A prospective study of the effects of carbocysteine lysine salt on frequency of exacerbations in COPD patients treated with or without inhaled steroids.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

COPD is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and represents one of the most important issues for public health. Frequent exacerbations induce a faster decline in lung function and poorer quality of life, increase mortality, and have a socio-economic impact with a high burden in terms of resources and healthcare costs. The clinical trials evaluated the effect of mucolytics in COPD and showed that the long-term carbocysteine, associated with bronchodilators, anticholinergics, and steroids, reduces the frequency of exacerbations and improves the quality of life.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

The aim of this prospective real-life study was to evaluate the long-term impact on exacerbations (at 1 year) in COPD patients treated with carbocysteine lysine salt (single dose of 2.7 g once a day) in addition to background therapy with or without inhaled steroids.

RESULTS:

In a total of 155 evaluable patients, our study showed that the addition of a single dose of carbocysteine lysine salt to background therapy determines a statistically significant reduction of the average number of exacerbations vs. the number observed in the previous year (from 1.97±0.10 to 1.03±0.11; p<0.01), irrespective of treatment with or without inhaled steroids. In particular, in patients with ≥2 exacerbations in the previous year, the addition of carbocysteine lysine salt resulted in a statistically significant reduction in the exacerbations rate from 69% to 33% and from 58% to 25%, respectively (p<0.01) in patients with or without inhaled steroids.

CONCLUSIONS:

In summary, our data highlighted the efficacy of long-term administration of a single daily dose of carbocysteine lysine salt (2.7 g/day) in reducing the number and rate of exacerbations in COPD patients, independently from the use of inhaled steroids.

• Authors: G Paone, L Lanata, F Saibene, S Toti, P Palermo, C Graziani, M C Flore, M Ramaccia, G Puglisi
• Journal: European review for medical and pharmacological sciences (Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci) Vol. 23 Issue 15 Pg. 6727-6735 (Aug 2019) ISSN: 2284-0729 [Electronic] Italy
• PMID: 31378916 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Observational Study)

Chemical References

• Bronchodilator Agents
• Expectorants
• Glucocorticoids
• carbocysteine-lysine
• Carbocysteine

Topics

• Administration, Inhalation
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Bronchodilator Agents (administration & dosage)
• Carbocysteine (administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives)
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Drug Therapy, Combination (methods)
• Expectorants (administration & dosage)
• Female
• Glucocorticoids (administration & dosage)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prospective Studies
• Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive (complications, diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Quality of Life
• Severity of Illness Index
• Symptom Flare Up
• Treatment Outcome