Romanian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences

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EFFICACY OF INDACATEROL, A MODERN ULTRALONG-ACTING BRONCHODILATOR, IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE

SORIN BERBECARU–IOVAN1, ANCA BERBECARU–IOVAN2*, ELENA CAMELIA STĂNCIULESCU2, IULIANA CEAUŞU3, GABRIELA RĂU2, CĂTĂLINA GABRIELA PISOSCHI2

1.Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Petru Rareş, 200349, Craiova, Romania,
2.Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Petru Rareş, 200349, Craiova, Romania,
3.Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, Dr. Ion Cantacuzino Hospital, 5-7 Ion Movilă, Bucharest, Romania

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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases among elderly population worldwide. Because of the central role of long-acting bronchodilators in the treatment of COPD, the interest of researchers for the development of new bronchodilators agents administered in a single dose is increasing in order to simplify the regimen for patients with moderate to severe COPD and to improve patient adherence to treatment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of modern bronchodilators in once-daily administration on pulmonary function tests, dyspnoea scale, BODE index and the need to use rescue medication in elderly patients with COPD. The study was performed on patients aged over 65 years old previously diagnosed with moderate and severe COPD having a baseline medication with tiotropium, combination of budesonide and formoterol or combination fluticasone and salmeterol. After a baseline evaluation of the parameters mentioned above, the patients were divided into three groups. Patients already receiving tiotropium became the control group ant the others were randomly divided into two groups: one receiving treatment with indacaterol and the other new treatment with tiotropium. All the patients were reassessed after 60 days. We noticed an improvement of all parameters selected in patients who received indacaterol and tiotropium: a significant difference between baseline and final values of forces expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), report between forced expiratory volume and forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC), and peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2) and also a significant decrease of the BODE (Body mass index, airflow Obstruction, Dyspnoea and Exercise capacity) index score and the number of daily rescue medication use at the end of the study.