scholarly journals Disability in Moderate Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Prevalence, Burden and Assessment - Results from a Real-Life Study

Respiration ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 100-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fulvio Braido ◽  
Ilaria Baiardini ◽  
Nicola Scichilone ◽  
Claudio Sorino ◽  
Fabiano Di Marco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Disease Prevalence ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Life Study ◽  
Real Life Study ◽  
Assessment Results

scholarly journals The Importance of Inhaler Adherence to Prevent COPD Exacerbations

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose R Jardim ◽  
Oliver A. Nascimento
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Good Adherence ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Life Study ◽  
Copd Exacerbations

It has been shown that the better outcomes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are closely associated with adherence to drug therapy, independent of the treatment administered. The clinical trial Towards a Revolution in COPD Health (TORCH) study clearly showed in a three year follow up that patients with good adherence to their inhaler treatment presented a longer time before the first exacerbation, a lower susceptibility to exacerbation and lower all-cause mortality. The Latin American Study of 24-hour Symptoms in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (LASSYC), a real-life study, evaluated the self-reported inhaler adherence in COPD patients in seven countries in a cross-sectional non-interventional study and found that approximately 50% of the patients had good adherence, 30% moderate adherence and 20% poor adherence. Adherence to inhaler may be evaluated by the specific inhaler adherence questionnaire, the Test of Adherence to Inhalers (TAI). Several factors may predict the incorrect use of inhalers or adherence in COPD outpatient, including the number of devices and the daily dosing frequency. Ideally, patient education, simplicity of the device operation, the use of just one device for multiple medications and the best adaptation of the patient to the inhaler should guide the physician in prescribing the device.

scholarly journals Reassessing the Role of Eosinophils as a Biomarker in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 962 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tinè ◽  
Biondini ◽  
Semenzato ◽  
Bazzan ◽  
Cosio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Inhaled Corticosteroids ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Copd Patients ◽  
Exacerbation Risk ◽  
Blood Eosinophils

Blood eosinophils measurement, as proxy for tissue eosinophils, has become an important biomarker for exacerbation risk and response to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Its use to determine the pharmacological approach is recommended in the latest COPD guidelines. The potential role of blood eosinophils is mainly based on data derived from post-hoc and retrospective analyses that showed an association between increased blood eosinophils and risk of exacerbations, as well as mitigation of this risk with ICS. Yet other publications, including studies in real life COPD, do not confirm these assumptions. Moreover, anti-eosinophil therapy targeting interleukin (IL)-5 failed to reduce exacerbations in COPD patients with high blood eosinophils, which casts significant doubts on the role of eosinophils in COPD. Furthermore, a reduction of eosinophils might be harmful since COPD patients with relatively high eosinophils have better pulmonary function, better life quality, less infections and longer survival. These effects are probably linked to the role of eosinophils in the immune response against pathogens. In conclusion, in COPD, high blood eosinophils are widely used as a biomarker for exacerbation risk and response to ICS. However, much is yet to be learned about the reasons for the high eosinophil counts, their variations and their controversial effects on the fate of COPD patients.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document