POET-COPD study looks at controlling 'lung attacks' which can lead to increased ER visits

Mar 25 2011

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major cause for hospital stays and emergency room visits across Canada and researchers say minimizing exacerbations or flare-ups of the disease can go a long way to reducing hospitalizations.

A major COPD study (the one-year Prevention Of Exacerbations with Tiotropium POET-COPD^TM) was newly published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) which looked at reducing the risk of moderate or severe exacerbations requiring hospitalizations.

"Exacerbation "lung attack" is to COPD what myocardial infarction "heart attack" is to heart disease.  Lung exacerbations or 'lung attacks' are a serious threat to people living with COPD," says Dr. Jean Bourbeau Director of the Respiratory, Epidemiology and Clinical Research Unit (RECRU), Montreal Chest Institute at McGill University. "They lead to lung function decline, reduced functional capacity, reduced health-related quality of life, long-term disability and premature death."

Exacerbations, which are also known as 'lung attacks' due to the severe impact they have on patients' health, are a key indicator for disease progression, and decline in lung function, and preventing them is a major treatment goal.

COPD is Canada's fourth leading cause of death and is growing in prevalence.  It is estimated that approximately 10 percent of people over the age of 40 may suffer from COPD. COPD is the main risk factor for influenza-related hospital admissions and deaths.