COPD
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
A double-blind crossover study comparing the safety and efficacy of three weeks of Flu/Sal 250/50 bid plus albuterol 180 ug prn q4 hours to Flu/Sal 250/50 bid plus albuterol/Ipratropium bromide 2 puffs prn q4 hours in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of Fluticasone 250 microg/Salmeterol 50 microg 1 puff bid for maintenance therapy in patients with COPD associated with chronic bronchitis. Short-acting beta agonists (SABA) have been the recommended rescue medication; however, previous studies have shown that combination short-acting Albuterol (alb) /Ipratropium bromide (IB) has superior bronchodilator properties to albuterol alone in patients with COPD. The safety and efficacy of Albuterol compared to Albuterol/Ipratropium bromide as rescue medications for COPD patients on maintenance combination therapy of ICS/LABA has not been evaluated. ⋯ The mean baseline FEV(1) (range) was 1.12 L (0.56-1.67) or 40.6 (21-65)% predicted. There were no statistically significant differences between either rescue inhaler formulation with regard to measures neither of lung function or dyspnea nor in terms of safety parameters of cardiac monitoring, glucose and potassium levels and other adverse events. SABA and combination SABA/Ipratropium bromide are equally safe and efficacious as rescue inhalers for patients on combination Fluticasone 500 microg/Salmeterol 50 microg.
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Review Historical Article
COPD as a lung disease with systemic consequences--clinical impact, mechanisms, and potential for early intervention.
The natural course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is complicated by the development of systemic consequences and co-morbidities. These may be major features in the clinical presentation of COPD, prompting increasing interest. Systemic consequences may be defined as non-pulmonary manifestations of COPD with an immediate cause-and-effect relationship, whereas co-morbidities are diseases associated with COPD. ⋯ Importantly, although the prevalence of systemic consequences increases with increasing severity of airflow obstruction, both systemic consequences and co-morbidities are already present in the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease Stage II. This supports the concept of early intervention in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Although at present early intervention studies in COPD are lacking, circumstantial evidence suggests that current treatments may influence events leading to the systemic consequences and co-morbidities, and thus may affect the clinical manifestations of the disease.
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Palliative care services for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been limited in most health care schemes despite the significant impact its symptoms can have on quality of life (QOL). Palliative care must be integrated to address physical and emotional distress and QOL deterioration more effectively. Multi-factorial barriers in current health care systems impede the provision of palliative care, including the lack of familiarity among health care professionals. ⋯ We suggest a scheme for identifying COPD patients for palliative care and for delivering simultaneous disease-directed care to help patients live life to the fullest. Pulmonary rehabilitation offers the best venue for incorporating palliative care. We review the need for, barriers to, and key activities for integrating palliative care into the current health care management of patients living with COPD.
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Comparative Study
Survival with tiotropium compared to long-acting Beta-2-agonists in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the fourth-leading cause of chronic morbidity and mortality in North America and its burden continues to increase. Tiotropium has been shown to reduce exacerbations, hospitalizations, symptoms, and improve health-related quality of life in patients with COPD. Its effect on mortality and its effects relative to long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs), however, remain unknown. ⋯ In conclusion, in older patients recently discharged from hospital for COPD, receiving tiotropium was found to be associated with reduced mortality at 6 months compared to receiving a long-acting beta-agonist. This result suggests that tiotropium might also be associated with decreased mortality compared to no treatment at all. Randomized placebo-control trials are needed to confirm these findings.