Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Conditions
Keywords
COPD, Betablockers, bronchodilator, exercise capacity, methacholine challenge
Brief summary
Smoking causes both smoking related lung disease (COPD) and ischaemic heart disease. These are very common conditions and many patients have both diseases. Beta-blocker drugs are extensively used in the treatment of angina, high blood pressure and after heart attacks to decrease symptoms and prolong life. Beta-agonists are used in COPD to decrease breathlessness and improve exercise tolerance. It used to be thought that beta-blockers cannot be used in COPD patients as they may make the breathlessness worse, but it has now been established that they can be used safely. Beta-blocker drugs and beta-agonists have 'opposite' effects on the body and the investigators do not know if they can work together or if they would cancel each other out. The investigators also do not know which of the different types of beta-blockers now available are better for COPD patients. This study will investigate what happens to the airways of people taking both of these drugs.
Interventions
Sponsors
Waikato Hospital Research Fund
Waikato Hospital
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
40 Years to 100 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Clinical diagnosis of COPD * \> 40 years of age * \> 15 pack year smoking history
Exclusion criteria
* Contra-indication to beta-blocker use * Severe COPD FEV1 \< 30% or 1 L * Not responsive the methacholine
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Bronchodilator response to salbutamol after beta-blockers | 7-10 days |
| Incremental Shuttle Walk Test Result after taking beta-blockers | 7-10 days |
Countries
New Zealand
Outcome results
None listed