Vol. 6, Issue 1, Part A (2024)

Objective: The current survey-based study aims to assess the preferences and practices of healthcare professionals regarding the diagnosis and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchitis in Indian clinical settings, with a special focus on the use of N-acetylcysteine and acebrophylline (NAA) combination and their adjuvant therapies.
Methodology: The survey, conducted through a questionnaire consisting of 20 questions, collected opinions from specialists across India regarding the current practices and prescription patterns of the NAA combination for COPD management. Additionally, the survey investigated the recommendation of amoxicillin + clavulanic acid and montelukast + levocetirizine, alongside the NAA combination, for managing infections associated with bronchitis/COPD and mucus control.
Results: According to 68% of the 114 respondents, the diagnosis of COPD was based on the results of a pulmonary function test. Approximately 51% of the respondents recommended the NAA combination for COPD patients, while 44% preferred the combination to treat both acute and chronic bronchitis. According to 45% of the respondents, bronchiolitis is the most common disease that requires an NAA combination. The majority of respondents (42.10%) stated that they would recommend administering the NAA combination for a duration of 10 to 15 days. Additionally, 50% of the participants stated that this NAA combination treatment could lead to an improvement in COPD symptoms within 7 days. Furthermore, most of the participants recommended a combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid antibiotics, along with montelukast and levocetirizine, prescription as adjuvant therapy in conjunction with the NAA combination.
Conclusion: Experts emphasized the use of the NAA combination as a promising therapeutic approach for managing COPD patients and its potential benefits in addressing both acute and chronic bronchitis. Clinical improvement was noted after a week of using this medicine combination, which was reported to be helpful when administered for 10-15 days. Additionally, adjuvant therapies such as amoxicillin, clavulanic acid, montelukast, and levocetirizine are commonly recommended in conjunction with the NAA combination for effective mucus management in case of asthma/bronchitis/COPD.