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Table 2 Summary of clinical efficacy for currently available β2-agonists in COPD

From: Long-acting beta-agonists in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: current and future agents

 

Improvement in outcome

 

Duration of action (hours) 1

Lung function

Breathlessness

Exercise endurance*

Quality of life

Exacerbations

Salbutamol (albuterol)

4-6

✓1,25

✓1,25

✓1,25

NA

NA

Salmeterol

≥12

✓✓1,25-27

✓25-27

✓1,25

✓(✓‡)1,25-28

✓✓1,25,26,28

Formoterol

≥12

✓✓1,25,29

✓✓25,29

✓1,25

✓✓1,25,29

✓†1,25,29-31

  1. ✓ evidence of effectiveness; ✓✓ evidence of effectiveness over SABA or SAMA; *Outcome demonstrated by all bronchodilators, lack of evidence of significant differences between them; † equivocal evidence depending on formulation; ‡evidence of numerical improvements over shorter acting comparator; NA = evidence not available
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Respiratory Research

ISSN: 1465-993X

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