September 6th 2024
In a large study of patients with COPD, a small increase in 5-year all-cause mortality risk was observed among those using roflumilast.
COPD and mood disorders, part 2:Sleep problems
April 1st 2007Sleep complaints are common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Many patients complain of morning tiredness, early awakenings, difficulty in falling asleep, restlessness, and daytime sleepiness. Functional status may eventually be impaired by the resulting chronic fatigue that is compounded by dyspnea.
Drug Combo Improves COPD Symptoms But Misses Mortality Endoint
February 21st 2007LIVERPOOL, England -- The combination of an inhaled corticosteroid and a long-acting beta2 agonist did not quite reach a significant overall survival improvement in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, investigators in the TORCH trial reported. But the drug duo significantly improved symptoms and overall health.
Combination Therapy Reduces COPD Exacerbations
January 15th 2007FRANKFURT, Germany -- Therapy with inhaled corticosteroids plus a long-acting bronchodilator appears to significantly improve exacerbations and other outcomes for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to German researchers.
New Treatments for Early and Late COPD: Part 1, Prevention
December 31st 2006ABSTRACT: The key factor in reducing morbidityand mortality in patients with chronicobstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)continues to be smoking cessation. Newerformulations of nicotine replacementtherapy-a nasal spray and an inhaler-provide rapid delivery of nicotine and maybe appropriate for highly dependent smokers.Bupropion has been shown to improvesmoking cessation rates, either when usedalone or with a nicotine patch. Both theinfluenza and pneumococcal vaccines arerecommended to reduce the morbidity andmortality associated with respiratory infectionsin patients with COPD.
Man With Severe Dyspnea, Fever, and Cough
December 31st 2006A46-year-old white man is hospitalized with increasing dyspnea of 3weeks’ duration. He has a history of stable chronic obstructive pulmonarydisease secondary to heavy smoking (2 packs of cigarettes a day for 27years, discontinued 6 years previously) and uses inhaled bronchodilators.