Impact of a homeopathic medication on upper respiratory tract infections in COPD patients: Results of an observational, prospective study (EPOXILO)

Abstract

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive lung disorder in which airflow is obstructed. Viral or bacterial upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) may lead to exacerbations. Homeopathic medication administration to COPD patients during the influenza-exposure period may help to reduce the frequency of common URTIs. Methods: This prospective, observational, multicenter study was carried out in Cantabria, Spain. Patients with COPD were divided into two groups: group 1 received conventional treatment + homeopathic medication (diluted and dynamized extract of duck liver and heart; Boiron) (OG); group 2 received conventional treatment only (CG). The primary endpoint was the number of URTIs between the 4-5 months follow up (mean 4.72 ± 0.96) from basal to last visit. Secondary endpoints included the duration of URTIs, number and duration of COPD exacerbations, use of COPD drugs, changes in quality of life (QoL), compliance, and adverse events (AEs). Results: 219 patients were analyzed (OG = 109, CG = 110). There was a significant reduction in mean number of URTIs during the follow-up period in OG compared to CG (0.514 ± 0.722 vs. 1.037 ± 1.519, respectively; p = 0.014). Logistic regression analysis showed a 3.3-times higher probability of suffering ≥2 URTI episodes in CG (p = 0.003, n = 72). OG patients having ≥1 URTI also had a significant reduction in mean URTI duration per episode (3.57 ± 2.44 days OG vs. 5.22 ± 4.17 days CG; p = 0.012). There was no significant difference in mean number of exacerbations, mean duration of exacerbations, or QoL between OG and CG. There was a greater decrease in proportion of patients using corticosteroids for exacerbations between baseline and visit 2 in OG compared to CG (22.1% vs. 7.5% fewer respectively, p = 0.005). Exacerbator phenotype patients had a significant decrease in number of URTIs (0.54 ± 0.72 vs. 1.31 ± 1.81; p = 0.011), and fewer COPD exacerbations (0.9 ± 1.3 vs. 1.5 ± 1.7; p = 0.037) in OG vs. CG, respectively. Conclusions: Homeopathic medication use during the influenza-exposure period may have a beneficial impact at reducing URTIs' number and duration in COPD patients and at reducing the number of COPD exacerbations in patients with the exacerbator phenotype. Further studies are needed to confirm the effects observed in this study.

Эффективность И Безопасность Применения Гомеопатических Лекарственных Препаратов При Острых Респираторных Вирусных Инфекциях С Позиции Доказательной Медицины (Международный Опыт)

“…Ці показники становили 1,9 % проти 13,8 % відповідно для пацієнтів, які мали ≥ 3 інфекції верхніх дихальних шляхів. Середня тривалість симптомів за 1 епізод інфекцій верхніх дихальних шляхів також була значно меншою в пацієнтів основної групи (3,57 проти 5,22 дня відповідно; на 1,65 дня менше; р = 0,012) [21].…”

“…Цей гомеопатичний препарат можна застосовувати як у дорослих і дітей, яким не проводилось щеплення з різних причин, так і в пацієнтів, які отримали щеплення проти грипу, особливо у хворих на ХОЗЛ [21]. Хоча Оцилококцінум не замінює вакцинацію проти сезонних штамів, але розширює і доповнює можливості профілактики сезонних ГРВІ, оскільки доведено сприяє тимчасовій активізації противірусної ланки імунітету, що було зазначено вище.…”

Efficacy of Homoeopathy in Managing Respiratory Infections beyond Doubt!—A Narrative Review

“…Out of 11 prospective studies, 6 studies compared homeopathy to conventional treatment (CT). Conde Diez et al, 44 Danno et al 45 and Vincent et al 46 (219, 573 and 461 patients respectively) comparing homeopathy with conventional treatment in influenza/ILI found homeopathy widely accepted and beneficial. The other three studies on URTIs comparing same by Grimaldi-Bensouda et al, 47 Haidvogl et al 48 and Riley et al 49 (518, 1577 and 500 patients, respectively) suggested homeopathy was non-inferior to CT.…”

Oscillococcinum® for upper respiratory tract infections and exacerbations in COPD: an observational, prospective study (OXITUNIS)

“…A recent retrospective observational study conducted in Spain demonstrated that patients with COPD treated with Oscillococcinum (a patented homeopathic medicine (Boiron SA, Messimy, France), authorized since 1944 and sold in over 80 countries around the world) had an important reduction in mean number and duration of URTIs and COPD exacerbations compared with untreated patients. 12 Oscillococcinum is traditionally used in the relief of flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, chills and body aches. Several studies have shown the efficacy of this medication in the treatment of influenza-like illness and URTIs.…”