Stopping long-acting inhalers for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can lead to a sharp rise in flare-ups for around 3 months, a new study supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) has revealed.
This research by The University of Manchester and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) scientists is the first of its kind to show people who stop using a prescribed treatment for COPD are at significantly higher risk of exacerbations than expected for their disease.
COPD is the name for a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. COPD is a common condition, affecting about 1 in 20 people aged over 40 in England, and is a major cause of death and disability.
People with COPD often experience ‘exacerbations’ – sudden flare-ups of breathlessness and coughing that make their condition much worse. These exacerbations are a leading cause of emergency hospital admissions.
Treatment for COPD can help slow the progression of the condition, control symptoms and prevent flare-ups. This includes taking inhalers which deliver medicine into the lungs to help make breathing easier.
Study lead Dr Alexander Mathioudakis, researcher in the NIHR Manchester BRC’s Respiratory Theme and a Senior Clinical Lecturer at The University of Manchester, said: “Many people with COPD use inhalers every day, but some only use them for a short time and then stop. They may feel better and think they no longer need them, they may struggle to afford them if they are not free of charge, or they may simply forget to use them. Overall, scientists estimate that around half of all prescribed doses are missed.”
In this new study, Manchester researchers analysed data from the 2013-2016 FLAME trial, a large international research project sponsored by Novartis which investigated how patients respond to different COPD treatments. Novartis shared these trial data as per standard data sharing practices with the independent research team in Manchester to answer additional research questions beyond the original study.
The FLAME trial compared 2 types of combination inhalers in more than 3,300 participants with COPD – these are effective treatments used to open up the airways and reduce inflammation in COPD.
“The University of Manchester is a public research university in Manchester, England. The main campus is south of Manchester City Centre on Oxford Road.”
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