scholarly journals COPD Diagnosis: Time for Disruption

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (20) ◽  
pp. 4660
Author(s):  
Emiel F. M. Wouters ◽  
Marie K. Breyer ◽  
Robab Breyer-Kohansal ◽  
Sylvia Hartl

Articulating a satisfactory definition of a disease is surprisingly difficult. Despite the alarming individual, societal and economic burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diagnosis is still largely based on a physiologically dominated disease conception, with spirometrically determined airflow limitation as a cardinal feature of the disease. The diagnostic inaccuracy and insensitivity of this physiological disease definition is reviewed considering scientific developments of imaging of the respiratory system in particular. Disease must be approached as a fluid concept in response to new scientific and medical discoveries, but labelling as well as mislabelling someone as diseased, will have enormous individual, social and financial implications. Nosology of COPD urgently needs to dynamically integrate more sensitive diagnostic procedures to detect the breadth of abnormalities early in the disease process. Integration of broader information for the identification of abnormalities in the respiratory system is a cornerstone for research models of underlying pathomechanisms to create a breakthrough in research.

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1153
Author(s):  
Shih-Lung Cheng ◽  
Ching-Hsiung Lin

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a preventable and treatable disease that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, giving rise to an enormous social and economic burden. The Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (GOLD) report is one of the most frequently used documents for managing COPD patients worldwide. A survey was conducted across country-level members of Asia-Pacific Society of Respiratory (APSR) for collecting an updated version of local COPD guidelines, which were implemented in each country. This is the first report to summarize the similarities and differences among the COPD guidelines across the Asia-Pacific region. The degree of airflow limitation, assessment of COPD severity, management, and pharmacologic therapy of stable COPD will be reviewed in this report.


Thorax ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 56 (9) ◽  
pp. 713-720
Author(s):  
J Hadcroft ◽  
P M A Calverley

BACKGROUNDBronchodilator reversibility testing is recommended in all patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but does not predict improvements in breathlessness or exercise performance. Two alternative ways of assessing lung mechanics—measurement of end expiratory lung volume (EELV) using the inspiratory capacity manoeuvre and application of negative expiratory pressure (NEP) during tidal breathing to detect tidal airflow limitation—do relate to the degree of breathlessness in COPD. Their usefulness as end points in bronchodilator reversibility testing has not been examined.METHODSWe studied 20 patients with clinically stable COPD (mean age 69.9 (1.5) years, 15 men, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 29.5 (1.6)% predicted) with tidal flow limitation as assessed by their maximum flow-volume loop. Spirometric parameters, slow vital capacity (SVC), inspiratory capacity (IC), and NEP were measured seated, before and after nebulised saline, and at intervals after 5 mg nebulised salbutamol and 500 μg nebulised ipratropium bromide. The patients attended twice and the treatment order was randomised.RESULTSMean FEV1, FVC, SVC, and IC were unchanged after saline but the degree of tidal flow limitation varied. FEV1 improved significantly after salbutamol and ipratropium (0.11 (0.02) l and 0.09 (0.02) l, respectively) as did the other lung volumes with further significant increases after the combination. Tidal volume and mean expiratory flow increased significantly after all bronchodilators but breathlessness fell significantly only after the combination treatment. The initial NEP score was unrelated to subsequent changes in lung volume.CONCLUSIONSNEP is not an appropriate measurement of acute bronchodilator responsiveness. Changes in IC were significantly larger than those in FEV1and may be more easily detected. However, our data showed no evidence for separation of “reversible” and “irreversible” groups whatever outcome measure was adopted.


2009 ◽  
Vol 106 (6) ◽  
pp. 1902-1908 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Rodríguez-Roisin ◽  
Mitra Drakulovic ◽  
Diego A. Rodríguez ◽  
Josep Roca ◽  
Joan Albert Barberà ◽  
...  

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by a decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and, in many advanced patients, by arterial hypoxemia with or without hypercapnia. Spirometric and gas exchange abnormalities have not been found to relate closely, but this may reflect a narrow range of severity in patients studied. Therefore, we assessed the relationship between pulmonary gas exchange and airflow limitation in patients with COPD across the severity spectrum. Ventilation-perfusion (V̇A/Q̇) mismatch was measured using the multiple inert gas elimination technique in 150 patients from previous studies. The distribution of patients according to the GOLD stage of COPD was: 15 with stage 1; 40 with stage 2; 32 with stage 3; and 63 with stage 4. In GOLD stage 1, AaPo2 and V̇A/Q̇ mismatch were clearly abnormal; thereafter, hypoxemia, AaPo2, and V̇A/Q̇ imbalance increased, but the changes from GOLD stages 1–4 were modest. Postbronchodilator FEV1 was related to PaO2 ( r = 0.62) and PaCO2 ( r = −0.59) and to overall V̇A/Q̇ heterogeneity ( r = −0.48) ( P < 0.001 each). Pulmonary gas exchange abnormalities in COPD are related to FEV1 across the spectrum of severity. V̇A/Q̇ imbalance, predominantly perfusion heterogeneity, is disproportionately greater than airflow limitation in GOLD stage 1, suggesting that COPD initially involves the smallest airways, parenchyma, and pulmonary vessels with minimal spirometric disturbances. That progression of V̇A/Q̇ inequality with spirometric severity is modest may reflect pathogenic processes that reduce both local ventilation and blood flow in the same regions through airway and alveolar disease and capillary involvement.


2010 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-41
Author(s):  
Ivan Cekerevac ◽  
Zorica Lazic ◽  
Ljiljana Novkovic ◽  
Marina Petrovic ◽  
Vojislav Cupurdija ◽  
...  

Background/Aim. Peripheral muscle weakness and nutritional disorders, firstly loss of body weight, are common findings in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of pulmonary function parameters, nutritional status and state of peripheral skeletal muscles on exercise tolerance and development of dyspnea in COPD patients. Methods. Thirty COPD patients in stable state of disease were analyzed. Standard pulmonary function tests, including spirometry, body pletysmography, and measurements of diffusion capacity were performed. The 6-minute walking distance test (6MWD) was done in order to assess exercise tolerance. Level of dyspnea was measured with Borg scale. In all patients midthigh muscle cross-sectional area (MTCSA) was measured by computerized tomography scan. Nutritional status of patients was estimated according to body mass index (BMI). Results. Statistically significant correlations were found between parameters of pulmonary function and exercise tolerance. Level of airflow limitation and lung hyperinflation had significant impact on development of dyspnea at rest and especially after exercise. Significant positive correlation was found between MTCSA and exercise tolerance. Patients with more severe airflow limitation, lung hyperinflation and reduced diffusion capacity had significantly lower MTCSA. Conclusion. Exercise tolerance in COPD patients depends on severity of bronchoobstruction, lung hyperinflation and MTCSA. Severity of bronchoobstruction and lung hyperinflation have significant impact on dyspnea level.


Author(s):  
Amrit Sharma

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is defined as persistent airflow limitation that is usually progressive and associated with an enhanced chronic inflammatory response in the airways and the lung to noxious particles or gases. It has been suggested that emotional disturbances such as depression and anxiety are common among patients with COPD. This review aims to highlight the presence of depression and associated risk factors among patients suffering from COPD in Asia. Fifty-eight observational studies were retrieved through data sources like PubMed, Medical subject heading (MeSH) search and Google scholar. After thorough screening total thirteen studies were identified and included in this review. Based on the results of these studies, the south and west Asian countries had higher proportion of depression. However, risk factor results were mixed which includes severity of obstruction/global initiative for obstructive lung disease (GOLD) criteria, Stage 2 COPD, teetotallers, smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnoea, and exercise (BODE) index, urban residence, female gender, education level, dyspnoea, low income, poor Quality of life (QOL) scores, age, poor self-reported health, basic activity of daily living (BADL) disability. Further superior research studies with larger sample size are required on Asian population. All in all, it is recommended that early diagnosis and treatment of depression should be included as a part of management in COPD as it can help to minimize the risk of morbidity and mortality in the patients.


Author(s):  
Svetlana N. Vygovskaya ◽  
Alexey A. Voropaev ◽  
Tatyana V. Konchugova ◽  
Elena M. Styazhkina

Background. To date, the study of respiratory function in the clinic is limited, as a rule, to the determination of bronchial conduction indicators, as well as bronchodilation tests, which at the present stage is insufficient for a deep assessment of the functional state of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Aims. The development of personalized medical rehabilitation programs for patients who have undergone ischemic stroke at various stages of rehabilitation, including spa. Materials and methods. The article considers the effectiveness of the new method of treating neurological disorders in patients suffering from acute cerebral circulation disorder and having respiratory system function disorder at different stages of rehabilitation, based on the complex application of physiobalneotherapy, LFC and mechanotherapy in sanatorium and resort conditions. Results. After the course of using physical methods of treatment, patients with comorbid pathology showed improvement in health, relief of breathing, reduction of shortness of breath, cough, sputum production, disappearance of wheezing in the lungs. Conclusion. Patients in the early and late recovery period after acute cerebral circulation disorder with accompanying clinical-functional manifestations of respiratory pathology are shown to include in the rehabilitation complex general gasair carbon dioxide baths, nebulizer inhalations of broncho- and mucolytic preparations, as well as classes on a rowing simulator (rowing) against the background of standard drug therapy and therapeutic exercise in the hall.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Aziz Gumus ◽  
Neslihan Ozcelik ◽  
Bilge Yilmaz Kara ◽  
Songul Ozyurt ◽  
Unal Sahin

Introduction. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The disease is characterized by progressive airway inflammation, which not only affects the airways but also has systemic effects that are associated with comorbidities. Although comorbid conditions such as hypertension and coronary artery disease are very well-known in COPD patients, diseases of the thyroid gland have not been sufficiently studied. Therefore, thyroid diseases are not considered among the comorbid conditions of COPD. The purpose of this study was to determine the thyroid gland disease (TGD) prevalence in COPD and associated factors. Materials and Method. The study included 309 (297 (96%) male) patients. The patients were subjected to spirometry and thyroid function tests (TFT) in the stable period. The thyroid gland disease they were diagnosed with was recorded after face-to-face meetings and examining their files. Results. The mean age of the patients who were included in the study was 65.9 ± 9.8 (40-90). Thyroid disease was determined in 68 (22%) individuals. There were hypothyroidism in 7 (2%), euthyroidism in 45 (15%), and hyperthyroidism in 16 (%5) patients. No relationship was found between the severity of airflow limitation and the prevalence of TGD. Conclusion. Thyroid abnormalities are commonly observed in COPD. The most frequently encountered TGDs are euthyroid multinodular goiter, euthyroid sick syndrome (ESS), and toxic multinodular goiter.


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