International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2016
Prognostic role of D-dimer for in-hospital and 1-year mortality in exacerbations of COPD.
Serum D-dimer is elevated in respiratory disease. The objective of our study was to investigate the effect of D-dimer on in-hospital and 1-year mortality after acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). ⋯ D-dimer was a strong and independent risk factor for in-hospital and 1-year death for AECOPD patients.
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2016
A cross-sectional study to assess inhalation device handling and patient satisfaction in COPD.
Delivery of inhaled medications via an inhaler device underpins the effectiveness of treatment for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Correct inhaler technique among patients is also a predictor of achieving treatment compliance and adherence. Reporting of patient satisfaction with inhalers is therefore gaining increasing attention and is now recognized as an important patient-reported outcome in clinical trials involving patients with COPD or asthma. ⋯ For the primary endpoint, the mean PASAPQ total score in the Respimat(®) and Breezhaler(®) groups was 80.7 and 79.9, respectively (difference of 0.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] -2.9 to 4.5; P=0.67). The mean total performance scores were 82.5 and 78.2 (difference of 4.3, 95% CI -0.3 to 8.9; P=0.06), and the mean total convenience scores were 78.6 and 81.9 (difference of -3.3, 95% CI -7.0 to 0.4; P=0.08) for the Respimat(®) and Breezhaler(®) groups, respectively. Patients gave the Respimat(®) SMI and the Breezhaler(®) DPI overall satisfaction PASAPQ scores of 6.0 and 5.9, respectively, which shows that patients were satisfied with these inhalers.
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2016
Continuous quantitative measurement of the proximal airway dimensions and lung density on four-dimensional dynamic-ventilation CT in smokers.
Four-dimensional dynamic-ventilation computed tomography (CT) imaging demonstrates continuous movement of the airways and lungs, which cannot be depicted with conventional CT. We aimed to investigate continuous changes in lung density and airway dimensions and to assess the correlation with spirometric values in smokers. ⋯ Respiratory changes in the MLD and synchrony between the airway Ai and the MLD measured with dynamic-ventilation CT were correlated with patient's spirometric values.
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2016
Comparative StudyCOPD exacerbations associated with the modified Medical Research Council scale and COPD assessment test among Humana Medicare members.
The Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guidelines recommend assessment of COPD severity, which includes symptomatology using the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) or COPD assessment test (CAT) score in addition to the degree of airflow obstruction and exacerbation history. While there is great interest in incorporating symptomatology, little is known about how patient reported symptoms are associated with future exacerbations and exacerbation-related costs. ⋯ The patient-reported symptoms contribute important information related to future COPD exacerbations and exacerbation-related costs beyond that explained by exacerbation history.
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2016
Comparative StudyPulmonary effects of active smoking and secondhand smoke exposure among adolescent students in Juárez, Mexico.
Youth smoking trends among Latin American countries, including Mexico, are on the rise. Notably, although the high prevalence of smoking in teens has been well documented in the literature, few studies have evaluated the impact of smoking and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure on their respiratory system. ⋯ Our findings suggest that initiation of cigarette smoking and, to a lesser extent, exposure to SHS in adolescence leads to increased respiratory symptoms and reduction of pulmonary function test values. Public health initiatives that aim to prevent smoking initiation, assist in cessation, and lessen SHS exposure of adolescents need to be school-based and employed as early as middle school.