Adult cystic fibrosis patients showed improvements in lung function decline when treated with a high dosage of tiotropium bromide.
A team of researchers tested the effects of tiotropium bromide when administered for 24 months, and at a high dosage of 18 micrograms. Researchers treated adult patients with different cystic fibrosis disease severities with an 18-microgram dosage of inhaled tiotropium, taken daily. The patients’ estimated annual lung function decline is assessed through forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1).
In total, 160 adults were analyzed. Adults patents treated for 24 months with tiotropium bromide had a significantly slower decline of mean annual change of FEV1 compared to placebo controls. In patients with a FEV1 of 70% predicted or greater, long-term tiotropium bromide treatment was associated with greater improvements in annual lung function decline.
In conclusion, the results from this retrospective cohort study supported that once-daily inhalation of tiotropium at a higher dose can reduce the rates of lung function decline in a statistically significant manner. Researchers observed, however, no effect of the treatment in the mean annual change of exacerbations in adult cystic fibrosis patients.
