Exercise capacity and physical activity in COPD patients treated with a LAMA/LABA combination: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Persistent airflow limitation and dyspnoea may reduce chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients exercise capacity and physical activity, undermining their physical status and quality of life. Long-acting muscarinic antagonists and long-acting beta-2 agonists (LAMA/LABA) combinations are amongst moderate-to-severe COPD recommended treatments. This article analyses LAMA/LABA combinations effect on COPD patients exercise capacity and physical activity outcomes.

Factors associated with severe uncontrolled asthma and the perception of control by physicians and patients.

Introduction: Despite current treatments, more than half of patients with asthma are not controlled. The objective was to evaluate the correlation between control perceived by patients and physicians, compared with control evaluated according to criteria of the Spanish Guidelines for Asthma Management (GEMA), and to investigate the factors associated with that control.

Methods: Multicenter, cross-sectional, observational study including 343 patients with severe persistent asthma according to GEMA criteria seen in the Department of Pulmonology and Allergology.

Differences between physician and patient in the perception of symptoms and their severity in COPD.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) impairs quality of life and presents symptoms that affect the lives of patients. Our study analysed the degree of concordance between the patients and their pulmonologists in the perception of the severity of symptoms. A cross-sectional, descriptive, multicentre study was conducted in patients with COPD.

Costs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in relation to compliance with guidelines: a study in the primary care setting.

Background: The aim of this study was to analyse the economic impact of nonadherence to the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out on a claim database. Patients aged at least 40 years with a diagnosis of COPD were eligible for this analysis.

Usefulness of the LCOPD, CAFS and CASIS scales in understanding the impact of COPD on patients.

Background: The Living with COPD (LCOPD), COPD and Asthma Fatigue Scale (CAFS), and COPD and Asthma Sleep Impact Scale (CASIS) are instruments developed to assess the overall impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on daily life, fatigue, and sleep impairment, respectively.

Objectives: To assess the usefulness of these instruments and to identify factors associated with the concepts they measure.

Method: The questionnaires were administered to patients with moderate to severe COPD.

What Do Spanish physicians believe and expect about telemedicine? Results of a Delphi-based survey.

The aim of this Delphi-based study was to evaluate the intention of Spanish physicians to accept and use telemedicine as a future useful tool in daily practice. An online Delphi questionnaire was answered by 985 physicians (966 in the second round), representatives from rural and urban areas of the entire country (generalists, internists, cardiologists, endocrinologists, and nephrologists). The participants were 65% males, with a mean age of 46.

Efficacy of a home blood pressure monitoring programme on therapeutic compliance in hypertension: the EAPACUM-HTA study.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a programme of home blood pressure measurement (HBPM) on therapeutic compliance in mild-to-moderate hypertension.

Design: A prospective controlled multicentre clinical trial.

Setting: Forty primary care centres in Spain, with a duration of 6 months.