Dual bronchodilation with tiotropium/olodaterol further reduces activity-related breathlessness versus tiotropium alone in COPD

The 3-minute constant speed shuttle test (3-min CSST) was used to examine the effect of tiotropium/olodaterol compared with tiotropium at reducing activity-related breathlessness in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This was a randomised, double-blind, two-period crossover study including COPD patients with moderate to severe pulmonary impairment, lung hyperinflation at rest and a Mahler Baseline Dyspnoea Index After 6 weeks, there was a decrease in the intensity of breathlessness at the end of the 3-min CSST from baseline with both tiotropium (mean –0.968; 95% confidence interval [CI] −1.238 to −0.698; n=100) and tiotropium/olodaterol (mean −1.325; 95% CI −1.594 to −1.056; n=101). The decrease in breathlessness was statistically significantly greater with tiotropium/olodaterol versus tiotropium (treatment difference −0.357; 95% CI −0.661 to −0.053) (p=0.0217). Tiotropium/olodaterol reduced activity-related breathlessness more than tiotropium in dyspnoeic patients with moderate to severe COPD exhibiting lung hyperinflation.