TUESDAY, Jan. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Using a long-acting bronchodilator in combination with an inhaled corticosteroid led to a 35 percent reduction in the number of exacerbations experienced by patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), a new study finds.

The study, published in the current issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, included almost 500 patients with moderate to severe COPD who were divided into two groups. One group (507 patients) was treated with the long-lasting bronchodilator salmeterol in combination with the inhaled corticosteroid fluticasone propionate. The control group (487 patients) received only salmeterol.

In the combined therapy group, 324 patients experienced moderate to severe exacerbations, compared to 464 in the control group. This reduction in exacerbations in the combined therapy group is likely of clinical importance for patients with severe COPD, according to the study authors.

"Exacerbations are a major cause of disease-related problems," Dr. Peter Kardos, of the respiratory section of the Maingau Hospital in Frankfurt am Main, said in a prepared statement.

"In particular, they greatly contribute to the decline of health-related quality of life, increase symptoms and breathlessness, speed progression of the disease and increase the risk of mortality. In addition, exacerbations induce enormous economic costs. They can occur at any stage of the disease but become more frequent as lung function impairment worsens," Kardos said.

Smoking is the primary cause of COPD, which results from chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Currently, there is no effective treatment for halting long-term lung function decline in COPD patients.

More information

The American Medical Association has more about COPD.