Respiratory medicine
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Respiratory medicine · Feb 2006
ReviewEvidence for physical therapies (airway clearance and physical training) in cystic fibrosis: an overview of five Cochrane systematic reviews.
A range of physical therapies (including airway clearance and physical training) are used in cystic fibrosis (CF). The aim of this paper is to summarise the main findings from Cochrane systematic reviews that have considered the evidence for physical therapies in CF. ⋯ The Cochrane systematic reviews summarised in this paper provide some evidence to support the inclusion of physical therapies in the care-management plan of CF. They also provide information to steer the direction and focus of future research in this area.
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Respiratory medicine · Feb 2006
Randomized Controlled TrialEffect of formoterol/budesonide combination on arterial blood gases in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD.
Patients with severe chronic airway obstruction might suffer dangerous hypoxemia after administration of a beta-agonist despite bronchodilation. ⋯ These results suggest that when treating patients suffering from acute exacerbation of COPD with formoterol, it is prudent to check their arterial blood gases. In any case, combined administration of formoterol and budesonide reduces the potential for acute effects of formoterol on blood-gas tensions.
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Respiratory medicine · Feb 2006
Prevalence and underdiagnosis of COPD by disease severity and the attributable fraction of smoking Report from the Obstructive Lung Disease in Northern Sweden Studies.
There is a lack of epidemiological data on COPD by disease severity. We have estimated the prevalence and underdiagnosis of COPD by disease severity defined by the British Thoracic Society (BTS) and Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines. The impact of smoking was evaluated by the population attributable fraction of smoking in COPD. ⋯ Most subjects with COPD have a mild disease. The underdiagnosis is related to disease-severity. Though being symptomatic, only a half of the subjects with severe COPD are properly labelled. Smoking and increasing age were the major risk factors and acted synergistic.