The Effect of Fluticasone/Salmeterol Combination on Exertional Breathlessness in Patients With Mild COPD
The Effect of Fluticasone/Salmeterol Combination on Exertional Breathlessness in Patients With Mild COPD
Even patients with milder COPD can have significant physiological abnormalities which become
 more pronounced during exercise, leading to intolerable breathing discomfort (dyspnea). While
 there is a compelling physiological rationale for the efficacy of inhaled
 corticosteroid/long-acting bronchodilator combination therapy [i.e., fluticasone
 250μg/salmeterol 50μg (FSC250/50)] in moderate to severe COPD, little information is
 available on the potential impact of this therapy in milder symptomatic disease. This study
 will be the first to explore mechanisms of dyspnea and activity limitation in milder COPD and
 will determine if there is a sound physiological rationale for the use of FSC as therapy for
 this subpopulation.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Stable mild COPD,

 -  FEV1/FVC<0.7 and FEV1>60% predicted,

 -  Activity-related dyspnea (i.e., Baseline Dyspnea Index focal score <9, MRC dyspnea
 scale >2),

 -  Cigarette smoking history ≥20 pack-years.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Presence of a significant disease other than COPD that could contribute to dyspnea and
 exercise limitation,

 -  Important contraindications to clinical exercise testing,

 -  Use of daytime oxygen,

 -  History of Asthma.