Sequential comparison of tiotropium to high-dose ipratropium in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a practice setting.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of changing anticholinergic therapy in patients with COPD from ipratropium to tiotropium on pulmonary function.


METHODS
We examined records of patients prescribed high-dose ipratropium, who were subsequently converted to tiotropium. Spirometric values were obtained within 2 days of the change in medication and after 56 to 224 days of the switch to tiotropium.


RESULTS
15 subjects were documented to have filled a prescription for ipratropium-containing medications the month prior to the change. Medication compliance over the 6 months prior to the switch in these patients was 72% +/- 31% (mean +/- SD) for ipratropium compared to 87% +/- 14% for tiotropium over the 6-month period after the switch (P = 0.1). FEV(1) improved from 1.12 +/- 0.39 L at baseline to 1.37 +/- 0.49 L after the change to tiotropium (P = 0.01). FVC also improved from 2.45 +/- 0.73 L at baseline to 2.72 +/- 0.69 L after the change (P = 0.04). Maximal voluntary ventilation was also increased from 39.67 +/- 10.7 L/min to 45.13 +/- 15.8 L/min (P = 0.045).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that replacing high-dose ipratropium with tiotropium therapy significantly improves pulmonary function in a clinical setting.
Gauhar
Umair
U
Pulmonary Section, Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Medicine University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
Dransfield
Mark
M
Cooper
J Allen D
JA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009241:Ipratropium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013147:Spirometry; D000069447:Tiotropium Bromide
D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives; D009241:Ipratropium; D000069447:Tiotropium Bromide