[Palliative Sedation at the End of Life: A Comparative Study of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Lung Cancer Patients].

Background: Although patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) receive poor-quality palliative care, information about the use of palliative sedation (PS) in the last days of life is very scarce.

Objectives: To compare the use of PS in hospitalized patients who died from COPD or lung cancer and identify factors correlating with PS application.

Methods: In a retrospective observational cohort study, from 1,675 patients died at a teaching hospital between 2013 and 2015, 109 patients who died from COPD and 85 from lung cancer were compared.

Static lung hyperinflation is an independent risk factor for lung cancer in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Introduction: Static hyperinflation, a hallmark characteristic of some patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is related to higher mortality and cardiovascular morbidity. However, information about its association with lung cancer is scarce. Our aim was to evaluate whether static hyperinflation is associated with future risk of lung cancer in COPD patients.

Classification of Airflow Limitation Based on z-Score Underestimates Mortality in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Rationale: Global Lung Function Initiative recommends reporting lung function measures as z-score, and a classification of airflow limitation (AL) based on this parameter has recently been proposed.

Objectives: To evaluate the prognostic capacity of the AL classifications based on z-score or percentage predicted of FEV in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: A cohort of 2,614 patients with COPD recruited outside the hospital setting was examined after a mean (± SD) of 57 ± 13 months of follow-up, totaling 10,322 person-years.

Prognostic Value of the Six-Second Spirometry in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Cohort Study.

Background: The six-second spirometry has been proposed as an alternative to diagnose airflow limitation, although its prognostic value in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the prognostic value of the postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)/forced expiratory volume in 6 seconds (FEV6) ratio and FEV6 in COPD patients.

Methods And Findings: The study population consisted of 2,614 consecutive stable patients with COPD.