COPD
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Physical activity (PA) is significantly reduced in persons with COPD. Assessing reasons why persons with COPD do not engage in PA can guide development of effective interventions to promote PA. ⋯ Presence of COPD-related reasons and lower motivation and confidence are associated with lower daily step count. Management of dyspnea and education about medication use during exercise, and strategies to increase motivation and confidence could facilitate walking in COPD.
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, but longitudinal studies of the economic consequences of COPD are scarce. This study evaluated the economic consequences of COPD patients in Denmark and their spouses at a national level before and after initial diagnosis. ⋯ This study provides unique data on the economic consequences of COPD patients in Denmark and their spouses as well as displaying the serious health consequences for the individual spouse and society. Second, data shows substantial impact of COPD on income level and health expenses regardless of age and gender. It could be speculated that early identification and intervention might contribute to more health and economic equality between patients and controls.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Efficacy of low molecular weight heparin in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease receiving ventilatory support.
Severe and acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with a high mortality. Since COPD is an airway inflammatory disease, and heparin has shown anti-inflammatory effects in previous studies, we evaluated the clinical effect of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH; nadroparin) in COPD patients admitted into the hospital due to acute exacerbations. ⋯ The addition of LMWH to standard therapy benefits COPD patients with acute exacerbation.
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Abnormalities of autonomic function have been reported in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The effect of the exercise training in heart rate recovery (HRR) has not been established in patients with COPD. ⋯ These results suggest that training enhances HRR in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD. HRR is an easy tool to evaluate ANS such that it may be a useful clinical marker of parasympathetic nervous system response in patients with COPD.
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The CAT is a short, simple eight-item questionnaire for assessing and monitoring COPD. It is not known how reliable the CAT scores are for COPD patients who are frequently exacerbated. The effectiveness of the CAT for assessing COPD severity and exacerbation rates was evaluated. ⋯ We observed a good relation between the CAT, FEV 1, and disease severity in patients with COPD. We found that the baseline CAT scores are elevated in frequent exacerbators.