Never-smokers make up >25% of the people with COPD in some studies. Who are these people? The BOLD study gathered data from 14 countries (in the U.S., Europe, Turkey, China, South Africa, Philippines and Australia), including spirometry and questionnaires on environmental exposures and symptoms from 10,000 people. Of the 4,291 never-smokers, 4% had ATS-defined COPD (5.6% by [… read more]
Iyer et al re-checked PFTs on 1,284 people with nonspecific results (low FEV1 or FVC but normal TLC and FEV1/FVC ratio), at a median of 3 years after the abnormal test. 64% continued to have the nonspecific result; 16% had restriction; 15% had obstruction; 2% had a mixed pattern; 3% were normal. They recommend changing [… read more]
COPD’s systemic inflammatory effects are postulated to negatively impact bone turnover. After looking at CT scans, PFTs, and steroid history in 190 current and former smokers, Bon et al found visual emphysema on chest CT was highly correlated with osteopenia/osteoporosis, with an odds ratio of 2.55 that was independent of airflow limitation, age, sex, inhaled/oral [… read more]
Molecular diagnosis of respiratory tract infection in COPD exacerbations: Sethi S, Clin Infect Dis 2011;52 (supplement 4):S290-294.
Transtracheal oxygen therapy: Christopher KL, Schwartz MD
Long-term oxygen therapy: Christopher KL & Porte P, CHEST 2011;139:430-440
The once-daily beta-agonist was better than placebo and at least as good as twice-daily salmeterol, as measured by the SGRQ, TDI, and FEV1 after 12 weeks. The drug previously matched up well against tiotropium. Indacaterol is available in Europe, but not in the U.S. (n=838). ERJ 2011;37:273-279.
Inspiratory muscle training in COPD: Gosselink R, ERJ 2011;37:416-425.
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