Clinical factors, including All Patient Refined Diagnosis Related Group severity, as predictors of early rehospitalization after COPD exacerbation

Melissa H Roberts, Douglas W Mapel, Ann Von Worley, Janice Beene

Article Type

Original Research

Published

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.

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One-year prevalence, comorbidities and cost of cachexia-related inpatient admissions in the USA

Susan T Arthur, Joshua M Noone, Bryce A Van Doren, Debosoree Roy, Christopher M Blanchette

Article Type

Original Research

Published

Cachexia is a condition characterized as a loss in body mass or metabolic dysfunction and it is associated with several prevalent chronic health conditions including many cancers, COPD, HIV, and kidney disease. Currently there is little research into cachexia and the objective of this article is to characterize cachexia patients, their healthcare utilisation, and associated hospitalization costs.

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Study protocol for a randomized, controlled trial comparing the efficacy of two educational interventions to improve inhalation techniques in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): TIEPOC Study.

José Leiva-Fernández, Francisca Leiva-Fernández, Rubén L Vázquez-Alarcón, Antonio García-Ruiz, Daniel Prados-Torres, Pilar Barnestein-Fonseca

Article Type

Case Report

Published

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.

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Probabilistic data linkage: a case study of comparative effectiveness in COPD

Christopher M Blanchette, Mitch DeKoven, Ajita P De, Melissa Roberts

Article Type

Original Research

Published

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.

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Is ‘GOLD’ standard for the management of COPD in clinical practice?

Barbara P Yawn

Article Type

Case Report

Published

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.

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