UPLIFT
Understanding Potential Long-term Impacts on Function with Tiotropium
Patient / Population Intervention / Exposure Comparison Outcome
In 5,993 patients with COPD and FEV1 ≤70%, tiotropium 18 µg daily for four years did not slow rate of FEV1 decline compared with placebo.
N
5,993
Design
Multicentre RCT
Endpoint
Rate of FEV1 decline
Relevance
3
ResultNo effect on FEV1 slope; exacerbations HR 0.86; on-treatment mortality HR 0.87 (95% CI 0.76–0.99).
Tashkin DP, et al. N Engl J Med. 2008;359(15):1543-1554. 10.1056/NEJMoa0805800
Discussion & critique
Refuted disease-modifying lung-function hypothesis but confirmed symptomatic and exacerbation benefit; established long-term tiotropium safety.