Inhaled anticholinergics and the long-term treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Weighing benefits and risks.
A meta-analysis recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found an increased risk of nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular death associated with inhaled anticholinergic use in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); however, inherent limitations in the meta-analysis and contradictory results from other studies cast uncertainty onto its conclusions. For example, the Understanding Potential Long-term Impacts on Function with Tiotropium trial, a large, prospective, 4-year outcome study in nearly 6000 patients with COPD, did not demonstrate an increase in cardiovascular events with anticholinergic therapy. Until more data are available, clinicians should always carefully weigh safety and efficacy data and help patients make informed decisions about their COPD care.
Alpha One Antitrypsin Deficiency Clinical Resource Center, Pulmonary Rehabilitation, and Advanced Bronchoscopy Unit, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA. dhogarth@uchicago.edu
D Kyle
DK
Hogarth
Terry A
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Jacobson
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018570:Risk Assessment
D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists