The last 5 years have seen a proliferation of data about the best way to treat chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). New long-acting inhaled β-agonist and antimuscarinic
drugs have been developed as a once-daily inhaled corticosteroid. Studies have tested
whether these agents are safe and effective alone or in combination. Alternative strategies
to treatment including phosphodiesterase-4 inhibition and long-term antibiotic treatment
have become reasonable alternatives to more established approaches, at least in terms
of preventing COPD exacerbations. New data are beginning to define which patients
benefit from which treatments and this will help us develop more appropriate treatment
regimes. These topics are considered in this review which provides an overview of
the latest data and some direction as to how these findings can be applied in practice.
Keywords
bronchodilator - long-acting β-agonist - long-acting antimuscarinic - inhaled corticosteroids
- combination therapy - phosphodiesterase-4 inhibition - long-term antibiotics
