Ipratropium or Salbutamol Sulphate Alone or Combination Therapy Salbutamol and Ipratropium in Patients With COPD

Inclusion Criteria: * Male and female patients with moderate to severe stable COPD: * Patients with a diagnosis of chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema * FEV1 \<65% of predicted value without regard to prior treatment * Forced expiratory ration (FER = FEV1/VC) \<70% of predicted value without regard to prior treatment * Patients must not have had a respiratory infection or an exacerbation of COPD during the four weeks immediately prior to entering the trial * Patients must not have changed their normal treatment for COPD during the four weeks immediately prior to entering the trial * Patient aged ≥40 years * Patients with a smoking history of ≥15 pack-years * Patients must have given informed consent to participate in the trial Exclusion Criteria: * Patients with a diagnosis of asthma, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis or bronchiolitis obliterans * Patients with any of the following: * untreated angle closure glaucoma * hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy * tachyarrhythmia * recent myocardial infarction (within six months of screening visit) * severe organic cardiac or vascular disorder * untreated hyperthyroidism * diabetes mellitus (after approval of Protocol Amendment 1, the inclusion of well controlled diabetic patients was allowed) * Patients who are pregnant, or who are planning a pregnancy, and nursing mothers * Patients known to be hypersensitive to anticholinergic drugs or to β2 agonists * Patients known to abuse drugs or alcohol * Patients, who in the opinion of the investigator, are likely not to co-operate with any of the requirements of the trial * Patients with a PaO2 (arterial carbon dioxide tension) \<56 mmHg (7.5 kPa) at rest while breathing air without regard to prior treatment * Patients with a SaO2 ≤85% at rest while breathing air without regard to prior treatment * Patients who are taking part in another investigation, and patients who have participated in another clinical trial during the three months immediately preceding entry to this trial * Patients on home oxygen concentrator therapy * Patients who have previously participated in the randomised phase of this trial