Effects of tiotropium on pulmonary function in patients with mild to moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective To evaluate the effect of tiotropium on pulmonary function in patients with mild to moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).Methods Eighty mild to moderate COPD patients were divided into tiotropium group and control group with 40 cases in each group,the treatment period was 12 weeks.Patients in both groups after one week washout period,patients inhaled cleaning 0.9％ sodium chloride.Two to 12 weeks of treatment period,patients in tiotropium group were given tiotropium bromide inhalation powder capsules (18 μ g/grain),administered morning a daily times; patients in control group continued inhalation of 0.9％ sodium chloride.The pulmonary function was assessed before treatment and on 6 and 12 weeks after treatment.Results After successive 12 weeks' treatment,the pulmonary function in tiotropium group were significantly enhanced.The inspiratory capacity,forced expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity were increased (0.43 ± 0.15),(0.17 ± 0.11) and (0.41 ± 0.14) L,respectively; significantly higher than that in control group [(0.10 ± 0.12) L,(0.01 ± 0.05) L and (0.05 ± 0.12) L],respectively; there were significant differences (P＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reaction and the occurrence rate of COPD acute attack (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The pulmonary function was signifcantly improved in patients with mild to moderate COPD treated with tiotropium 18 μ g once daily. Key words: Pulmonary disease; chronic obstructive;  Respiratory function tests;  Tiotropium