TY - JOUR T1 - Cardiovascular events in patients with COPD: TORCH Study results JF - Thorax JO - Thorax SP - 719 LP - 725 DO - 10.1136/thx.2010.136077 VL - 65 IS - 8 AU - Peter M A Calverley AU - Julie A Anderson AU - Bartolome Celli AU - Gary T Ferguson AU - Christine Jenkins AU - Paul W Jones AU - Courtney Crim AU - Lisa R Willits AU - Julie C Yates AU - Jørgen Vestbo Y1 - 2010/08/01 UR - http://thorax.bmj.com/content/65/8/719.abstract N2 - Background Previous studies have suggested that long-term use of β agonists to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may increase the risk of cardiovascular adverse events. In this post hoc analysis, data from the TOwards a Revolution in COPD Health (TORCH) study were used to investigate whether use of the long-acting β2 agonist salmeterol over 3 years increased the risk of cardiovascular adverse events in patients with moderate to severe COPD.Methods TORCH was a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled study conducted at 444 centres in 42 countries. Patients (n=6184; safety population) received twice daily combined salmeterol 50 μg plus fluticasone propionate 500 μg (SFC), either component alone, or placebo. Adverse events were recorded every 12 weeks for 3 years.Results The probability of having a cardiovascular adverse event by 3 years was 24.2% for placebo, 22.7% for salmeterol, 24.3% for fluticasone propionate and 20.8% for SFC. Although a history of myocardial infarction doubled the probability of cardiovascular adverse events, the event rates remained similar across treatment groups.Conclusion Post hoc analysis of the 3-year TORCH dataset showed that salmeterol alone or in combination (SFC) did not increase the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with moderate to severe COPD. ER -