lung-cancer-copd-congress-2018-tracks

3 / 14

alliedacademies
Page 15
International Journal of Respiratory Medicine | Volume 3
LUNG CANCER AND COPD
5th International Congress on
J u n e 2 5 - 2 6 , 2 0 1 8 | A m s t e r d a m , N e t h e r l a n d s
Marousa Kouvela, Int J Respir Med 2018, Volume 3
THE ROLE OF DOUBLE
BRONCHODILATION IN COPD
TREATMENT
Marousa Kouvela
Boehringer-Ingelheim, Greece
Bronchodilators play a central role in COPD treatment. At the end of the
previous year, the GOLD (Global Initiative for Global Obstructive Lung
Disease) strategy for the diagnosis, management and prevention of COPD
has been updated and published with several changes. One of the most
important changes was the shift of the treatment recommendations toward
the maximization of bronchodialative therapy to all COPD patients and the
restriction of ICS use to more specific patient groups, although, the ICS
overuse continues to be an issue to many countries worldwide. The direct
comparison of inhaled LABA/LAMA combinations to the nanocomponents or
a LABA/ICS combination shows superiority of the LABA/LAMA combination
in case of lung function, symptoms and quality of life. Recently, there has
been a question whether a LABA/LAMA combination is equally or even
more efficient than a LABA/ICS combination therapy in the prevention of
COPD exacerbations. Another question that needs to be clarified is how
safe is to withdraw ICS from the patients that do not need them and how
this is applicable in everyday clinical practice. It seems that a LABA/LAMA
combination is very efficient and safe treatment option to all COPD groups
and it should be applied from the beginning of COPD treatment. The efficacy
of the double bronchodilation is mainly attributed to the reduction of the
lung hyperinflation, the enhancement of mucociliary clearance and their
anti-inflammatory properties. Moreover, it seems that the simultaneous
administration of two bronchodilators offers a synergic action to the lungs.
Marousa Kouvela is a pulmonologist. She has
completed her residency in one of the largest
general hospitals in Greece and achieved her
specialty board degree in 2013. She has com-
pleted her Master of Science in Thoracic On-
cology. She has participated in many national
and international scientific and educational
seminars and published in national and inter-
national journals. Her special scientific interests
are COPD, lung cancer and interventional pulm-
onology. She is currently working as a Medical
Manager in Boehringer Ingelheim Ellas, Greece.
BIOGRAPHY