Telerehabilitation Programme as a Maintenance Strategy for COPD Patients: A 12-Month Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: There is uncertainty regarding efficacy of telehealth-based approaches in COPD patients for sustaining benefits achieved with intensive pulmonary rehabilitation (PR).

Research Question: To determine whether a maintenance pulmonary telerehabilitation (TelePR) programme, after intensive initial PR, is superior to usual care in sustaining over time benefits achieved by intensive PR.

Study Design And Methods: A multicentre open-label pragmatic parallel-group randomized clinical trial was conducted.

Effects of simple long-term respiratory care strategies in older men with COPD.

Objective: To evaluate a 24-month supervised, community-based maintenance exercise program after 3 months of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in comparison with a 27-month physical activity counseling program, in terms of the effects on maximal muscle strength, muscle power output, and exercise capacity, in individuals with COPD.

Methods: Sixty-three men with moderate-to-severe COPD were recruited from two previous studies. Of those 63 participants, 31 were offered 3 months of PR followed by a 24-month supervised maintenance exercise program (24MME group) and 32 were offered a 27-month physical activity counseling program (27MPAC group).

The Relationships Between Muscle Power and Physical Activity in Older Men With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

The purpose of this study was to determine the potential relationship between muscle power of the lower extremities and the physical activity in older men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Forty-four men (70.3 ± 6.

Transbronchial Cryobiopsy in Interstitial Lung Disease: Are We on the Right Path?

Background: A definitive and specific diagnosis of interstitial lung disease (ILD) often requires a histologic analysis of the lung parenchyma. A transbronchial biopsy with forceps has a limited diagnostic yield for idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. The incorporation of a transbronchial lung cryobiopsy for diagnosing ILD appears to be very promising, although there are only a few published studies in this regard.

Effects of Combined Resistance and Endurance Training Versus Resistance Training Alone on Strength, Exercise Capacity, and Quality of Life in Patients With COPD.

Purpose: To compare the effects of 12-week training periods (2 d·wk) involving resistance training only with the effects of 12-week training periods involving combined resistance (once weekly) and endurance (once weekly) training on strength, endurance performance, and quality of life.

Methods: Thirty-six patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were randomized to combined training (REG), resistance training alone (RG), or control (CG) groups. Patients were tested for maximal strength of the upper and lower extremities, power output of the lower extremities, maximal (Wmax) and submaximal exercise capacity, performance on a 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and quality of life.

Clinical audit of COPD patients requiring hospital admissions in Spain: AUDIPOC study.

Backgrounds: AUDIPOC is a nationwide clinical audit that describes the characteristics, interventions and outcomes of patients admitted to Spanish hospitals because of an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (ECOPD), assessing the compliance of these parameters with current international guidelines. The present study describes hospital resources, hospital factors related to case recruitment variability, patients' characteristics, and adherence to guidelines.

Methodology/principal Findings: An organisational database was completed by all participant hospitals recording resources and organisation.

[Spirometry in primary care in Navarre, Spain].

Objective: To analyze the use and quality of spirometry in primary care settings in Navarre, Spain.

Patients And Methods: A questionnaire was completed simultaneously by professionals responsible for spirometry in all of the primary health care centers in Navarre. Data were collected on availability, model of spirometer, frequency of use, calibration, methods, personnel responsible for testing, and training of personnel.