Computation of rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations requiring health care use (HCU) and of pneumonias in the INSPIRE trial, along with rate differences comparing the fluticasone–salmeterol combination with tiotropium5 6
| Fluticasone + salmeterol | Tiotropium | Rate difference* (per 100/year) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of subjects | 658 | 665 | |
| Days on treatment (mean) | 561 | 519 | |
| Person-years on treatment (total) | 1011 | 945 | |
| Number of exacerbations (HCU†) | 1185 | 1070 | |
| Rate per year (per 100) | 117.2 | 113.2 | +4.0 |
| Number of pneumonias | 62 | 25 | |
| Rate per year (per 100) | 6.1 | 2.6 | +3.5 |
*Rate difference = rate for fluticasone–salmeterol combination minus rate for tiotropium.
†Exacerbations requiring health care use.