Quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: which drugs help most?

The treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is receiving increasing attention since the burden of this disease is expected to rise on a global scale in the coming decades. Preventing deterioration of lung function parameters has been the main goal of research in COPD management. In practice, however, the success of drug treatment is not dependent on lung function only, but also relies on the patients' well-being. Therefore, an important role for health-related quality of life (HRQL) is emerging. Until now, several frequently prescribed drugs have been tested in trials using valid and disease-specific HRQL instruments. Evidence of beneficial effects on HRQL is available for the use of short-acting bronchodilators, theophylline and long-acting beta-adrenergic bronchodilators in the treatment of COPD. One source reported beneficial effects of inhaled corticosteroid treatment on HRQL. The value of these and other drugs in the management of COPD will need to be assessed in the coming years.