Patients hospitalized for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations carry a high risk for early rehospitalization. This study demonstrates that hospitals can use commonly collected clinical information to help identify COPD patients at a high risk of failure after discharge.
The peak season of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in warmer climates may extend beyond the typical five-month RSV season of temperate regions. This study aimed to assess the safety, immunogenicity, and pharmacokinetics of an extended seven-dose regimen of palivizumab in children at high risk for serious infection by the RSV.
Up to 75% of patients with COPD do not use a correct inhaler technique. In this article, the authors provide details of a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of two educational interventions aimed at improving inhalation techniques in a cohort of patients in southern Spain.
In this era of comparative effectiveness research, new, advanced techniques are being investigated by the research community to overcome the limitations of existing data sources. In this article Dr Christopher Blanchette and his co-authors describe the approach of probabilistic data linkage as a means to address this critical issue.
Primary therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the removal of the toxic agent (in most cases, tobacco smoke). Additional therapy includes bronchodilators. Inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting bronchodilators can be used to prevent and reduce the risk of exacerbations. COPD is a systemic disease and often requires therapy of its protean-associated morbidities from depression to osteoporosis and muscle wasting. Despite pessimism from some, COPD is treatable.
