Anticholinergic agents in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) is a kind of chronic airway disease which is characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible.Regular and right usage of bronchodilators in stable stage of COPD is the central to controlling COPD symptoms.Anticholinergic agents are one of the most effective and most important bronchodilators in COPD treatment,and long-term usage of anticholinergic agents play important roles in improving symptoms,reducing COPD acute exacerbations,and especially,lowering COPD mortality.Recently,long-acting anticholinergic agents show more active effects in COPD treatment.