COPD Horizon Scanning Volume 3 Issue 10

COPD Horizon Scanning Volume 2 Issue 5

COPD Horizon Scanning Volume 2 Issue 3

Further Dissemination

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A simple case-management programme can improve outcomes in COPD

Source: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, published early online 14 January 2010

Follow this link for the abstract

Follow this link for the full-text

Date of publication: published early online 14 January 2010

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: This study aimed to determine whether an easily implemented programme that focussed on early recognition and self-treatment of exacerbations could improve outcomes in COPD patients. Participants were randomised to intervention and control groups, and followed for 12 months or death. The intervention comprised an education session lasting 1 to 1.5 hours, an action plan for self-treatment of exacerbations, and monthly follow-up telephone calls from a case manager. Control patients received usual care. The authors conclude that their relatively simple COPD disease management programme reduced hospitalisations and ED visits in this high-risk patient group by 41%.

Length of publication:  41 pages

Further Dissemination

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Efficacy and tolerability of yoga breathing in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a pilot study

Source: Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation & Prevention, March 2009, 29(2) pages 133-7

Date of publication: 2009

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: The study found that short-term training in yoga is well tolerated in patients with COPD and induces favourable respiratory changes.

Length of publication: 5 pages

Some important notes: Original article may be available with an NHS Athens username; contact your local NHS library service for details. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

Acknowledgement: MEDLINE

Yoga therapy decreases dyspnea-related distress and improves functional performance in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a pilot study

Source: The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, March 2009, 15(3) pages 225-234

Date of publication: 2009

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: Elderly patients with COPD participated safely in a 12-week yoga program especially designed for them. After the program, the subjects tolerated more activity with less dyspnea-related distress and improved their functional performance. But theses findings need to be confirmed in a larger, more sufficiently powered efficacy study.

Length of publication: 10 pages

Some important notes: Original article may be available with an NHS Athens username; contact your local NHS library service for details. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

Acknowledgement: PsycINFO

Prevalence of pulmonary embolism in acute exacerbations of COPD: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Source: CHEST, 01 March 2009, 135(3) pages 786-793

For fulltext link here. 

For abstract link here.

Date of publication: 2009

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: One in four COPD patients who require hospitalisation for an acute exacerbation may have pulmonary embolism (PE). A diagnosis of PE should be considered in patients with exacerbation severe enough to warrant hospitalisation, especially in those with an intermediate-to-high pretest probability of PE.

Length of publication: 8 pages

Some important notes: Original article may be available with an NHS Athens username; contact your local NHS library service for details. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

Acknowledgement: CINAHL

Incidence and risk factors of exacerbations among COPD patients in primary health care: APMPOC study

Source: BMC Public Health, 2009, vol.9 Issue 8

For fulltext link here. 

For abstract link here.

Date of publication: 2009

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: The aim of this study was to know the incidence and risk factors associated with exacerbations in patients with COPD in primary care. The results will be relevant to provide knowledge about natural history of the initial phases of the COPD and the impact and incidence of exacerbations in the patients with mild to moderate forms of COPD. This data is important in order to be aware of the milder forms of exacerbation which are often silent.

Length of publication: 10 pages

Some important notes: none

Acknowledgement: MEDLINE

Assessment of a primary and tertiary care integrated management model for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Source: BMC Public Health, 2009, vol.9(68)

For fulltext link here.

For abstract link here.

Date of publication: 2009

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: Sets out the protocol for assessing the impact of an integrated management model for the care of patients with COPD. The COPD PROCESS model foresees the integrated multidisciplinary management of interventions at different levels of the health-care system through coordinated routine clinical practice. It will put into practice diagnostic and treatment procedures that are based on current evidence, multidisciplinary consensus, and efficient use of available resources. Care pathways in this model are defined in terms of patient characteristics, level of disease severity and the presence or absence of exacerbation. The protocol covers the full range of care from primary prevention to treatment of complex cases.

Length of publication: 11 pages

Some important notes: none

Acknowledgement: EMBASE

TORCH and UPLIFT: What has been learned from the COPD “mega- trials”?

Source: COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, February 2009, vol. 6 . issue. 1 pages 1-3

For abstract link here

Year of publication: 2009

Publication type: Journal article

Some important notes: You will need an NHS Athens username and password to access this article full-text.  Please contact your local NHS library for further assistance.

In a nutshell: TORCH and UPLIFT are amongst the largest and most ambitious COPD trials ever undertaken. In terms of the primary outcomes, both trials were negative. Compared with placebo, combined salmeterol and fluticasone therapy did not significantly reduce all cause mortality over 3 years in TORCH, and tiotropium did not slow the decline in lung function over 4 years in UPLIFT. Secondary outcomes from these studies strongly confirmed findings from previous trials. Monotherapy with all three drugs provided small improvements in respiratory health status and reductions in exacerbation rates with some additive effect from the salmeterol/fluticasone combination. Both salmeterol/fluticasone and tiotropium also reduced COPD hospitalization rates. The trials provide very strong evidence that the long-acting bronchodilators, salmeterol and tiotropium, are not associated with increased risk of death or major cardiovascular adverse events.

Length of publication: 6 pages

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Acknowledgement: EMBASE