LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF INHALED ANTICHOLINERGIC DRUG ON LUNG-FUNCTION, DYSPNEA, AND EXERCISE CAPACITY IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY-DISEASE

To investigate the long-term effects of the inhaled anticholinergic br onchodilator, oxitropium bromide (OTB), on lung function, exercise cap acity, and dyspnea in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary dise ase (COPD), spirometry and symptom-limited exercise testing before and 1, 6, and 12 months after the regular use of OTB (600 mu g/day) were performed in 12 patients with the use of OTB (mean age 69.9+/-3.1 year s; FEV(1)/FVC 53.3+/-1.6%) as well as in 12 control patients who were not treated with OTB (Mean age 68.8+/-2.8 years; FEV(1)/FVC 52.6+/-1.9 %), The dyspnea was evaluated by the slope of the regression line betw een Borg scale and oxygen uptake (V over dot o(2)) during exercise (Bo rg scale slope: BSS), At 1, 6, and 12 months after the start of OTB, t he forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)) and the exercise ca pacity (maximal V over dot o(2)) were greater than the pretreatment va lues and the dyspnea index (BSS) was significantly improved compared w ith the pretreatment value, while these parameters slightly worsened i n the control patients over one gear, In conclusion, the chronic use o f an inhaled anticholinergic bronchodilator may provide beneficial imp rovements in expiratory flow rate, exercise performance, and dyspnea i n mild to moderate COPD patients over one year.