COPD Drug Atrovent May Increase Risks of Heart Attack & Heart Failure

People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who use the inhaled drug Atrovent may be at increased risks of heart attack and heart failure, a new study finds.

Atrovent (ipratropium bromide) is the brand name of a short-acting inhaler used by millions of people with COPD, a respiratory disorder that causes shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. COPD is the fourth-largest killer of people in the United States, affecting more than 24 million people and killing more than 100,000 each year, according to Reuters news.

While Atrovent appears to increase the risks of cardiovascular injury, the long-acting COPD drug Spiriva (tiotropium) appears to decrease the same risks, the researchers said. However, the findings are preliminary and would have to be further tested in a head-to-head study involving both drugs, American Lung Association officials said.

Earlier studies have found both Atrovent and Spiriva dramatically boost the risks of heart attack and heart failure.

Study of VA Patients Details Risks

Researchers led by the Hines VA Hospital in Illinois examined data from more than 82,000 veterans with COPD. Among these patients, 44 percent were using Atrovent at some point during the study, Reuters said.

During follow up, 6,234 patients had a cardiovascular event, including 44 percent who suffered heart failure, 28 percent who had heart attacks or chest pain, and 28 percent who had irregular heart rhythms, the researchers reported.

Also, during the first six months of Atrovent therapy, patients were at an increased risk for these cardiovascular events, although those who took the drug for more than six months without an incident did not have an increased risk of heart attack or heart failure, Reuters reports.

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