Once-daily QVA149 improves dyspnoea and health status compared with tiotropium plus formoterol in patients without ICS use: A post-hoc analysis of the QUANTIFY study

Rationale: The QUANTIFY study compared the approved dual bronchodilator QVA149 with the free-dose combination of tiotropium plus formoterol (TIO+FOR) regarding lung function, dyspnoea and health status in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD. This post-hoc analysis reported on the subgroup of pts without ICS background therapy. Methods: This blinded, triple-dummy 26-week study randomised patients to QVA149 110/50 µg OD or TIO 18 µg OD plus FOR 12 µg b.i.d. (1:1). ICS was allowed as background therapy. Endpoints included lung function (trough FEV1), dyspnoea (TDI) and health status (COPD Assessment Test, CAT). Results: Of the 934 pts randomised (QVA149 [N=476] or TIO+FOR [N=458]); 87.9% com…