Background: COPD is a treatable disease with increasing prevalence worldwide. Treatment aims to stop disease progression, to improve quality of life, and to reduce exacerbations. We aimed to evaluate the association of the stage of COPD on adherence to inhaled therapy and the relationship between adherence and COPD exacerbations.
Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients hospitalized for acute exacerbation of COPD in a tertiary care hospital in Upper Austria and discharged with a guideline conform inhaled therapy was performed. Follow-up data on medical utilization was recorded for the subsequent 24 months. Adherence to inhaled therapy was defined according to the percentage of prescribed inhalers dispensed to the patient and classified as complete (> 80%), partial (50-80%) or low (< 50%).
Results: Out of 357 patients, 65.8% were male with a mean age of 66.5 years and a mean FEV of 55.0%pred. Overall, 35.3% were current smokers, and only 3.9% were never-smokers. In 77.0% inhaled triple therapy (LAMA + LABA + ICS) was prescribed. 33.6% showed complete adherence to their therapy (33.2% in men, 34.4% in women), with a mean age of 67.0 years. Mean medication possession ratio by GOLD spirometry class I - IV were 0.486, 0.534, 0.609 and 0.755, respectively (p = 0.002). Hence, subjects with complete adherence to therapy had a significantly lower FEV compared to those with low adherence (49.2%pred. vs 59.2%pred., respectively; p < 0.001). The risk of exacerbations leading to hospitalization was 10-fold higher in GOLD spirometry class IV compared to GOLD spirometry class I, which was even more evident in multivariate analysis (OR 13.62).
Conclusion: Complete adherence to inhaled therapy was only seen in 33.6% and was higher among those with more severe COPD.
Trial Registration: Not applicable.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12890-018-0724-3 | DOI Listing |
BMJ Open
January 2025
Centre for Behavioural and Implementation Science Interventions, National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore.
Introduction: Inhalers are critical in asthma treatment, and inappropriate inhaler use leads to poor asthma outcomes. In adults and adolescents, dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are safe and effective alternatives to mainstay pressurised metered dose inhalers and could bridge the asthma care gap while also reducing the environmental burden of asthma care. Despite being licensed for use in ages 5 years old and older, the evidence for clinical effectiveness is less clear for patients between ages 5 and 12 years.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCrit Care Sci
January 2025
Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, All India Institute of Medical Sciences - Jodhpur, India.
Objective: Although the efficacy of high-flow nasal oxygen therapy in delaying or avoiding intubation in patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure has been studied, its potential for facilitating early weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation remains unexplored.
Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 80 adults with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure requiring invasive mechanical ventilation for > 48 hours were enrolled and divided into two groups: conventional weaning and early weaning via high-flow nasal oxygen. In the conventional weaning group, the spontaneous breathing trial was performed after the PaO2/FiO2 ratio was ≥ 200, whereas in the high-flow nasal oxygen group, the spontaneous breathing trial was conducted earlier when the PaO2/FiO2 ratio was 150 - 200.
J Vis Exp
January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University;
Cough is one of the most common symptoms of many respiratory diseases. Chronic cough significantly impacts quality of life and imposes a considerable economic burden. Increased cough sensitivity is a pathophysiological hallmark of chronic cough.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNiger Med J
January 2025
Health Sciences Research and Innovation Laboratory Medical School of Medicine & Pharmacy of Agadir, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir-Morocco.
Background: Asthma is a common chronic disease, and asthma control is the major therapeutic objective, thus ensuring a good health-related quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the level of asthma control in a sample of asthmatic patients followed in allergology consultation during our training using the asthma control test (ACT) and its correlation with other parameters.
Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study of 66 asthmatic patients who were followed in pulmonology consultation at Agadir University Hospital after completing the asthma control test questionnaire over 6 months (June to December 2021).
BMC Health Serv Res
January 2025
Department of Engineering, University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, Rome, 00128, Italy.
Background: Oxygen therapy is critical and vital treatment for hypoxemia and respiratory distress, however, access to reliable oxygen systems remains limited in SSA. Despite WHO initiatives that distributed over 30,000 OC oxygen concentrators worldwide, SSA faces significant challenges related to their maintenance and use, due to harsh environmental conditions, technical skill shortages and inadequate infrastructure. This review aims to systematically identify and assess the literature on OC design adaptations, maintenance challenges, and knowledge gaps in SSA, providing actionable recommendations to inform innovative and context-sensitive solutions to improve healthcare delivery in the region.
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