Minor added benefit of indacaterol/glycopyrronium in COPD
Adults with COPD of moderate or severe severity grade with no more than 2 flare-ups per year have fewer breathing difficulties when treated with the drug combination. According to the findings, the drug combination is better at relieving breathing difficulties (dyspnoea) than a combination treatment with tiotropium and formoterol. However, this only applies to patients who do not yet need inhaled corticosteroids because they have no more than 2 acute flare-ups (exacerbations) per year. Furthermore, there is an indication that the severity of the disease may influence the treatment result, and hence is a so-called "effect modifier." Hence overall, there is only a hint of a minor added benefit for patients with COPD grade 2. In contrast, there is an indication of a minor added benefit for patients with COPD grade 3 and no more than 2 exacerbations per year.