Inhaled long-acting beta-agonists versus anticholinergics in older patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

摘要

TO THE EDITOR: Gershon and colleagues (1) describe an increase in death and hospitalizations in patients aged 66 years or older with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who fill a first prescription for the long-acting anticholinergic tiotropium bromide compared with patients who do so for a long-acting beta-agonist. These results were based on information from health administrative databases in Ontario, Canada, and contrast with the authors' previous findings (2).