Roflumilast reduces exacerbation risk for patients with severe COPD, history of hospitalization

Use of roflumilast by patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may reduce the risk for exacerbations that lead to hospitalization or re-hospitalization, according to study results presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress in Amsterdam.

The reduction was higher among patients with no prior hospitalization, Fernando J. Martinez, MD, MS, and colleagues found.

Martinez and colleagues analyzed patients from the REACT study with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic bronchitis who had at least two exacerbations within the last year.

Study participants received 500 µg roflumilast (Daliresp, AstraZeneca) or placebo once per day in addition to ICS/LABA +/- LAMA therapy for 1 year. The researchers used a negative binomial regression analysis to calculate the risk for exacerbations for patients with or without a history of hospitalization.

Of the 1,935 patients in the study, 641 had a history of hospitalization for COPD exacerbation. Study participants with a history of hospitalization were more likely to be current smokers; however, Martinez and colleagues noted similar features between each group.

Roflumilast significantly reduced the rate of severe exacerbations (RR = 0.65; 95% CI, 0.48-0.89) among patients with a severe risk for hospitalization. The agent also reduced the rate of severe exacerbations among patients without a history of hospitalization (RR = 0.92; 95% CI, 0.67 – 1.28). – by Jeff Craven

Reference:

Martinez FJ, et al. Presented at: European Respiratory Society International Congress; Sept. 26-30; Amsterdam.

Disclosure: Martinez reports no relevant financial disclosures.