A predictive model of hospitalisation and death from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Rationale: A recent study showed that doctors are excessively pessimistic about the prognosis in patients with COPD and suggested that a simple tool to predict outcome is needed.

Methods: In a prospective observational study, 3343 patients with an FEV1<80% of the predicted value and FEV1/FVC<70% were selected from a clinical network of patients screened for COPD in Tayside, Scotland. Data were collected during annual visits on demography, spirometry, smoking history, medical research council (MRC) dyspnoea scale, body mass index (BMI) and other variables.

Anemia as a predictor of cardiovascular events in patients with elevated serum creatinine.

Patients with anemia and patients with chronic kidney disease have elevated risks for cardiovascular disease. Available studies have been too small to provide details about the relationship or to provide for extensive covariate control. In a large insurance database with linked laboratory values, records of women with serum creatinine >1.

Therapy modifications in response to poorly controlled hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus.

Background: Poorly controlled cardiovascular risk factors are common. Evaluating whether physicians respond appropriately to poor risk factor control in patients may better reflect quality of care than measuring proportions of patients whose conditions are controlled.

Objectives: To evaluate therapy modifications in response to poor control of hypertension, dyslipidemia, or diabetes in a large clinical population.