MedPage Today (1/5, Gever) reported that individuals "taking tiotropium bromide (Spiriva) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) appear to be at decreased risk for death and cardiovascular events compared with placebo," according to research published in the Jan. issue of CHEST. When investigators "pooled safety data from 30 clinical trials of tiotropium," they found that, "compared with placebo, patients taking the drug for up to four years had a relative risk for all-cause mortality of 0.88 (95% CI 0.77 to 0.999)." A previous "analysis of the clinical-trial safety database, maintained by tiotropium's manufacturer, Boehringer Ingelheim, had also indicated reduced rates of death and cardiovascular events."