Effectiveness versus efficacy trials in COPD: how study design influences outcomes and applicability

What is it about?

We performed a study in Salford, UK, in COPD patients where we tested a new medication compared to usual therapy. We included patients from their own general practitioner's office and tried not to exclude any patients. Our patients were very different from those who had taken part in recent "usual" trials testing medications. We conclude that COPD patients in efficacy trials of exacerbations do not resemble the patients for whom the findings of the studies are intended.

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