COPD exacerbations: to X-ray or not to X-ray.

Managing chronic disease through automated systems has the poten- tial to both benefit the patient and reduce health-care costs.We are developing and evaluating a monitoring system for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which aims…

Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are common in primary care. Many patients with mild and moderate COPD are managed effectively in their own homes during such events. However, as the disease advances, patients with…

Aims: The prospective phase of a multicentre Italian study (ICE, Italian Costs for Exacerbations in COPD) was designed to assess the direct and indirect costs due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with particular regard to…

Efforts to assess the efficacy of new therapies in the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been hampered by the lack of a widely agreed and consistently used definition. A variety of definitions have…

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: There is still lack of data on the seasonality of exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) based on large randomized studies using COPD exacerbations as primary endpoints. OBJECTIVES: To assess the seasonal…

Exacerbations of COPD contribute to lung function decline and reduced quality of life. Treatment of exacerbations in the hospital setting is costly, but information concerning the component cost drivers of this care is scarce. Our objective was to…

BACKGROUND: Frequent exacerbations are associated with a faster decline in FEV(1), impaired health status, and worse survival. Their impact and temporal relationship with other outcomes such as functional status, dyspnea, and the multidimensional…

COPD exacerbations have traditionally been defined on the basis of symptoms or health-care utilization without specific reference to the suspected aetiology. Consequently, the term 'exacerbation' has been used to include all patients experiencing an…

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) frequently develop exacerbations, leading to major clinical and healthcare utilisation ramifications. Exacerbations, especially those that result in hospitalisation, are the main cost driver…

The use of oral corticosteroids as treatment of COPD exacerbations in primary care is well established and evidence-based. However, the most appropriate dosage regimen has not been determined and remains controversial. Corticosteroid therapy is…