Position of roflumilast in Czech recommendations for treatment of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Abstract
Care for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requires a comprehensive approach focusing on lung function, respiratory symptoms, exacerbations and severe comorbidities. Modern therapy is based on correct diagnosis, identification of inhalation risks, relevant comorbidities and recognition of predominant clinical phenotypes.
Treatment should be as individualized as possible. An important component of phenotype-targeted therapy is oral administration of roflumilast, a selective phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, to individuals with more severe bronchial obstruction (GOLD 3-4) concomitant with the chronic bronchitis or frequent exacerbator phenotypes of the disease (i.e. category C and D patients).
Roflumilast is able to both reduce the number of acute exacerbations and improve the lung function of patients. Thus, its use deserves our attention.