An editorial notes that these data from China are particularly important for patients with GOLD stage 1 disease and those with mild symptoms because evidence about treatment for these subgroups of patients is scarce. It questions that with the development of new drugs, whether treatment with another drug in the class of long-acting muscarinic antagonists or long-acting beta-agonists or their combination help to improve lung function, slow the decline in lung function, improve quality of life, and decrease the incidence of exacerbations among patients with early COPD. It calls for further studies of the newer drugs and longer-term studies to improve available treatments for millions of patients with early-stage COPD worldwide. It concludes that for now, the evidence supports the judicious use of treatment in patients with symptomatic early-stage COPD or in those who are recovering from an exacerbation.