International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2006
Randomized Controlled TrialCreatine supplementation and physical training in patients with COPD: a double blind, placebo-controlled study.
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have low exercise capacity and low content of high energetic phosphates in their skeletal muscles. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether creatine supplementation together with exercise training may increase physical performance compared with exercise training in patients with COPD. ⋯ Oral creatine supplementation in combination with exercise training showed no significant improvement in physical performance, measured as ESWT, in patients with COPD compared with exercise training alone.
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2006
ReviewIs there any treatment other than drugs to alleviate dyspnea in COPD patients?
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are often limited in their activities by breathlessness. In these patients, exercise training may result in significant improvements in dyspnea, exercise tolerance, and health related quality of life (HRQoL). ⋯ Ventilatory assistance during exercise reduces dyspnea and work of breathing and enhances exercise tolerance, although further studies should be required to define their applicability in the routine pulmonary rehabilitation programs. Lung volume resection surgery and lung transplantation in selected patients may control symptoms and improve HRQoL.
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2006
Review Comparative Study Historical ArticleThe history of COPD.
The evolution of knowledge concerning COPD and its components--emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and asthmatic bronchitis--covers 200 years. The stethoscope and spirometer became important early tools in diagnosis and assessment. Spirometry remains the most effective means of identification and assessment of the course of COPD and responses to therapy, and is grossly underused for this purpose. ⋯ Surgery benefits a select few. Today, COPD is a steadily growing global healthcare problem, with increasing morbidity and mortality. Early identification and prevention, and treatment of emerging stages of disease through smoking cessation and a growing number of bronchoactive drugs promises to change the outcome.
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2006
Comparative StudyDoes the multidimensional grading system (BODE) correspond to differences in health status of patients with COPD?
To verify whether and to what extent the body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnea, and exercise capacity (BODE) index correlates with a disease-specific index of health status in patients with COPD. ⋯ The BODE scoring system corresponds to important differences in health status of patients with COPD. This grading system is better correlated to the health status indexes of the SGRQ than the GOLD staging criteria.
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Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2006
Comparative StudyIs there a role for mask continuous positive airway pressure in acute respiratory failure due to COPD? Lessons from a retrospective audit of 3 different cohorts.
Exacerbations of COPD that result in acute respiratory failure requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation have high morbidity and mortality. This study is a retrospective observational study that compared the outcomes of 237 patients with COPD and acute respiratory failure requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission according to modality of initial therapy: mask continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), medical therapy, or intubation. ⋯ When compared with mask CPAP, and after adjusting for potentially confounding differences, mortality was significantly higher if patients were initially intubated (adjusted odds ratios [OR] 15.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.2, 59) or given medical therapy (OR 5.1; CI 1.2, 20.8). In COPD patients with acute respiratory failure, initial treatment with mask CPAP was associated with significantly better outcomes than other treatment modalities, even after adjusting for potentially confounding differences in disease severity.