Tiotropium reduced exacerbations but not rate of FEV₁ decline in patients with COPD using other respiratory medications

D P Tashkin

Dr D P Tashkin, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; dtashkin@mednet.ucla.edu

STUDY DESIGN

Design:

randomised placebo-controlled trial (Understanding Potential Long-Term Impacts on Function with Tiotropium [UPLIFT]). ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00144339.

Allocation concealment:

concealed.*

Blinding:

blinded (clinicians, patients, data collectors, and outcome adjudication committee).*

STUDY QUESTION

Setting:

490 centres in 37 countries worldwide.

Patients:

5993 patients ⩾40 years of age (mean age 65 y, 75% men) who had COPD, a history of ⩾10 pack-years of smoking, and postbronchodilation FEV₁ ⩽70% of predicted and ⩽70% of FVC. Exclusion criteria included a history of asthma …