One Type of COPD Drug May Not Help

A new study finds that a common type of drug used for people with chronic lung disease may not help them. Researchers put together the results from 11 previous studies. The studies included 8,164 people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This condition gradually destroys the lungs. Drugs can treat symptoms, but there is no cure. In the studies, people were randomly assigned to take inhaled corticosteroid drugs or placebos. Researchers found that the drugs had only a small effect in reducing flare-ups. Even this benefit occurred only in people with the most severe illness. The study appeared in the journal Chest. HealthDay News wrote about it February 4.