Effect of fluticasone furoate (FF)/vilanterol (VI) compared with VI on acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD): A post-hoc analysis by baseline airflow obstruction

Rationale: FF/VI reduces the annual rate of moderate/severe AECOPD compared with VI (Dransfield M. et al. Lancet Resp Med 2013;1:210-23). A post hoc analysis determined the relative influence of airflow obstruction on the effect of 3 strengths of FF/VI (50/25, 100/25, 200/25mcg) on the annual rate of moderate/severe AECOPD compared with VI 25mcg. Methods: Two replicate 1-year studies HZC102871 (NCT01009463) and HZC102970 (NCT01017952) recruited patients with ≥1 moderate/severe AECOPD in the year prior to enrolment and a heterogeneous severity of airflow obstruction (FEV 1 ≤70% predicted). Pooled study data are presented for subgroups defined by their baseline airflow obstruction (FEV 1 ≥50%, 30%≤FEV 1 1 Results: Compared with VI, FF/VI 100/25 demonstrated a higher percent reduction in exacerbations with increasing airflow limitation. Conclusion: Patients treated with FF/VI 100/25 in the FEV 1 ≥50% group had similar reductions in exacerbations compared with the 30%≤FEV 1