Differences in Adherence and Non-Adherence Behaviour Patterns to Inhaler Devices Between COPD and Asthma Patients.

Differences between COPD and asthma may also differentially affect adherence to inhaled drugs in each disease. We aimed to determine differences in behaviour patterns of adherence and non-adherence to inhaled therapy between patients with COPD and patients with asthma using the Test of Adherence to Inhalers (TAI) questionnaire. A total of 910 patients (55% with asthma, 45% with COPD) participated in a cross-sectional multicentre study.

What pulmonologists think about the asthma-COPD overlap syndrome.

Background: Some patients with COPD may share characteristics of asthma; this is the so-called asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS). There are no universally accepted criteria for ACOS, and most treatments for asthma and COPD have not been adequately tested in this population.

Materials And Methods: We performed a survey among pulmonology specialists in asthma and COPD aimed at collecting their opinions about ACOS and their attitudes in regard to some case scenarios of ACOS patients.

Validation of the 'Test of the Adherence to Inhalers' (TAI) for Asthma and COPD Patients.

Background: To validate the 'Test of Adherence to Inhalers' (TAI), a 12-item questionnaire designed to assess the adherence to inhalers in patients with COPD or asthma.

Methods: A total of 1009 patients with asthma or COPD participated in a cross-sectional multicenter study. Patients with electronic adherence ≥80% were defined as adherents.

Relationship between serum total IgE and disease severity in patients with allergic asthma in Spain.

Objectives: To evaluate the association between serum total IgE levels and disease severity in adult patients with persistent allergic asthma and to explore the main predictors of IgE levels.

Methods: We performed a multicenter, retrospective, observational study including adult patients diagnosed ≥ 1 year previously with persistent allergic asthma who were positive to ≥ 1 allergen. Patients also had serum total IgE and spirometry results available from the previous 12 months.

Omalizumab therapy in severe asthma: experience from the Spanish registry--some new approaches.

Objective: The efficacy of omalizumab in severe asthma has been widely demonstrated. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of omalizumab in a real-life setting in Spain, particularly in those patients with immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels out of range.

Methods: Totally 266 uncontrolled severe asthma patients receiving high-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) plus long-acting β2-agonist (LABA) were recruited.

Primary bronchopulmonary malignant melanoma. Case report.

A case of pulmonary melanoma is presented. Because of the tumor's evolution and clinical features and, in particular, its pathoanatomic characteristics, we believe that it complied with sufficient criteria for classification as primary bronchopulmonary malignant melanoma. The literature is briefly reviewed.