The effects of inhaled steroids on health related quality of life, exercise capacity and pulmonary functions in copd patients

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized as totally non-recovered airflow limitation, and bronchodilators has been considerably engaged for its treatment.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of adding inhaled steroids to the current bronchodilator treatment on the pulmonary function tests, health-related quality of life and exercise capacity of patients with COPD.Forty study subjects with COPD (stage III or stage IV according to the GOLD guidelines) were randomized to two groups. The first group was treated with 1x1 18 mcg of Tiotropium and the second group was treated with the combination of tiotropium (18 mcg 1x1) and miflonide (400 mcg 2x1) for three months. Pulmonary function tests, six minute walk test, fat free mass, body mass index and Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) scores were recorded both at the beginning and 3 months later.At the end of the study, no statistically significant differences were obtained between two groups in terms of pulmonary function tests (p>0.05). Significant improvements were observed on the parametres of walking distance (p=0.018) and SGRQ scores (symptom scores p=0.009, total, activity and impact scores p = 0.001) in Group 2 when compared with Group 1.In conclusion, addıng inhaled steroids to the current bronchodilator treatment was related to an improved health-related quality of life and exercise performance but has no significant effect on the pulmonary functions.Key words: COPD, pulmonary function tests, tiotropium, budesonide, SGRQ