Budesonide/formoterol as effective as prednisolone plus formoterol in acute exacerbations of COPD A double-blind randomised non-inferiority parallel-group multicentre study

摘要

BackgroundOral corticosteroids and inhaled bronchodilators with or without antibiotics represent standard treatment of COPD exacerbations of moderate severity. Frequent courses of oral steroids may be a safety issue. We wanted to evaluate in an out-patient setting whether a 2-week course of inhaled budesonide/formoterol would be equally effective for treatment of acute COPD exacerbations as standard therapy in patients judged by the investigator not to require hospitalisation.