Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease News and Research

Latest Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease News and Research

Twitch mouth pressure reflects COPD disease severity

Researchers from China have shown that a non-invasive method of measuring inspiratory muscle strength accurately reflects the severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

21 Oct 2013

COPD investigational treatments: an interview with Dr. Tunde Otulana, Senior Vice President, Clinical Development and Medical Affairs, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Olodaterol is a long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) bronchodilator delivered via the Respimat® inhaler. It is being investigated as a once daily maintenance bronchodilator treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema.

21 Oct 2013

Oral nutritional supplements linked with decreased probability of 30-day hospital readmission

In the U.S., one in five Medicare patients is readmitted to a hospital each year at an estimated cost of $17.5 billion annually.i To reduce this impact, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has introduced hospital penalties based on readmissions conditions that commonly affect patients aged 65 and older - including acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure and pneumonia.

19 Oct 2013

FEV1 poor mortality predictor in elderly

Research shows that forced expiratory volume in 1 second % predicted is ineffective for predicting mortality in elderly asthma patients.

18 Oct 2013

Quality of care provided by female doctors is higher than their male counterparts

According to a University of Montreal research team, the quality of care provided by female doctors is higher than that of their male counterparts while the productivity of males is greater.

18 Oct 2013

Clinical attention improves QoL in COPD

A study in the primary care setting shows that clinical factors have the greatest influence on improving health-related quality of life in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

17 Oct 2013

Sexual dysfunction ‘ignored in COPD’

Researchers say that physicians should address sexual issues in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as a matter of course, after finding that over three-quarters of men with the condition have some level of erectile dysfunction.

15 Oct 2013

Drug treatment ineffective for acute bronchitis

A study published in the BMJ indicates that neither oral antibiotics nor nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are more effective than placebo for the treatment of acute bronchitis.

14 Oct 2013

Pulmonary rehabilitation underused in COPD

Data from an Australian hospital show that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients admitted for exacerbations are rarely referred for pulmonary rehabilitation, despite it being strongly recommended by national treatment guidelines.

11 Oct 2013

Hypothyroidism linked to COPD exacerbation risk

Research shows that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with hypothyroidism have an elevated exacerbation frequency but, despite this, experience similar quality of life to patients with normal thyroid function.

8 Oct 2013

Gas transfer excels in predicting mortality in COPD

Researchers say that measuring gas transfer is the most effective way to predict mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, after finding that it outperformed both spirometry and plethysmography for the purpose.

3 Oct 2013

Precise value of EXACT in COPD uncertain

EXACT is effective in assessing exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the outpatient setting, a study shows.

1 Oct 2013

Vitamin D levels linked to emphysema

Researchers have found a relationship between emphysema and serum vitamin D levels, suggesting that the vitamin may play a role in modulating lung structure.

30 Sep 2013

Chronic bronchitis linked to poor asthma outcomes

Researchers have found that chronic bronchitis is associated with worse clinical outcomes in asthma, particularly among smokers.

26 Sep 2013

PneumRx performs over 1500 RePneu LVRC treatments for patients with severe emphysema

PneumRx, Inc., a leader in interventional pulmonology, announced that over 1500 procedures have been performed using the RePneu Lung Volume Reduction Coil System for patients with severe emphysema.

26 Sep 2013

Reduced physical activity in COPD not just disease related

Researchers from the Netherlands have shown that physical activity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is influenced by both physical and psychosocial factors.

25 Sep 2013

Targeted radiation therapy may offer safe treatment option for elderly pancreatic cancer patients

A highly targeted cancer radiation therapy may offer a safe and effective treatment option for elderly pancreatic cancer patients unable to undergo surgery or combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy, according to researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

25 Sep 2013

Major role for body weight in COPD, asthma risk

Results from a large study in Italy show that increasing body weight is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma risk, independent of smoking history.

24 Sep 2013

Mild COPD phenotype discovery offers treatment hope

Research indicates that smokers with and without mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can be classified into distinct phenotypes on the basis of computed tomography findings.

23 Sep 2013

European Commission and Japan approve once-daily dual bronchodilator Ultibro Breezhaler (QVA149) nearly simultaneously, for COPD patients

Novartis announced today that the European Commission approved once-daily Ultibro® Breezhaler® (indacaterol 85 mcg / glycopyrronium 43 mcg) as a maintenance bronchodilator treatment to relieve symptoms in adult patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In addition, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) approved once-daily Ultibro® Inhalation Capsules (glycopyrronium 50 mcg / indacaterol 110 mcg), delivered through the Breezhaler® device, for relief of various symptoms due to airway obstruction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Ultibro® Breezhaler® / Ultibro® Inhalation Capsules were developed under the name QVA149.

23 Sep 2013