Cost-Effectiveness of Long-Acting Bronchodilators for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Tiotropium appears to be more cost-effective than the alternatives and may be the preferred agent for maintenance therapy in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Compared with ipratropium, tiotropium could be cost saving. Because of the wide ranges of cost-effectiveness ratios for tiotropium and salmeterol and the significant overlap between them, a large prospective head-to-head trial would help address the uncertainty and confirm the results of this analysis.