Fluticasone- vs Budesonide-Based Dual Therapy for COPD

In a large cohort study of new ICS-LABA users with COPD, the once-daily dry powder inhaler fluticasone furoate-vilanterol was associated with a 9% lower risk of moderate or severe COPD exacerbations compared with budesonide-formoterol and a 6% lower risk compared with fluticasone propionate-salmeterol, with no differences in pneumonia risk. These findings suggest that dry powder fluticasone-containing inhalers offer similar or slightly improved clinical outcomes for patients with COPD over metered-dose formulations, with substantially less greenhouse gas emissions.