Are inhaled corticosteroids effective for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?
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In patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) do not decrease the risk of all-cause mortality when compared with or added to nonsteroid inhaled therapy, although they increase the risk of pneumonia. (SOR A, based on 2 meta- analyses.) Combination therapy with ICS and long-acting β2-agonists (LABA) is associated with a lower incidence of moderate (but not severe) COPD exacerbations and improved health-related quality-of-life total scores. However, the size of these benefits does not reach suggested clinically important minimal differences. (SOR A, based on 2 meta-analyses.)
Evidence Based Practice 13(2): 11-12.