title: Limited generalisability of UPLIFT findings to clinical practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The findings of the Understanding Potential Long-term Impacts on Function with Tiotropium (UPLIFT) study may be poorly generalisable to tiotropium use in clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  An audit of 226 patients admitted to Wellington Hospital with a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation determined the proportion of patients prescribed tiotropium on discharge that would have been ineligible for inclusion in the UPLIFT study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 100 patients prescribed tiotropium, 38/100; 38% (95% CI 28.5% to 48.3%) would have been ineligible for UPLIFT at the time of the hospital discharge due to recent cardiovascular comorbidity or moderate to severe renal impairment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The UPLIFT findings have limited generalisability to over a third of patients prescribed tiotropium following a hospital admission with a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation in New Zealand.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, , Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fingleton
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weatherall
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beasley
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000069447:Tiotropium Bromide
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives; D000069447:Tiotropium Bromide
keywords: COPD Pharmacology