Possibilities to prevent acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using inhalational therapy. A Report of Expert Panel of Russian Respiratory Society

An impact of acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) on the course and the prognosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease depends on severity of the exacerbation. Moderate and severe exacerbations are considered as clinically significant events. Clinical studies investigating a role of inhalational therapy for the risk of AECOPD differed significantly in important parameters and the patients involved were not fully described in the real clinical practice. Tiotropium alone did not demonstrate any benefit over other inhalational therapies, such as inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting β2-agonist (ICS/LABA) combinations and long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA)/LABA combinations, for risk reduction of moderate to severe exacerbations. A benefit of tiotropium/olodaterol combination over tiotropium for the reduction of risk of clinically significant exacerbations was first shown in DYNAGITO study; patients’ groups in this study did not differ in a rate and a spectrum of adverse events including cardiovascular events. An efficient bronchodilating therapy should be administered to all patients with COPD as it could improve dyspnea and prevent exacerbations. Further escalation of treatment in patients with frequent exacerbations of COPD should be personalized according to clinical course and causes of AECOPD.