Counterpoint: Should an attempt be made to withdraw inhaled corticosteroids in all patients with stable GOLD 3 (30% ≤ FEV1 < 50% predicted) COPD? No.

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) have been accepted by successive GOLD documents as being effective agents for the prevention of COPD exacerbations and decline in health status. The combination of an ICS and a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) is superior to the LABA alone in achieving these positive ben...