Drug Doesn’t Stop Lung Decline in COPD

Tiotroprium (Spiriva) does not keep chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) from getting worse over time, a large study has found. But the drug does improve symptoms. The study included nearly 6,000 people with COPD. They were assigned to receive either tiotroprium or a placebo once a day. In four years, the disease got worse at the same rate in both groups. This was measured by the amount of air that can be exhaled in one minute. But people who got tiotropium did feel less shortness of breath. They also were less likely to end up in the hospital. The New England Journal of Medicine published the study online. HealthDay News wrote about it October 5.