Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Multicentre, Randomised, Double-Blind, Double Dummy, Parallel Group, 104-week Study to Compare the Effect of the Salmeterol/Fluticasone Propionate Combination Product (SERETIDE*) 50/500mcg Delivered Twice Daily Via the DISKUS*/ACCUHALER* Inhaler With Tiotropium Bromide 18 mcg Delivered Once Daily Via the HandiHaler Inhalation Device on the Rate of Health Care Utilisation Exacerbations in Subjects With Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Brief Summary: This is a comparator study to assess the relative efficacy of the combination product fluticasone propionate/salmeterol 50/500 and tiotropium bromide on the rate of exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) over a two year study interval.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Written informed consent.
* Male or female patients 40 years of age or older.
* Smoking history of at least 10 pack years.
* Diagnosis of COPD with post bronchodilator FEV1 less than or equal to 70% of predicted normal and FEV1\<70% of FVC and on stable respiratory medication.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Significant diseases other than COPD which in the opinion of the investigator may put the patient at risk or influence the patients ability to participate.
* Myocardial infarction in past 6 months.
* Unstable or life threatening arrhythmia in past year.
* Hospitalization for NYHA heart failure class III or IV in past year.
* Active tuberculosis.
* Asthma.
* Pulmonary resection.
* Malignancy treated with radiation or chemotherapy in past 5 years.
* Respiratory infection in 4 weeks prior to screening.
* Known hypersensitivity to anticholinergic drugs or components.
* Known moderate to severe renal impairment.
* Known narrow angle glaucoma.
* Significant symptomatic BPH or bladder neck obstruction.
* Need for oxygen therapy \>12 hr/day.
* Use of oral corticosteroids at unstable doses or \>10 mg/day.
B: Inclusion criteria:

* Established clinical history of moderate to severe COPD.
* Post bronchodilator FEV1 of \< 50% of predicted normal.
* FEV1 / FVC ratio \<70%.
* Reversibility to 400mcg albuterol of less or equal to 10 predicted at Visit 1.
* Free from exacerbation in the 6 weeks prior to screening.
* Current or former smoker with a smoking history of = 10 pack-years and has a history of COPD exacerbations.

Exclusion criteria:

* Current asthma, eczema, atopic dermatitis and/or allergic rhinitis.
* Has a known respiratory disorder other than COPD (e.g. lung cancer, sarcoidosis, tuberculosis or lung fibrosis).
* Has narrow-angle glaucoma, prostatic hyperplasia or obstruction of the neck of the bladder that in the opinion of the investigator should prevent the subject from entering the study.
* Has undergone lung transplantation and/or lung volume reduction.
* Female who is a nursing mother.
* Requires regular (daily) long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT).
* Is receiving beta-blockers (except eye drops).
* Has a serious, uncontrolled disease likely to interfere with the study.
* Has received any other investigational drugs within the 4 weeks prior to Visit 1.
* Has, in the opinion of the investigator, evidence of alcohol, drug or solvent abuse.
* Has a known or suspected hypersensitivity to beta2-agonists, inhaled corticosteroids, anticholinergic agents or any components of the formulations (e.g. lactose or milk protein).
C: Inclusion Criteria:

1. All patients must have a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and must meet the following criteria at Visit 1:

   Patients must have relatively stable, moderate to very severe airway obstruction with a post-bronchodilator FEV1 \<=70% of predicted normal and FEV1 \<=70% of FVC post-bronchodilator (i.e. 30 minutes after inhalation of 4 puffs of 100 µg salbutamol or equivalent SABA). Predicted normal values will be calculated according to ECSC.

   For Height measured in inches Males: FEV1 predicted (L) = 4.30 x (height (inches) / 39.37)-0.029 x age (yrs) - 2.49 Females:FEV1 predicted (L) = 3.95 x (height (inches) / 39.37)-0.025 x age (yrs) - 2.60 For Height measured in metres Males: FEV1 predicted (L) = 4.30 x (height (metres)) - 0.029 x age (years) - 2.49 Females: FEV1 predicted (L) = 3.95 x (height (metres)) - 0.025 x age (years) - 2.60
2. All patients must sign an informed consent consistent with ICH-GCP guidelines prior to participation in the trial.
3. Male or female patients 40 years of age or older.
4. Patients with a history of at least one exacerbation within the past year requiring treatment with either antibiotics and/or systemic steroids and/or hospitalisation.
5. Patients must be current or ex-smokers with a smoking history of \>= 10 pack-years. (Patients who have never smoked cigarettes must be excluded.)
6. Patients must be able to perform all study-related procedures including technically acceptable pulmonary function tests (PFTs).
7. Patients must be able to inhale medication in a competent manner from the HandiHaler and a metered dose inhaler (MDI).
8. Patients must be able to maintain records (patient daily diary card) during the study period as required in the protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Significant diseases other than COPD. A significant disease is defined as a disease or condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, may put the patient at risk because of participation in the study or may influence either the results of the study or the patients' ability to participate in the study.
2. Patients with a diagnosis of asthma.
3. Patients with a life-threatening pulmonary obstruction, or a history of cystic fibrosis.
4. Patients with known active tuberculosis.
5. Patients with a known symptomatic prostatic hyperplasia or bladder neck obstruction. Patients with symptomatically-controlled prostatic hyperplasia on medication may be included and should continue their medication.
6. Patients with known narrow-angle glaucoma.
7. Patients with a history of myocardial infarction within the year prior to Visit 1.
8. Patients with a history of hospital admission for heart failure within the year prior to Visit 1.
9. Patients with cardiac arrhythmia requiring medical or surgical treatment.
10. Patients with severe cardiovascular disorders.
11. Patients with a known hypersensitivity to anticholinergic drugs, beta-adrenergics, lactose or any other component of the medication delivery system.
12. Patients with known moderate or severe renal insufficiency (known creatinine clearance of \<= 50 mL/min).
13. Patients with untreated known hypokalaemia.
14. Patients with untreated known thyrotoxicosis.
15. Patients with brittle/unstable diabetes mellitus.
16. Patients with a history of and/or active significant alcohol or drug abuse. See exclusion criterion 1.
17. Patients who have taken an investigational drug within 30 days or six half-lives (whichever is greater) prior to Screening Visit (Visit 1).
18. Use of systemic corticosteroid medication at unstable doses (i.e less than six weeks on stable dose) or at doses in excess of the equivalent of 10 mg prednisolone per day or 20 mg every other day.
19. Pregnant or nursing women or women of childbearing potential not using a medically approved means of contraception (i.e oral contraceptives, intrauterine devices, diaphragm or subdermal implants e.g Norplant) for at least three months prior to, and for the duration of the trial.
20. Previous participation (receipt of randomised treatment) in this study.
21. Patients who are currently participating in another study.
22. Patients with any respiratory infection or COPD exacerbation in the four weeks prior to the Screening Visit (Visit 1) or during the run-in period should be postponed. In the case of a respiratory infection or COPD exacerbation during the run-in period, the latter may be extended up to four weeks.
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Giving written informed consent
* History of COPD (according to GOLD 2009) for at least 12 months prior to baseline Visit V0 associated with chronic productive cough for 3 months in each of the 2 years prior to baseline visit (with other causes of productive cough excluded)
* Age ≥ 40 years
* Forced expiratory volume after one second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio (post-bronchodilator) \< 70%
* FEV1 (post-bronchodilator) ≤ 50% of predicted
* At least two documented moderate or severe COPD exacerbations within one year prior to baseline visit
* Patients must be pre-treated with LABA and ICS for at least 12 months before baseline Visit V0. Up to 3 months before baseline Visit V0 free or fixed combinations of LABA and ICS are allowed, including changes in dose, active substances, and brands. In the last 3 months before baseline Visit V0 patients must be pre-treated with fixed combinations of LABA and ICS at a constant dose (maximum approved dosage strength of the combination).
* Former smoker (defined as smoking cessation at least one year ago) or current smoker both with a smoking history of at least 20 pack years

Main Exclusion Criteria:

* Exacerbations not resolved at first baseline visit
* Diagnosis of asthma and/or other relevant lung disease
* Known alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency
* Other protocol-defined exclusion criteria may apply

Answer: B