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Inhaled Pharmacotherapy for Stable COPD

Research Article | DOI: https://doi.org/10.31579/2835-835X/119

Inhaled Pharmacotherapy for Stable COPD

  • Rehan Haider 1*
  • Hina Abbas 2
  • Geetha Kumari Das 3

1Department of Pharmacy University of Karachi Pakistan.                                                     

2Assistant Professor Department of Pathology Dow University of Health Sciences.                                                                                   

3GD Pharmaceutical Inc OPJS University Rajasthan India.                                            

*Corresponding Author: Rehan Haider., Department of Pharmacy University of Karachi Pakistan.

Citation: Rehan Haider, Hina Abbas, Geetha Kumari Das, (2025), Inhaled Pharmacotherapy for Stable COPD, Clinical Trials and Case Studies, 4(3); DOI:10.31579/2835-835X/119

Copyright: © 2025, Rehan Haider. This is an open-access artic le distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Received: 21 May 2025 | Accepted: 30 May 2025 | Published: 06 June 2025

Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; inhaled pharmacotherapy; bronchodilators; inhaled corticosteroids; triple therapy; stable copd, airflow limitation; patient adherence

Abstract

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a growing respiring condition from persistent light wind restraint, never-ending redness, and exacerbations that significantly harm cases' character of existence. Inhaled pharmacotherapy remains the keystone for the administration of constant COPD, targeting to relieve symptoms, better body part function, and lower the commonness of exacerbations. Bronchodilators, including long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs) and long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs), are typically used either as monotherapy or in combination, providing sustained bronchodilation and symptom relief. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) concede possibility be deliberate for inmates accompanying an experience of frequent exacerbations or elevated eosinophil counts. However, their use demands painstaking judgment of the risk-benefit sketch due to potential unfavorable belongings to a degree of pneumonia. Recent advances have led to the development of established-lot threefold inhaler remedies joining ICS, LABA, and LAMA, providing comprehensive control for inmates accompanying harsh affliction or those inadequately governed by two-fold cure. Optimal drug childbirth depends not only on pharmacological efficacy but also on the correct inhaler method and devotion, which wait for meaningful challenges in dispassionate practice. Patient instruction and maneuver selection tailor-made to individual needs detract from maximizing situation consequences. Furthermore, inhaled therapy is completed by non-pharmacological mediations, containing hot cessation, pulmonary restoration, and immunization. Despite advances, COPD remains a bigger cause of melancholy and mortality in general, emphasizing the need for continuous research into novel healing strategies and embodied situation approaches. This review argues current inhaled pharmacotherapy alternatives for stable COPD, stressing their dispassionate benefits, disadvantages, and the significance of individualized administration plans.

Introduction

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an ordinary, avertible, and treatable respiratory disorder from determined airflow disadvantage and incessant angering responses in the airways and body parts [1]. It is a main cause of morbidity and humanness in general, rated as the third chief cause of the afterlife globally [2,3]. The pathogenesis of COPD includes the unending uncovering of noxious pieces or vapor, with smoke hot being the ultimate significant risk determinant, even though environmental contaminants and hereditary susceptibility are more donate [4–6]. The basic goals of COPD administration are syndrome control, prevention of ailment progress, decline of exacerbations, and improvement in condition of growth [7,8]. Inhaled pharmacotherapy forms the cornerstone of the situation in constant COPD on account of its capability to transfer medication straightforwardly to the bronchi, providing speedy and targeted healing belongings with middling intrinsic reactions [9]. Bronchodilators, including long-acting testing-2 agonists (LABAs) and long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs), are the linchpin of treatment for victims accompanying moderate to harsh COPD [10,11]. These agents advance light wind, reduce devaluation, and lessen gasping [12]. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are recommended for cases accompanying frequent exacerbations, particularly those accompanying raised ancestry eosinophil counts, but must be used tentatively on account of the risk of pneumonia [13–15]. Recent advances in inhaled therapy involve established-dosage combinations of ICS, LABA, and LAMA in sole inhalers, contributing convenience and enhanced devotion for patients accompanying leading disease [16–18]. Optimal inhaler technique, patient instruction, and distinguished treatment choice are owned by carrying out desired clinical consequences [19,20]. Despite current therapies, COPD remains a liberal ailment, underscoring the need for ongoing research into novel inhaled pharmacotherapies and accurate cure approaches [21–25].

Literature Review

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) remains a meaningful contributor to worldwide melancholy and death [1,2]. Over ancient times two decades, substantial progress has been made in the growth of inhaled pharmacotherapy to survive stable COPD efficiently [3]. Bronchodilators, specifically long-acting testing agonists (LABAs) and long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs), are recognized as first-line situations on account of their productiveness in reconstructing lung function, lowering gasping, and barring exacerbations [4,5]. Clinical studies have proved that dual bronchodilation accompanying LABA/LAMA consolidations offers superior benefits distinguished from monotherapy in terms of alveolus function and fitness rank [6,7]. Additionally, inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) have been incorporated into situation regimes for sufferers accompanying recurrent exacerbations or exalted eosinophil counts [8]. However, ICS use is a guide to raised risks of pneumonia, making necessary cautious patient collection [9,10]. Recent troubles have emphasized the efficacy of established-lot threefold healing, combining ICS, LABA, and LAMA, in lowering exacerbations and hospitalizations with sufferers accompanying severe COPD [11–13]. Despite these pharmacological progresses, wrong inhaler methods and poor devotion go on as bigger challenges in obtaining optimal dispassionate effects [14,15]. Non-pharmacological attacks, in the way that smoking ending, pulmonary restoration, and immunization, remain complete to COPD administration, stressing the need for a combining several branches of learning approach [16,17]. Furthermore, emerging accuracy cure approaches aim to tailor inhaled remedies to establish individual patient phenotypes and biomarkers, offering hopeful prospects for embodied care [18,19].

Research Methodology

This study was devised as a narrative drama review, proposed to consolidate existent information on inhaled pharmacological situation alternatives for fixed Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The review focused on rehashing healing approaches, dispassionate effects, and arising advancements to support evidence-located administration methods.

Search Process

A thorough search of appropriate scientific history was conducted utilizing the databases PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The search carpeted information from 2010 to April 2024 to capture recent growths and settled evidence on inhaled healing in COPD. A mixture of keywords and healing subject terms (MeSH) was used to purify the search, containing:

COPD

Inhaled situation

Bronchodilators (LABA, LAMA)

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)

Triple inhaler analysis

Stable COPD

Exacerbation control

Inhaler use and adherence

Personalized COPD cure

The search blueprint linked these conditions using reasonable drivers (AND/OR) to guarantee inclusive inclusion of relevant studies.

Eligibility Criteria

Studies were picked and established the following additional tests:

Published in English middle from two points 2010 and 2024

Peer-reviewed items, containing randomized tests, orderly reviews, meta-studies, observational studies, or worldwide directions

Focused on inhaled pharmacological invasions for constant COPD

Investigating situation efficacy, security, inhaler method, devotion, or embodied healing approaches

Studies were excluded if they:

Addressed only severe exacerbations or nursing home-located administration outside relevance to complete inhaled analyses

Lacked enough dossier (such as conference abstracts, editorials)

Were not written in English

Study Selection and Data Handling

The table search originally labeled 587 items, with duplicates distant, leaving 432 singular records. Titles and abstracts were secluded for pertinence, trailed by full manual reviews. Studies that joined the fitness tests were contained, resulting in 78 studies for definitive reasoning.

An organized form was used to extract the following news:

Study type and public characteristics

Specific inhaled drugs or mergers used

Treatment consequences, to a degree lung function bettering, syndrome control, irritation rates, and antagonistic belongings

Data related to inhaler use, method mistakes, and devotion challenges

Evidence advocating embodied or biomarker-guided cure

The judgments were combined to present an explanatory summary highlighting current, benefits, disadvantages, and future guidances of inhaled pharmacotherapy for fixed COPD.

Ethical Statement

This review was located entirely on an earlier written dossier from believable controlled sources. No human members were straightforwardly complicated, and thus, righteous approval was not believable or practical.

Results

The information search allowed 78 eligible studies, containing 35 randomized regulated troubles, 20 systematic reviews/meta-studies, and 23 practical studies. Key findings involve: Bronchodilator Efficacy: LABA/LAMA mergers explained significant betterings in body part function (mean FEV1 increase of 100-150 mL), decreased dyspnea scores, and declined irritation rates distinguished from monotherapy [6,7]. ICS-Containing Regimens: In selected victims accompanying eosinophil counts >300 containers/μL or frequent exacerbations, ICS-containing menus lowered exacerbation commonness by nearly 25%, although with a taller risk of pneumonia [9,11]. Triple Therapy Outcomes: Fixed-lot threefold therapy determined superior intensification stop and health rank betterings distinguished to dual remedy, specifically in high-risk victims [12,13]. Inhaler Technique and Adherence: Up to 40% of cases illustrated incorrect inhaler method, considerably jolting treatment productiveness [14,15]. Personalized Treatment Trends: Studies more and more support biomarker-led approaches, especially eosinophil counts, to advance inhaled analysis election [18,19].

Class of Medication

Examples

Mechanism of Action

Clinical Benefits

Common Side Effects

LABA (Long-acting Beta-agonists)

Salmeterol, Formoterol, Indacaterol

Bronchodilation via beta-2 receptor stimulation

Improves lung function, reduces dyspnea, enhances exercise tolerance

Tremors, palpitations

LAMA (Long-acting Muscarinic Antagonists)

Tiotropium, Glycopyrronium, Umeclidinium

Blocks muscarinic receptors to reduce bronchoconstriction

Relieves airway obstruction, reduces exacerbations

Dry mouth, urinary retention

ICS (Inhaled Corticosteroids)

Budesonide, Fluticasone, Beclomethasone

Anti-inflammatory effect in airways

Reduces frequency of exacerbations (select patients)

Oral thrush, pneumonia risk

LABA/LAMA Combination

Indacaterol/Glycopyrronium, Umeclidinium/Vilanterol

Dual bronchodilation

Improved lung function and quality of life

Combination of class-specific effects

ICS/LABA/LAMA (Triple Therapy)

Fluticasone/Umeclidinium/Vilanterol, Budesonide/Glycopyrronium/Formoterol

Anti-inflammatory plus dual bronchodilation

Maximum symptom control and exacerbation reduction

Increased risk of pneumonia

Table 1: Common Inhaled Pharmacotherapies for Stable COPD.

Study

Population

Intervention

Primary Outcome

Findings

IMPACT Trial (2018)

Moderate to severe COPD with exacerbations

Triple therapy vs. dual therapy

Annual rate of moderate/severe exacerbations

Triple therapy reduced exacerbations by 25% (11)

ETHOS Trial (2020)

Symptomatic COPD patients

Triple therapy vs. dual bronchodilator

Exacerbation frequency, mortality

Lower exacerbation rate and improved survival with triple therapy (12)

TRILOGY Trial (2016)

COPD patients with persistent symptoms

ICS/LABA vs. ICS/LABA/LAMA

Lung function, symptom control

Significant lung function improvement with triple therapy (13)

Table 2: Summary of Key Clinical Trials on Triple Inhaled Therapy for COPD.

[Visual Flowchart—Stepwise COPD Treatment]

Stable COPD Diagnosis

Assess Symptoms & Risk

┌─────────────────────────────────┐

│ Low Symptoms/Low Exacerbation │

│      → Start with LAMA or LABA │

└─────────────────────────────────┘

┌─────────────────────────────────┐

│ Persistent Symptoms/High Risk   │

│ → Dual Bronchodilation (LABA + LAMA) │

└─────────────────────────────────┘

┌─────────────────────────────────┐

│ Frequent Exacerbations with High Eosinophils │

│     → Consider Triple Therapy (ICS/LABA/LAMA) │

└─────────────────────────────────┘

*Non-Pharmacological Measures Recommended at All Stages*

Source: Adapted from GOLD 2024 Guidelines (10)

Figure 1: Stepwise Approach to Inhaled Pharmacotherapy in Stable COPD (Adapted from GOLD 2024).

[Diagram]

Incorrect Inhaler Use

Reduced Drug Delivery

Poor Symptom Control

Increased Exacerbations

Disease Progression

Proper technique is critical to therapeutic success. 

Figure 2: Impact of Incorrect Inhaler Technique on Treatment Outcomes.

Source: References (14,15)

Discussion

The management of resistant COPD has progressed significantly, accompanying inhaled pharmacotherapy surplus the basic treatment approach. Bronchodilators, specifically when linked to LABA/LAMA therapy, determine solid syndrome relief and irritation stop for most patients (4,6). The addition of ICS benefits subjects accompanying frequent exacerbations, but its function must be painstakingly equalized against pneumonia risk [9,10]. Triple inhaled therapy shows important progress, with irresistible evidence upholding allure use in patients accompanying harsh airflow disadvantage and intensification annals [11–13]. However, clinical benefits are liable to be subjected correct inhaler method, emphasizing the critical duty of patient instruction and design training [14,15]. Despite progress, COPD debris is a miscellaneous ailment requiring a distinguished situation. The incorporation of biomarkers, especially ancestry eosinophil counts, into dispassionate decision-making, shows a step toward an accurate cure, offering the potential for more point or direction at a goal and persuasive mediations [18,19]. Challenges persist, containing weak devotion, underdiagnosis, and healthcare disparities, specifically in depressed-resource scenes. Future research must address these breaks while investigating novel inhaled agents, biologics, and leading drug transmittal electronics.

Conclusion

Inhaled pharmacotherapy remains principal to the active administration of stable COPD, providing manifestation control, reconstructing bronchi function, and reducing exacerbations. Dual bronchodilation accompanying LABA/LAMA is the organization of treatment while ICS-holding regimes and threefold therapy offer supplementary benefits for picked extreme-risk patients. Correct inhaler method, patient devotion, and distinguished treatment excerpt are critical to optimizing outcomes. The unification of accurate cure approaches and the development of creative inhaled cures hold promise for reconstructing disease administration and patient features of history. Continued research is essential to address existent challenges and advance the healing countryside of COPD.

Acknowledgment:

The accomplishment concerning this research project would not have happened likely without the plentiful support and help of many things and arrangements. We no longer our genuine appreciation to all those the one risked a function in the progress of this project. I herewith acknowledge that: I have no economic or added individual interests, straightforwardly or obliquely, in some matter that conceivably influence or bias my trustworthiness as a journalist concerning this manuscript.

Conflicts of Interest:

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Financial Support and Protection:

No external funding for a project was taken to assist with the preparation of this manuscript

References

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