scholarly journals The patients with severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and chronic respiratory insufficiency

2016 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Ambrosino ◽  
M. Di Giorgio ◽  
A. Di Paco

Caring for patients with Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stages III and IV with chronic respiratory failure is difficult independent of whether the target is survival or quality of life (QOL). The role of inhaled drug therapy in this specific set of very severe COPD patients has not previously been assessed. The only drug able to prolong survival in these patients is long term oxygen therapy, whereas there is little evidence to indicate long term domiciliary mechanical ventilation in the routine management of stable hypercapnic patients. Supplemental oxygen during exercise reduces exercise breathlessness and improves exercise capacity of the hypoxaemic patient. Pulmonary rehabilitation including nutritional supplementation is a significant component of therapy, even in these severe patients. Relief of dyspnoea with drugs such as morphine should not be denied to severely disabled patients who share poor QOL with cancer patients. Non-invasive ventilation has been used as a palliative treatment to reduce dyspnoea. Lung Volume Reduction Surgery may improve mortality, exercise capacity, and QOL in selected patients, but is associated with significant morbidity and an early mortality rate in the most severe patients. Lung transplantation is a final step in end-stage patients, but short- and long-term outcomes remain significantly inferior in relation to other “solid” organs recipients.

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudio Micheletto ◽  
Alice Sparacino

: Triple inhaled therapy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) includes an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), a long-acting b2-agonist (LABA) and a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) taken in combination. Triple therapy is recommended by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) for patients who experience recurrent exacerbations despite treatment with either a dual bronchodilator or LABA/ICS combination. There is consistent evidence that the LABA/LAMA/ICS combination has significantly greater effects on trough FEV1, symptoms, quality of life, and exercise performance compared to comparator treatments. : The role of triple therapy in reducing exacerbations in COPD patients is debatable, but recent trials have revealed some intriguing insights. : Three pivotal studies, namely TRILOGY, TRINITY and TRIBUTE have been conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of extrafine Beclomethasone/Formoterol Fumarate/Glycopyrronium Bromide (BDP/FF/GB) versus different treatment options for COPD. Extrafine BDP/FF/GB has been compared to an ICS/LABA (BDP/FF) combination in the TRILOGY study, to a LAMA monotherapy (Tiotropium-TIO) and an extemporary triple combination of ICS/LABA + LAMA (BDP/FF + TIO) in the TRINITY study, and to one inhalation of LABA/LAMA per day (Indacaterol/ Glycopyrronium - IND/GLY) in the TRIBUTE study. : Another triple therapy with Fluticasone Furoate/Umeclidinium/Vilanterol (FF/UMEC/VI) was recently tested in two further studies that included patients with COPD. The FULFIL study compared the efficacy of the triple FF/UMEC/VI therapy to the ICS/LABA association budesonide/formoterol, while the IMPACT study compared the rate of moderate and severe exacerbations between singleinhaler FF/UMEC/VI and single-inhaler FF/VI or UMEC/VI.


2018 ◽  
Vol 96 (6) ◽  
pp. 527-536
Author(s):  
N. A. Karoli ◽  
A. P. Rebrov

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) creates conditions for endothelial damage with the development of endothelial dysfunction: hypoxia, an increase in biologically active substances, including cytokines, leukotrienes, etc. Previous studies have been conducted in COPD patients with a combination of arterial hypertension and coronary heart disease. The aim of the study was to evaluate the endothelial damage and the vasoregulatory function of the vascular wall in patients with COPD of varying severity. Material and methods. The study included 76patients with COPD (men, mean age 51.14 ± 0.97years). COPD was defined according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (2013) guidelines. The patients were divided into two groups according to COPD severity: the 1st group (GOLD I-II) included 27 patients, the 2nd group (GOLD III-IV) included 49 patients. Antithrombogenic, vasoregulatory function of the endothelium, synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) in blood plasma by the level of stable NO metabolites (nitrates and nitrites) was studied. The number of desquamated endotheliocytes, von Willebrand factors in the blood was determined. As a result of the study, a significant damage to the endothelium, an increase in the thickness of the wall of the brachial artery, a decrease in the total plasma concentration of stable NO metabolites, a violation of the antithrombogenic and vasoregulatory activity of the vascular wall in COPD patients compared with healthy people. The most significant changes were found in patients with severe COPD.


2013 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giorgio Fumagalli ◽  
Fabrizio Fabiani ◽  
Silvia Forte ◽  
Massimiliano Napolitano ◽  
Paolo Marinelli ◽  
...  

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is often associated with comorbidities, especially cardiovascular, that have a heavy burden in terms of hospitalization and mortality. Since no conclusive data exist on the prevalence and type of comorbidities in COPD patients in Italy, we planned the INDACO observational pilot study to evaluate the impact of comorbidities in patients referred to the outpatient wards of four major hospitals in Rome. Methods: For each patient we recorded anthropometric and anamnestic data, smoking habits, respiratory function, GOLD (Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) severity stage, Body Mass Index (BMI), number of acute COPD exacerbations in previous years, presence and type of comorbidities, and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Results: Here we report and discuss the results of the first 169 patients (124 males, mean age 74±8 years). The prevalence of patients with comorbidities was 94.1% (25.2% of cases presented only one comorbidity, 28.3% two, 46.5% three or more). There was a high prevalence of arterial hypertension (52.1%), metabolic syndrome (20.7%), cancers (13.6%) and diabetes (11.2%) in the whole study group, and of anxiety-depression syndrome in females (13%). Exacerbation frequency was positively correlated with dyspnea score and negatively with BMI. Use of combination of bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids was more frequent in younger patients with more severe airways obstruction and lower CCI. Conclusions: These preliminary results show a high prevalence of comorbidities in COPD patients attending four great hospitals in Rome, but they need to be confirmed by further investigations in a larger patients cohort.


2021 ◽  

Aim: To compare serum laminin levels in eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic (neutrophilic) COPD patients and to define its association with disease severity. Material and Method: This prospective study included patients with mild, moderate, severe, and very severe stable COPD and a control group of patients with a history of smoking but with no signs or symptoms of COPD. Spirometric measurements and Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria, was used to define the disease severity. Blood eosinophil percentage was recorded from complete blood counts. Serum laminin levels were measured in all patients. Results: A total of 216 patients were included in the study. Ninety were in the eosinophilic COPD, 90 were in the non-eosinophilic COPD and 36 were in the control groups. In both COPD groups, serum laminin levels were significantly higher than in the control group (P = 0.001). In the eosinophilic COPD group, serum laminin levels were significantly higher than the non-eosinophilic COPD group (P = 0.001). With an increase in COPD severity, laminin levels were higher in both COPD groups (P = 0.001). In correlation analysis performed in all COPD patients, laminin levels were positively correlated with eosinophilia percentage (r = 0.316, P = 0.001) and negatively correlated with the FEV1/FVC ratio (r = -0.160, P = 0. 032). Conclusion: Laminin has an important role in eosinophilic COPD and increased serum laminin levels are associated with an increase in serum eosinophilia percentage and a decrease in respiratory capacity.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 167-170
Author(s):  
Yousser Mohammad ◽  
Fatima Yassine ◽  
Mais Khadouj

Abstract Objectives: To assess the most frequent co-morbidities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Patients and Methods: We studied 99 patients, including 72 males and 67 smokers, presented to our University Hospital in Lattakia, Syria in 2012, with a mean age of 63 years. Results: Overall, there were 61% hypertension, 37% ischemic heart disease, 25% diabetes, 45% anemia, and 47% pulmonary hypertension. Other diseases were less significant. Patients who had more severe Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease stage had a greater number of co-morbidities. Conclusions: We recommend as a general practice, to assess cardiac co-morbidities, hypertension, and other co-morbidities in all COPD patients and vice versa. We also recommend performing spirometry in smokers complaining of chronic cough, sputum, or dyspnea for early diagnosis of COPD.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 608
Author(s):  
Snehal Daga ◽  
Vrushali Khadke ◽  
Deepak Phalgune ◽  
Abbas Chopadawala

Background: The Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria classified chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by severity into four stages. Recently, Body mass index (BMI), Bronchial Obstruction, Dyspnea, Exercise (BODE) index, was proposed to provide useful prognostic information of COPD patients. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is measured by St. George’s Respiratory disease Questionnaire (SGRQ). Study was undertaken to assess correlations between BODE index and GOLD classification with SGRQ score.Methods: Fifty five COPD patients were included. Spirometry was performed in all patients. Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale was used to label severity of dyspnea. Six-minute walking distance (6 MWD) was performed. BODE index was calculated by giving points to BMI, forced expiratory volume in one minute (FEV1), 6 MWD, and mMRC. SGRQ was used to determine HRQOL. Correlation analysis was done using Pearson’s method.Results: Mean symptoms, mean activity, mean impacts and mean total SGRQ score were significantly higher in patients having mMRC scale 0-1, patients who could walk ≤149 meters, and in patients who had GOLD III and IV class. Lesser the FEV1, higher the mMRC grade, and lesser the 6 MWD, worse was the quality of life. BODE index (r = 0.72) and GOLD classification (r =0.59) were significantly and positively correlated with symptoms score, activity score, impacts score and total SGRQ score.Conclusions: BODE index correlated better than the Gold classification with SGRQ score implying that apart from the airflow limitation, functional impairment measured by the 6MWT and mMRC also affect HRQOL.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-38
Author(s):  
Nikolaos Tatsis ◽  
Sotirios Kakavas ◽  
Evgenios Metaxas ◽  
Evangelos Balis ◽  
George Tatsis ◽  
...  

Background: During the past few years, the use of criteria introduced by Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) is recommended for the diagnosis and classification of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease(COPD),taking into account the values of a Forced Expiratory Volume In 1 second (FEV1) and a Forced Expiratory Volume In 1 second (FEV1) to Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) ratio. In Europe, the reference values of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), that were originally developed in 1993 are still used. Aim of the Study: The study aimed to carry out measurement of spirometric values in a healthy, non smoking Greek population, development of local equations and comparison with ECSC and Global Lung Initiative(GLI) equations, in order to see if there is a need for separate ones in everyday use. Methods: Normal predicted values for FEV1 and FEV1/FVC% were obtained from a group of 500 healthy subjects, aged 18-89 years. In addition, a group of 124 COPD patients, with no other comorbidities was studied. Patients were classified according to GOLD criteria in four groups with ECSC, GLI predicted values or with our own predicted values. Results: The statistical analysis has revealed that there is no significant difference among the three sets of predicted values and no statistical difference was detected among the classification of COPD patients. Conclusion: It is shown that the 3 sets of predicted values are almost identical, despite the fact that they have been collected from different study populations.Αccording to the study, there is no need in recalculating values for Greek population.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolaos Tzanakis ◽  
Nikolaos Koulouris ◽  
Katerina Dimakou ◽  
Konstantinos Gourgoulianis ◽  
Epameinondas Kosmas ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a multifactorial clinical condition, characterized by chronic progressive (or worsening) respiratory symptoms, structural pulmonary abnormalities, and impaired lung function, and is often accompanied by multiple, clinically significant comorbid disorders. In 2017, the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) issued a new report on COPD prevention, diagnosis and management, aiming at personalizing the maintenance therapeutic approach of the stable disease, based on the patients’ symptoms and history of exacerbations (ABCD assessment approach). Our objective was to evaluate the implementation of GOLD suggestions in everyday clinical practice in Greece. Methods This was a cross-sectional observational study. Sixty-five different variables (demographics, vital sign measurements, COPD-related medical history parameters, comorbidities, vaccination data, COPD severity based on spirometry measurements, COPD stage based on the ABCD assessment approach, COPD treatments) were collected from 3615 nation-wide COPD patients (Greece). Results The mean age at the time of initial COPD diagnosis was 63.8 (± 10.2). Almost 60% of the subjects were classified into group B, while the remaining patients were falling into groups A (18%) and D (21%), and only a small minority of patients belonged to Group C, according to the ABCD assessment approach. The compliance of respiratory physicians to the GOLD 2017 therapeutic suggestions is problematic, especially when it comes to COPD patients belonging to Group A. Conclusion Our data provide valuable information regarding the demographic and medical profile of COPD patients in Greece, the domains which the revised ABCD assessment approach may show some clinical significance on, and the necessity for medical practitioners dealing with COPD patients to adhere closer to international recommendations for the proper management of the disease.


Author(s):  
Somayeh Ghadimi ◽  
Atefeh Fakharian ◽  
Mohsen Abedi ◽  
Reyhaneh Zahiri ◽  
Mahsan Norouz Afjeh ◽  
...  

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) leads to limited activity and reduced quality of life. Treatment of this disease is a long-term process that requires the cooperation of patients in monitoring and treatment. Methods: In the present study which was conducted from April 2019 to March 2021 in Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Tehran, Iran, 75 patients were randomly divided into telerehabilitation and control groups. Patients in the control group received pulmonary rehabilitation including respiratory, isometric, and aerobic exercises for 8 weeks, three times per week. In the second group, patients were given a lung rehabilitation booklet and asked to repeat the exercises three times a week for four weeks according to a specific schedule. In addition, patients installed Behzee care application on the mobile phone that recorded various indicators such as heart rate, SpO2, dyspnea, fatigue, and daily activities. This application reminded the patient of the program every day and at a specific time. Finally, the patients’ conditions were compared in the two groups after 8 weeks using CAT and mMRC questionnaires and 6-Minute Walk (6MW) exercise indices as well as spirometry tests. Results: In all four indicators (6MW, CAT,  and mMRC questionnaires as well as spirometry), patients showed improvement after rehabilitation (p<0.001). This improvement was significantly higher in the telemedicine group compared to the other group (p<0.01). Conclusion: The use of telerehabilitation in COPD patients is effective in improving spirometry indices, quality of life, as well as activity and sports indices.


2016 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Corrado ◽  
T. Renda ◽  
S. Bertini

Long term oxygen therapy (LTOT) has been shown to improve the survival rate in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients with severe resting hypoxemia by NOTT and MRC studies, published more than 25 years ago. The improved survival was found in patients who received oxygen for more than 15 hours/day. The effectiveness of LTOT has been documented only in stable COPD patients with severe chronic hypoxemia at rest (PaO255%. In fact no evidence supports the use of LTOT in COPD patients with moderate hypoxemia (55&lt;PaO2&lt;65 mmHg), and in those with decreased oxygen saturation (SO2&lt;90%) during exercise or sleep. Furthermore, it is generally accepted without evidence that LTOT in clinical practice is warranted in other forms of chronic respiratory failure not due to COPD when arterial blood gas criteria match those established for COPD patients. The prescription of oxygen in these circumstances, as for unstable patients, increases the number of patients receiving supplemental oxygen and the related costs. Comorbidities are likely to affect both prognosis and health outcomes in COPD patients, but at the moment we do not know if LTOT in these patients with complex chronic diseases and mild-moderate hypoxemia could be of any use. For these reasons a critical revision of the actual guide lines indications for LTOT in order to optimise effectiveness and costs, and future research in the areas that have not previously been addressed by NOTT and MRC studies, are mandatory.


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