Pneumologie 2017; 71(S 01): S1-S125
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1598544
Posterbegehung – Sektion Klinische Pneumologie
COPD II – Timm Greulich/Marburg, Barbara Wagener/Ballenstedt
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Assessing COPD profiles and outcomes by dyspnoea severity

A Anzueto
1   Pulmonary/Critical Care, University of Texas Health Science Center, and South Texas Veterans Health Care System
,
PMA Calverley
2   Clinical Science Center, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool
,
RA Wise
3   Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
,
A Mueller
4   Biostatistics and Data Sciences Europe, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG
,
N Metzdorf
5   Respiratory Medicine, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG
,
D Dusser
6   Department of Pneumology, Hôpital Cochin, Université Paris Descartes
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
23 February 2017 (online)

 

Introduction:

Dyspnoea is one of the most common symptoms in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and has been associated with poor clinical outcomes.

Aims and objectives:

To investigate relationships between dyspnoea severity, baseline characteristics and outcomes in patients with COPD.

Methods:

Data from two 1-year, randomized trials (NCT00168844; NCT00168831) of tiotropium Respimat® 5 µg and placebo were pooled. This retrospective analysis assessed characteristics and outcomes of patients by Baseline Dyspnea Index score.

Results:

Of 1317 patients, 337 (26%) had mild or no dyspnoea at baseline, 743 (56%) moderate dyspnoea and 237 (18%) severe dyspnoea. Baseline demographic characteristics were similar across dyspnoea categories. However, higher levels of dyspnoea correlated with more advanced COPD (GOLD Stage), and greater use of short-acting bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids. Patients with severe dyspnoea reported more exacerbations within the past year. Increasing dyspnoea at baseline correlated with greater risk of moderate-severe (P= 0.0005) and severe (P= 0.0198) exacerbations during the study. Tiotropium reduced moderate-severe exacerbation risk and significantly improved FEV1 and FVC across all dyspnoea categories.

Conclusions:

Patients with more severe dyspnoea had more advanced COPD, and a higher risk of exacerbation. Tiotropium improved outcomes regardless of baseline dyspnoea severity.

Content already presented at ERS congress 2016