Comorbidities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Comorbidities such as cardiac disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, osteoporosis, and psychological disorders are commonly reported in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but with great variability in reported prevalence. Tobacco smoking is a risk factor for many of these comorbidities as well as for COPD, making it difficult to draw conclusions about the relationship between COPD and these comorbidities. However, recent large epidemiologic studies have confirmed the independent detrimental effects of these comorbidities on patients with COPD.

Advanced emphysema in African-American and white patients: do differences exist?

Background: Emphysema is the only smoking-related disease in which white patients have higher prevalence and higher attributable mortality rates than African-American patients. Epidemiologic studies have not addressed, nor explained, the observed racial differences in emphysema.

Study Objectives: To determine whether white and African-American patients differ with respect to the magnitude, anatomic distribution, and physiologic impairments of emphysema.

Smoking patterns in African Americans and whites with advanced COPD.

Background: The prevalence and mortality associated with COPD increases with age, with higher rates observed in whites than African Americans. Causes and explanations for smoking-related racial differences on the respiratory system have not been determined.

Objective: To investigate racial differences in smoking patterns and lung function in patients with advanced COPD.

Complications of long-term mechanical ventilation.

Complications of LTMV should be considered in the context of underlying diseases and comorbidities, the trigger for ventilator dependency, and site of care. These factors have an impact on outcome and on the type and severity of complications. In view of the complexity of chronically ill VAIs, complications of mechanical ventilation become the major impediment in achieving the ultimate goal of LTMV, extending life, and improving psychophysiologic function and quality of life.

Respiratory failure after lung transplantation.

Study Objectives: To characterize patients who acquired postoperative respiratory failure after lung transplantation (LT), and to identify risks associated with postoperative respiratory failure and poor surgical outcome.

Study Design: Retrospective clinical analysis in a tertiary care transplantation center.

Methods: We reviewed the records of 80 consecutive patients who underwent LT from April 1994 to May 1999, analyzing their records for a number of preoperative and perioperative variables and complications.