International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2017
Occupational exposure to vapor, gas, dust, or fumes and chronic airflow limitation, COPD, and emphysema: the Swedish CArdioPulmonary BioImage Study (SCAPIS pilot).
The aim of this study was to estimate the occupational burden of airflow limitation, chronic airflow limitation, COPD, and emphysema. ⋯ The occupational burden of COPD and computed tomography-verified emphysema is substantial.
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2017
Long-term effects of beta-blocker use on lung function in Japanese patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Some recent studies have suggested that beta-blocker use in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with a reduction in the frequency of acute exacerbations. However, the long-term effects of beta-blocker use on lung function of COPD patients have hardly been evaluated. ⋯ Long-term beta-blocker use in Japanese COPD patients might not affect the FEV1, one of the most important parameters of lung function in COPD patients.
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2017
Observational StudyColds as predictors of the onset and severity of COPD exacerbations.
Common colds are associated with acute respiratory symptom exacerbations in COPD patients. ⋯ This study emphasizes the importance of colds in COPD exacerbation risk and severity, even in the absence of virus detection. COPD patients should act promptly when cold symptoms appear to facilitate early intervention for exacerbation prevention or management.
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2017
Observational StudyInitiation of triple therapy maintenance treatment among patients with COPD in the US.
The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) recommends triple therapy (long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonists, long-acting beta-2 agonists, and inhaled corticosteroids) for patients with only the most severe COPD. Data on the proportion of COPD patients on triple therapy and their characteristics are sparse and dated. Objective 1 of this study was to estimate the proportion of all, and all treated, COPD patients receiving triple therapy. Objective 2 was to characterize those on triple therapy and assess the concordance of triple therapy use with GOLD guidelines. ⋯ In this large US claims database study, one-quarter of all treated COPD patients received triple therapy. Although triple therapy is recommended for the most severe COPD patients, spirometry is infrequently assessed, and a majority of the patients who receive triple therapy may have only mild/moderate disease. Any potential overprescribing of triple therapy may lead to unnecessary costs to the patient and health care system.
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2017
Readmission After COPD Exacerbation Scale: determining 30-day readmission risk for COPD patients.
COPD affects over 13 million Americans, and accounts for over half a million hospitalizations annually. The Hospital Readmission Reduction Program, established by the Affordable Care Act requires the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to reduce payments to hospitals with excess readmissions for COPD as of 2015. This study sought to develop a predictive readmission scale to identify COPD patients at higher readmission risk. ⋯ The RACE Scale reliably predicts an individual patient's 30-day COPD readmission risk based on specific factors present at initial admission. By identifying these patients at high risk of readmission with the RACE Scale, patient-specific readmission-reduction strategies can be implemented to improve patient care as well as reduce readmissions and health care expenditures.