A 4-week Randomized, Double-blind, Crossover Study to Assess the Effect of a New LABA/LAMA Combination Versus LAMA Alone on Exertional Dyspnea, Exercise Endurance and Neuromechanical Coupling in Patients With GOLD Stage II COPD

Preliminary information from our laboratory indicated that even patients with milder chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can have significant physiological derangements which become more pronounced during exercise, leading to intolerable dyspnea at lower levels of ventilation than in health. This study will explore pathophysiological mechanisms of dyspnea and activity limitation in GOLD stage II COPD and will determine if there is a sound physiological rationale for the use of dual long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA)/long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) therapy (GSK573719/ GW642444 Inhalation Powder) versus LAMA alone (GSK573719) as treatment for dyspnea and exercise intolerance in this subpopulation. Objectives of this study are to determine if: 1) neuromechanical uncoupling of the respiratory system contributes to exertional dyspnea in milder COPD, and 2) treatment with LABA/LAMA improves dyspnea and exercise endurance compared with LAMA by improving neuromechanical coupling. The investigators hypothesize that: 1) dyspnea is related to excessive dynamic lung hyperinflation, tidal volume restriction and increased ratio of central respiratory neural drive to tidal volume displacement, a measure of neuromechanical uncoupling of the respiratory system, and 2) LABA/LAMA will improve dyspnea and exercise endurance, which will be explained by partial reversal of the above mechanical abnormalities. The investigators will conduct a randomized, double-blind crossover study and compare the effects of once-daily LABA/LAMA over 4-weeks with LAMA on dyspnea, exercise endurance and ventilatory mechanics in GOLD stage II COPD.