Possible protection by inhaled budesonide against ischaemic cardiac events in mild COPD

• Published in: The European respiratory journal Vol. 29; no. 6; pp. 1115 - 1119
• Main Authors: Lofdahl, C-G, Postma, D. S, Pride, N. B, Boe, J, Thoren, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Leeds Eur Respiratory Soc 01-06-2007; Maney
• Subjects: Administration, Inhalation; Adrenal Cortex Hormones - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Bronchodilator Agents - pharmacology; budesonide; Budesonide - pharmacology; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma; Clinical Medicine; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; events; Female; Humans; Inhalation; ischaemic cardiac; Ischemia - drug therapy; Ischemia - pathology; Ischemia - prevention & control; Klinisk medicin; Lungmedicin och allergi; Male; Medical and Health Sciences; Medical sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Placebos; Pneumology; Prognosis; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - drug therapy; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - epidemiology; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Respiratory Medicine and Allergy; Smoking; Lung disease; Budesonide; Respiratory disease; Chronic disease; Cardiovascular disease; Inhalation; Chronic; Ischemia; ischaemic cardiac events; Bronchus disease; Obstructive pulmonary disease; Protection; Pneumology; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• ISSN: 0903-1936; 1399-3003; 1399-3003
• DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00128806

Epidemiological studies have indicated that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be associated with an increased incidence of ischaemic cardiac events. The current authors performed a post hoc analysis of the European Respiratory Society's study on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (EUROSCOP); a 3-yr, placebo-controlled study of an inhaled corticosteroid budesonide 800 microg.day(-1) in smokers (mean age 52 yrs) with mild COPD. The current study evaluates whether long-term budesonide treatment attenuates the incidence of ischaemic cardiac events, including angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, coronary artery disorder and myocardial ischaemia. Among the 1,175 patients evaluated for safety, 49 (4.2%) patients experienced 60 ischaemic cardiac events. Patients treated with budesonide had a significantly lower incidence of ischaemic cardiac events (18 out of 593; 3.0%) than those receiving placebo (31 out of 582; 5.3%). The results of the present study support the hypothesis that treatment with inhaled budesonide reduces ischaemic cardiac events in patients with mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.