Adverse events among COPD patients treated with long-acting anticholinergics and β2-agonists in an outpatient respiratory clinic. (April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rodrigue, Claudie; Beauchesne, Marie-France; Savaria, François; Forget, Amélie; Lemière, Catherine; Larivée, Pierre; Blais, Lucie
• Is Part Of: Respiratory medicine. Volume 113(2016)
• Page Start: 65
• Page End: 73
• Publication Date: 2016-04
• Subjects: Obstructive lung disease -- COPD -- Adverse events -- Long-acting bronchodilators; AE Adverse event -- BMI Body mass index -- COPD Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease -- FEV1 Forced expiratory volume in 1 s -- FVC Forced vital capacity -- GOLD Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guidelines -- ICS Inhaled corticosteroid -- LABA Long-acting β2-agonist -- LAAC Long-acting anticholinergic -- MRC Medical Research Council -- RESP Registre de Données en Santé Respiratoire; Chest -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Chest -- Diseases -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Respiratory Tract Diseases -- Periodicals; Appareil respiratoire -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Thorax -- Maladies -- Périodiques; Appareil respiratoire -- Maladies -- Traitement -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.2
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2016.02.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-6111

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in Canada. Most patients with COPD receive long-term treatment with long-acting anticholinergics (LAAC) and/or long-acting β2-agonists (LABA). Adverse events (AEs) are also likely during long-term treatment with these medications. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of AEs in COPD patients on LAAC and LABA in a real-world setting. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of patients enrolled in the Registre de Données en Santé Pulmonaire (RESP) database, which records information on Canadian patients with asthma or COPD. COPD Patients completed a questionnaire about AEs that may be associated with LAAC and/or LABA. The prevalence of AEs and the corresponding 95% CI were calculated for three groups of patients (LAAC + LABA, LAAC alone, and LABA alone). Results: Most patients with COPD ( n = 154) were current or ex-smokers. Over 50% of patients were overweight or obese, and had an annual family income of less or equal to $42, 000. Dry mouth (55.2%, 40%, and 43.5%) and dry throat (33.6%, 26.7%, and 34.8%) occurred most of the time or always in the LAAC + LABA, LAAC, and LABA groups, respectively. Headache was reported by 17.4% of patients in the LABA group, but less than 11.2% in the other groups. Conclusion: AEs reported in this study deserve clinical attention because they may negatively affect quality of life and treatment adherence of COPD patients. Highlights: About 80% of patients treated with long-acting bronchodilators reported at least one adverse event (AE) in the last week. Overall, dry mouth and throat were the most reported AEs in the last week. Urinary retention in the last month was reported in patients treated with long-acting bronchodilators. Patients reported to have AEs that prevented them from completing a daily activity.