Current medical research and opinion
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Prevalence of COPD among symptomatic patients in a primary care setting.
Spirometry is recognized as the gold standard assessment for the diagnosis of COPD. However, spirometry continues to be underused, perpetuating the underdiagnosis of COPD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of COPD in a primary care setting in patients with a smoking history and self-reported chronic bronchitis symptoms. ⋯ Study code ADC109043; clinicaltrials.gov #NCT00442468.
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Pharmacologic treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) commonly includes alpha-blockers (ABs) and 5alpha-reductase inhibitors (5ARIs). Many clinicians use ABs for rapid symptom control and 5ARIs to modify long-term disease progression. The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical impact of delayed 5ARI therapy in patients treated with AB for lower urinary tract symptoms. ⋯ Confounding factors, such as symptom severity and prostate volume, may have influenced the findings of the study.
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Clinical Trial
Management of neuropathic pain after surgical and non-surgical trauma with lidocaine 5% patches: study of 40 consecutive cases.
To determine the efficacy of lidocaine 5% patches [Versatis, commercialised by Grünenthal GmbH, Aachen, Germany] in patients with PNCCP. ⋯ Lidocaine 5% patches seem to be an effective treatment of post-surgical and post-traumatic pain. These results should be supported with randomised and placebo-controlled studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-ups.
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a highly prevalent condition with high morbidity and mortality among older and disabled adults. Few studies have examined the comparative effectiveness of maintenance therapies for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in this vulnerable population. ⋯ FSC is associated with a lower risk of COPD-related exacerbation events relative to ATC in managed-care Medicare beneficiaries with COPD. Findings from this study are only generalizable to managed-care Medicare beneficiaries residing in the community.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Tadalafil therapy and health-related quality of life in pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare, progressive lung disorder that impairs performance of daily activities and quality of life (QoL), leading to right heart failure and death. Treatment options include prostanoids, endothelin antagonists, and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (e.g., tadalafil). Currently there is no cure for PAH, but tadalafil has improved exercise capacity in these patients. ⋯ Results suggest that tadalafil 40 mg may significantly improve HRQoL and exercise capacity for PAH patients. Limitations of this study include its relatively short nature limited to 16 weeks and the relative heterogeneity of the study population.