COPD: Analysing factors associated with a successful treatment.

Objectives: To evaluate if non-adherence to inhaled medications, inhalers mishandling or the prescribers' non-adherence to GOLD strategy are associated with mMRC grade, CAT score, COPD acute exacerbations or FEV%.

Methods: A cross-sectional study on COPD was conducted in the ambulatory pulmonary clinic of Hospital de Guimarães. Patients ≥40 years diagnosed according to GOLD criteria were recruited consecutively.

COPD: misuse of inhaler devices in clinical practice.

Inhalers mishandling remain an important clinical issue worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate inhalation technique in stable COPD out-patients. The variables under study were type of inhaler device (ID), patients' preference for an inhaler, number of IDs used by each patient, beliefs about inhaler medication and some demographic, clinical and functional patients' characteristics.

Characterisation of morbidity in a COPD hospital cohort.

Objectives: To characterise the morbidity of COPD out-patients based on symptoms, acute exacerbations, FEV and comorbidities, and to explore the association between different patients' characteristics such as social, demographic, clinical history or exposure.

Methods: Stable COPD outpatients over 40 years old diagnosed according to GOLD criteria were included consecutively; the exclusion criteria were only refusal to participate and inability to understand clinical questionnaires. A survey of demographic and clinical data was conducted.