Aim: To examine the effects of inhaled procaterol (Meptin Air : MA), a short-acting beta2-agonist, for proactive use rather than rescue use in dyspnea and health-related quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), who complained of dyspnea in daily activities despite treatment with long-acting bronchodilators.
Methods: Patients with moderate to most severe COPD who were on maintenance therapy with tiotropium and other long-acting bronchodilators were studied. Severity of dyspnea was evaluated with the Shortness of Breath Questionnaire (SOBQ) and patients were recommended to use MA on an as-needed basis before daily activities which had caused dyspnea. The effects of MA were evaluated with the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and MRC dyspnea scale. Baseline and post-administrative lung functions and exercise capacity (6-minute walking test) were measured.
Results: SOBQ revealed that all patients still had dyspnea in daily activities despite maintenance therapy. Inhalation of MA to prevent dyspnea in daily activities on an as-needed basis significantly improved QOL in SGRQ, lung function and MRC scales. Six-minute walking distances showed a tendency to improve.
Conclusion: Proactive use of MA as needed (assist use) improved QOL and continuing dyspnea despite maintenance drugs. Assist use of MA before effort improved exercise capacity, suggesting that it might improve the ability of activity of daily living (ADL).