Effect of a combination of low-dose aminophylline and budesonide on lung function, serum inflammatory factors and quality of life of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect of a combination of low-dose aminophylline and budesonide on lung function, serum inflammatory factors and quality of life of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: A total of 120 COPD patients admitted to Jiaozhou Central Hospital of Qingdao from January 2018 to January 2019 were the subjects for this study. They were divided into two groups based on the order of admission, with 60 patients in each group. The two groups of patients were treated with conventional COPD therapy. In addition, patients in group B were treated with budesonide, while those in group A were treated with a combination of low-dose aminophylline and budesonide. Lung function indices, serum levels of inflammatory factors, quality of life (QOL), 6-min walking distance (6MWD), and overall treatment effectiveness in the two groups were compared. Results: Lung function indices were significantly higher in group A than in group B, while patients in group A had significantly lower serum levels of inflammatory factors than patients in group B (p < 0.001). There was markedly higher QOL in group A patients than in patients of group B, but patients in group A achieved longer 6MWD than group B patients (p < 0.001). More patients showed treatment effectiveness in group A than in group B (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Treatment with a combination of low-dose aminophylline and budesonide effectively improves lung function indices in COPD patients, reduces serum levels of inflammatory factors, but enhances their QOL. Thus, the combination treatment may be clinically beneficial to COPD patients.