THE ROLE OF BRONCHODILATORS AND CORTICOSTEROIDS IN COPD TREATMENT

Abstract

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive respiratory disorder characterized by airflow limitation and persistent respiratory symptoms. Pharmacological management primarily involves bronchodilators and corticosteroids, either as monotherapy or in combination. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of these treatment modalities in improving pulmonary function, measured by forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁). Results indicated that bronchodilator monotherapy improved mean FEV₁ by 11%, corticosteroid monotherapy by 8%, and combination therapy achieved the highest improvement of 18%. The findings highlight the synergistic effect of bronchodilators and corticosteroids in optimizing lung function and reducing symptom burden. Individualized treatment strategies, guided by disease severity and patient response, are essential to maximize therapeutic benefits while minimizing adverse effects. These results support current guideline recommendations and reinforce the importance of combination therapy in patients with moderate to severe COPD.