Time-course of upper respiratory tract viral infection and COPD exacerbation.

Viral respiratory tract infections have been implicated as the predominant risk factor for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). We aimed to evaluate, longitudinally, the association between upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) caused by viruses and AECOPD.Detection of 18 viruses was performed in naso- and orοpharyngeal swabs from 450 COPD patients (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease stages 2-4) who were followed for a mean of 27 months.

Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment of Stable COPD and Acute Exacerbations of COPD: The Swiss Recommendations 2018.

The Swiss National Guidelines 2013 for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have been revised in order to acknowledge recent progress in diagnosis and management of this disease. The resulting new Swiss recommendations are based on best evidence from the literature, the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 2018 report and other published national guidelines. Misdiagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is common and means that patients do not always receive optimal treatment.

Intensified Therapy with Inhaled Corticosteroids and Long-Acting β-Agonists at the Onset of Upper Respiratory Tract Infection to Prevent Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations. A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-controlled Trial.

Rationale: The efficacy of intensified combination therapy with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and long-acting β-agonists (LABA) at the onset of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) symptoms in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is unknown.

Objectives: To evaluate whether intensified combination therapy with ICS/LABA, at the onset of URTI symptoms, decreases the incidence of COPD exacerbation occurring within 21 days of the URTI.

Methods: A total of 450 patients with stable, moderate to very severe COPD, were included in this investigator-initiated and -driven, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Treatment of COPD Exacerbation in Switzerland: Results and Recommendations of the European COPD Audit.

Background: The European COPD Audit initiated by the European Respiratory Society (ERS) evaluated the management of hospital admissions due to exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in several European countries. Data on the treatment of severe acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPDs) in Switzerland are scarce.

Objectives: In light of the GOLD 2010 guidelines, this work aims to examine the quality of care for AECOPD and to provide specific recommendations for the management of severe AECOPD in Switzerland.

Long-term follow-up and survival after Ultraflex stent insertion in the management of complex malignant airway stenoses.

Background: Despite being commercially available for a few years now, the literature regarding the outcome of Ultraflex stent insertion in complex malignant airway stenoses is sparse.

Objectives: To assess long-term complications and survival in patients with complex malignant airway stenoses treated with insertion of nitinol stents.

Methods: 60 consecutive patients with Ultraflex stent insertion for malignant airway stenoses were included.

Design and validation of an interpretative strategy for cardiopulmonary exercise tests.

Background And Objective: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is a common investigation for the evaluation of exertional dyspnoea. At present, there is no consensus on the best interpretative strategy and none of the available algorithms have been validated. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a standardized strategy for the interpretation of CPET.