Primary care respiratory journal : journal of the General Practice Airways Group
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Multicenter Study Controlled Clinical Trial
The use of microspirometry in detecting lowered FEV1 values in current or former cigarette smokers.
COPD is an underdiagnosed disease. This study was undertaken to assess the value of microspirometry in detecting reduced FEV1 values in cigarette smokers, i.e., subjects at high risk for COPD. ⋯ Microspirometry finds a considerable number of smokers or ex-smokers with reduced FEV1 values. Microspirometry is quick to perform. All smokers with reduced microspirometry FEV1 values would benefit from smoking cessation, and all patients with reduced FEV1 values need to be considered for full spirometry to confirm if they actually have COPD.
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Prolonged cough is a frequent problem in the community. Several studies in the school setting have found that as many as 4.8% to 10.4% of children suffer from prolonged cough. There is no consensual definition of prolonged cough. ⋯ In absence of signs of specific underlying illness, coughing is generally a self-limiting condition. Symptomatic treatments have not yet been proven to be effective, and many of them may cause serious side effects. Their use should therefore be limited.
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Multicenter Study
Does use of a corticosteroid/long-acting beta-agonist combination inhaler increase adherence to inhaled corticosteroids?
This 12-month retrospective pilot study analysed prescription data of 82 patients with asthma from six practices in Norfolk. Patients on an inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting beta-agonist combination inhaler had significantly greater adherence to inhaled corticosteroids compared to those on a corticosteroid inhaler alone (76.7% versus 40.0%, p=0.001).
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Night-time cough in children with acute wheezing and with upper respiratory tract infection.
To evaluate night-time cough patterns in children with either acute wheezing or an URTI, and to correlate them to the clinical diagnosis. ⋯ Significant differences were found in night-time cough variables between children with an acute episode of wheezing and children with an URTI. This could be useful in clinical practice.