9 and 18 microg bid compared with placebo in Japanese patients with COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study, 36 patients with a pre-bronchodilator FEV(1) value within 40 to 70% of the predicted value were randomized to receive formoterol at doses of 4.5, 9, and 18 microg bid, and placebo, for 1 week in a crossover fashion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The primary outcome variable, one hour post-dose FEV(1) on the last day of the one week treatment period, was significantly higher for all formoterol dosages compared with placebo (p<0.001 for all doses); adjusted g-means for formoterol 4.5, 9 and 18 microg bid, and placebo, were 1.510 L, 1.491 L, 1.520 L and 1.342 L, respectively. All three dosages of formoterol also provided significantly better improvements than placebo in the secondary variables FVC, inspiratory capacity (IC) and morning and evening PEF. Results for IC and PEF indicated a trend towards a larger improvement at higher dosages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with formoterol at dosages of 4.5, 9 and 18 microg bid showed significantly superior effects to placebo on FEV(1) in Japanese patients with COPD. The results for some of the secondary variables (IC and PEF) indicated a trend towards larger improvements at higher dosages. All dosages of formoterol were well tolerated in Japanese patients.
authors.affiliation: The Third Department of Internal Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan. masakazu@wakayama-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Minakata
authors.forename: Hideya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iijima
authors.forename: Tsuneyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Motohiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: Hiromasa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Takeharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koga
authors.forename: Masaharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuda
authors.forename: Hisamichi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aizawa
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ichinose
mesh_terms: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D004983:Ethanolamines; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate