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Treatment of COPD by clinical phenotypes. Putting old evidence into clinical practice.

Eur Respir J. 2012 Oct 11;

Authors: Miravitlles M, José Soler-Cataluña J, Calle M, Soriano JB

Abstract
The new GOLD update has moved forward the principles of treatment of stable COPD by including the concepts of symptoms and risks into the decision of therapy; however, no mention of the concept of clinical phenotypes was included. It is recognized that COPD is a very heterogeneous disease and not all patients respond to all the drugs available for treatment. The identification of responders to therapies is crucial in chronic diseases to provide the most appropriate treatment and avoid unnecessary medications. The classically defined phenotypes of chronic bronchitis and emphysema, together with the newly described phenotypes of overlap COPD-asthma and frequent exacerbator allow a simple classification of patients that share clinical characteristics and outcomes and, more importantly, similar responses to existing treatments.These clinical phenotypes can help clinicians identify patients that respond to specific pharmacologic interventions. As an example, frequent exacerbators are the only subjects with an indication for anti-inflammatory treatment in COPD. Among them, those with chronic bronchitis are the only candidates to receive PDE4 inhibitors. Patients with overlap COPD-asthma phenotype show an enhanced response to inhaled corticosteroids and infrequent exacerbators should only receive bronchodilators. These well defined clinical phenotypes could potentially be incorporated into treatment guidelines.

PMID: 23060631 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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The burden of illness in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Canada.

Can Respir J. 2012 Sep;19(5):319-24

Authors: Maleki-Yazdi MR, Kelly SM, Lam SY, Marin M, Barbeau M, Walker V

Abstract
INTRODUCTION: No recent Canadian studies with physician- and spirometry-confirmed diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that assessed the burden of COPD have been published.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the costs associated with maintenance therapy and treatment for acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) over a one-year period.
METHODS: Respirologists, internists and family practitioners from across Canada enrolled patients with an established diagnosis of moderate to severe COPD (Global initiative for chonic Obstructive Lung Disease stages 2 and 3) confirmed by postbronchodilator spirometry. Patient information and health care resources related to COPD maintenance and physician-documented AECOPD over the previous year were obtained by chart review and patient survey.
RESULTS: A total of 285 patients (59.3% male; mean age 70.4 years; mean pack years smoked 45.6; mean duration of COPD 8.2 years; mean postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s 58.0% predicted) were enrolled at 23 sites across Canada. The average annual COPD-related cost per patient was $4,147. Across all 285 patients, maintenance costs were $2,475 per patient, of which medications accounted for 71%. AECOPD treatment costs were $1,673 per patient, of which hospitalizations accounted for 82%. Ninety-eight patients (34%) experienced a total of 157 AECOPD. Treatment of these AECOPD included medications and outpatient care, 19 emergency room visits and 40 hospitalizations (mean length of stay 8.9 days). The mean cost per AECOPD was $3,036.
DISCUSSION: The current costs associated with moderate and severe COPD are considerable and will increase in the future. Appropriate use of medications and strategies to prevent hospitalizations for AECOPD may reduce COPD-related costs because these were the major cost drivers.

PMID: 23061077 [PubMed - in process]

Abstract  Superior Vena Cava Syndrome (SVCS) refers to signs and symptoms caused by obstruction of the superior vena cava. Superior mediastinal syndrome (SMS) is the term used when SVCS coexists with obstruction of trachea. In children, a mediastinal pathology causing SVCS generally results in SMS as well, due to the limited chest volume. Hence, the two terms are often used interchangeably in children. SMS is a medical emergency that can be challenging, albeit often rewarding to manage. The common causes in a patient presenting to pediatric emergency room include non-Hodgkin lymphoma and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Patients with SMS are at a very high risk for adverse cardio-respiratory events in case they are administered any kind of anesthetic agents, anxiolytics or sed...

Dr. Peter Mazzone, of the Cleveland Clinic's Respiratory Institute, talks to Anthony Mason and Norah O'Donnell about a new high-tech device that can check your breath and tell you if you're seriously ill. (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)