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Review says inhaling Spiriva increases death chances by 52% with people having COPD

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A mist inhaler with the drug Spiriva is associated with a 52 percent increased risk of death among people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a new review shows.

The mist inhaler with the soluble form of Spiriva (tiotropium) is approved in 55 countries, but is not yet approved in the United States. However, the powdered form of Spiriva is commonly used to treat COPD patients in the United States.

“Tiotropium is an inhaled drug used commonly in the treatment of COPD. Its major purpose is to reduce obstruction to airflow,” explained Dr. Mark Rosen, director of pulmonary rehabilitation at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y., and Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, N.Y.

“In the U.S., it is available only in the ‘Handihaler’ device that delivers the drug in a powder form,” said Rosen, who was not involved in the new study. “Another form of tiotropium is available in Europe, but not the U.S., in a mist using a ‘Respimat’ device.”

In the new study, researchers led by Dr. Sonal Singh, an assistant professor of general internal medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, analyzed the findings of five published studies that included a total of more than 6,500 patients. They compared the mist inhaler with Spiriva against a mist inhaler with a placebo.

Ref and Read more: http://www.valleynewslive.com/story/14923680/copd-drug-via-mist-inhaler-could-raise-death-risk

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