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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a leading cause of death worldwide—and in Sri Lanka, the burden is particularly profound. Beyond breathing difficulties, people with COPD face an alarming risk of cardiovascular complications, including heart failure, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. But what if a simple, low-cost intervention could significantly reduce this hidden cardiac risk?
That’s precisely the question being addressed by the PACE in COPD trial (Preventing Adverse Cardiac Events in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), a large, multinational, Phase III randomized clinical trial exploring the potential of bisoprolol, a cardio-selective beta-blocker, to transform COPD management by tackling cardiovascular vulnerability. The study was sponsored by The George Institute for Global Health and The University of Otago.
Trial
Design: Phase III, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, parallel group
Participants: Adults with COPD, randomized into two groups.
Intervention: One group receives bisoprolol (1.25–5 mg daily), while the other gets a placebo, both alongside standard COPD care.
Duration: 24 months.
Primary Outcome: Measures all-cause mortality, cardiac/respiratory hospitalizations, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE).
The study uses a dose-titration approach, starting at a low dose (1.25 mg) and gradually increasing if well-tolerated. Safety checks are in place to adjust or reduce doses if side effects occur.
The study was conducted across Sri Lanka, including the sites:
Kandy National Hospital
National Hospital for Respiratory Diseases (NIRD), Welisara
Medical Research Institute (MRI), Colombo
Prof. Channa Ranasinha (Specialist Chest Physician) at the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Ragama was the Coordinating Principal Investigator of the study in Sri Lanka.
The study close-out visits were completed recently in Sri Lanka.
Click here to learn more about the trial SLCTR/2021/033