PHOTO: CHRISTINE O’CONNORChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and their healthcare providers are being urged to consider the possible benefits and harmsof escalating treatment from one to two long-acting bronchodilators. While both drugs were bronchodilators used to open airways, they worked in different ways, and in some cases, patients were prescribed both. Prof Parkin said people with COPD already had a high risk of acute coronary syndrome, so it was important to identify factors that might increase that risk even further. In the study’s real-world clinical practice setting, the risk of acute coronary syndrome was more than 50% higher in patients with COPD who used two long-acting bronchodilators rather than one, she said. Co-author and respiratory physician Dr Jack Dummer said the findings were something for people to consider when weighing up the potential benefits and harms of escalating treatment from one to two bronchodilators.

Source: Otago Daily Times August 16, 2021 16:30 UTC