Inhaled Therapies for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality that affects people all over the world. Although inhaled medications, such as bronchodilators and corticosteroids, are crucial for managing COPD, there is still much to learn about how successful they are in comparison.

Methods: 500 COPD patients were enrolled in this prospective cohort trial, and they were split into two groups: Group A received bronchodilators, while Group B received corticosteroids. Over the course of a year, safety profiles, exacerbation rates, symptom management scores, demographic data, and lung function tests were evaluated. Suitable tests were used in the statistical analysis.

Results: Group A (Bronchodilators) showed a significant reduction in the annual exacerbation rate, symptom control, and lung function (FEV1: +150 mL, CAT score improvement: 7 points, mMRC score improvement: 0.6). Exacerbation rates were lower in Group B (Corticosteroids), but improvements in lung function and symptom management were less pronounced. Concerns about safety and a greater incidence of pneumonia (12%) were linked to corticosteroids.

Conclusion: The study emphasizes the demand for customized COPD treatment programs. While corticosteroids efficiently reduce exacerbations but are linked to safety issues, bronchodilators excel in improving lung function and symptom control. Treatment still needs to be tailored to the clinical features of the patient. To improve the management of COPD, future research should examine combination medicines and prediction biomarkers. In the end, this study offers insightful information to improve patient care and quality of life in the management of COPD