Follow-up interviews from The Salford Lung Study (COPD) and analyses per treatment and exacerbations

摘要

The Salford Lung Study in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (SLS COPD) was a 12-month, Phase III, open-label, randomised study comparing the effectiveness and safety of initiating once-daily fluticasone furoate 100?μg/vilanterol 25?μg (FF/VI) with continuing usual care (UC). Follow-up interviews were conducted among a subset of 400 patients who completed SLS COPD to further understand patients’ experiences with treatment outcomes and the impact of COPD, and potential risk factors associated with higher rates of exacerbations during SLS COPD. Another objective was to explore how such patient-centred outcomes differed by randomised treatment. Patients’ perceived control over COPD and effects on quality of life (QoL) were similar between treatment groups at the time of the follow-up interview, but more patients in the FF/VI group compared with UC reported perceived improvements in COPD control and QoL during the study. Of patients who experienced ≥2 exacerbations during SLS COPD, a greater percentage were women, were unemployed or homemakers, or were on long-term sick leave. Having ≥2 exacerbations also appeared to be associated with smoking, seeing a hospital specialist, a feeling of having no/little control over COPD, perceived worsening of feelings of control and reduced overall QoL since the start of the study, being aware of impending exacerbation occurrence and a more severe last exacerbation. Initiation of FF/VI was associated with a greater perceived improvement in patients’ control of their COPD and QoL throughout SLS COPD than continuation of UC. Suggestions that smoking status and feelings of control are potentially related to exacerbation require further investigation. Chronic lung disease: examining patient perceptions after trial The Salford Lung Study was a 12-month trial during which patients were either given the drug fluticasone furoate/vilanterol (FF/VI) in addition to existing treatment or continued their usual medication. Henrik Svedsater at GlaxoSmithKline plc. UK and co-workers conducted follow-up interviews with 400 study participants to examine patient perceptions of trial outcomes, COPD management and disease treatments. Throughout the drug trial, patients given FF/VI were convinced that their control of COPD and quality of life improved. During the follow-up interviews both groups had similar perceptions of these two elements, but perceived improvement in COPD control was generally greater with FF/VI. Many participants felt that suffering multiple exacerbations was linked primarily to smoking and perceived worsening of control; this warrants further investigation.