Inhaled Anticholinergics and Risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients With COPD
November 11, 2008
Spiriva Safety US Press Release
“Inhaled anticholinergic medications have been an important agent in COPD care for many years. All available guidelines stress the importance of maintenance therapy in COPD patients with moderate, severe, or very severe disease. Inhaled Tiotropium, a long acting inhaled anticholinergic agent has been a mainstay of COPD care. The meta-analysis published in JAMA on September 24th raises concerns over cardiovascular risks. However meta-analysis of aggregated published data does have limitations and it must be stressed that COPD itself has been defined as a cardiovascular risk factor. UPLIFT, one of the largest trials ever done in COPD has recently been completed. While the results of this very large study will not be available until next month, the UPLIFT safety data released today report no increased cardiovascular risk.
The COPD Foundation would suggest caution in potentially over-reacting to the JAMA study. COPD is almost always a preventable and treatable disease. Available data continues to suggest that Tiotropium is an important component of that therapy. We await with interest and hope the full results of UPLIFT.”
By Dr. Byron Thomashow, Chairman of the COPD Foundation Board of Directors