Efficacy of salmeterol xinafoate in the treatment of COPD.
STUDY OBJECTIVES
To examine and compare the efficacy and safety of salmeterol xinafoate, a long-acting inhaled beta2-adrenergic agonist, with inhaled ipratropium bromide and inhaled placebo in patients with COPD.


DESIGN
A stratified, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled, parallel group clinical trial.


SETTING
Multiple sites at clinics and university medical centers throughout the United States.


PATIENTS
Four hundred eleven symptomatic patients with COPD with FEV1 < or = 65% predicted and no clinically significant concurrent disease.


INTERVENTIONS
Comparison of inhaled salmeterol (42 microg twice daily), inhaled ipratropium bromide (36 microg four times a day), and inhaled placebo (2 puffs four times a day) over 12 weeks.


RESULTS
Salmeterol xinafoate was significantly (p < 0.0001) better than placebo and ipratropium in improving lung function at the recommended doses over the 12-week trial. Both salmeterol and ipratropium reduced dyspnea related to activities of daily living compared with placebo; this improvement was associated with reduced use of supplemental albuterol. Analyses of time to first COPD exacerbation revealed salmeterol to be superior to placebo and ipratropium (p < 0.05). Adverse effects were similar among the three treatments.


CONCLUSIONS
These collective data support the use of salmeterol as first-line bronchodilator therapy for the long-term treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with COPD.