The forced oscillation technique (FOT) can measure respiratory mechanics and has attracted attention in
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (
COPD). We aimed to evaluate the effects of only
indacaterol and
tiotropium monotherapies on airflow limitation and respiratory impedance. Pulmonary function tests,
COPD assessment test (CAT), and multifrequency FOT with MostGraph-01 were performed at the beginning and after 8 weeks of treatment with
indacaterol or
tiotropium. The resistance index, resistance at 5 Hz (R5), resistance at 20 Hz (R20), reactance index, reactance at 5 Hz (X5), resonant frequency (Fres), and low-frequency reactance area (ALX) were determined at whole-breath, inspiratory, and expiratory phases. Eighty-two patients (mean age: 73 years; mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1): 61.6%±19.0% predicted) were randomized to
indacaterol or
tiotropium treatment. Both
bronchodilators improved airflow limitation, with mean trough improvements in FEV1 of 165 mL and 80 mL in the
indacaterol and
tiotropium groups, respectively. The CAT score decreased in the
indacaterol group (P<0.001; 11.2±6.6 to 7.5±5.6). Compared with
tiotropium,
indacaterol significantly improved FEV1, percent predicted FEV1, and CAT score (P=0.042, P=0.008, and P=0.027, respectively). For respiratory impedance,
indacaterol and
tiotropium changed R5, X5, Fres, and ALX at whole-breath, inspiratory, and expiratory phases. In the
indacaterol group, the changes in R5, R5-R20, X5, Fres, and ALX were significantly correlated with the changes in FEV1. The use of the FOT may enable the evaluation of the effects of
bronchodilators in addition to FEV1-indicated
therapeutic effects in
COPD.