Effects of Cardioselective β-blockers on Dynamic Hyperinflation in COPD
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2010-10-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at greater risk of suffering
from diseases for which beta-blockers may be indicated and effective. Clinicians remain
hesitant to administer beta-blockers to COPD patients for fear of adverse effects on lung
function. However, cardioselective beta-blockers therapy led to a non-significant worsening
of resting expiratory flow limitation measured by the forced expiratory volume in one second
(FEV1) as compared to placebo. But, the FEV1 appears to be a crude estimate bronchial
obstruction in COPD. Importantly, the effects of cardioselective beta-blockers on dynamic
hyperinflation, a subtle marker of bronchial obstruction, remain unknown. Thus, a prospective
placebo-controlled study assessing the effects of short-term cardioselective beta-blocker
therapy on dynamic hyperinflation in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD is needed.