The AJMC® COPD compendium is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and expert insights for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
May 2nd 2024
Older patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and anxiety exhibited exacerbated symptoms, increased comorbidities, and frequent acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD), emphasizing the need for routine psychiatric screening in COPD management.
Evolving Treatment Strategies in the Management of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Key Insights for the Pharmacist, featuring a Patient Perspective
1.5 Credits / Pulmonology/Respiratory
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Advances in EGFR Exon 20 Insertion-Positive Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Focus on Specialty Pharmacy Interventions
1.5 Credits / Oncology, Pulmonology/Respiratory
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Advances and Best Practices for Managed Care Pharmacists and the Treatment of Patients with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
1.0 Credit / Pulmonology/Respiratory
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COPD Study Analyzes How Initial Treatment Affects Future Exacerbations
April 27th 2018In a retrospective analysis of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), those whose exacerbations were treated with systemic corticosteroids alone, or together with antibiotics, did more poorly than those treated with antibiotics alone, a recent study reported in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
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Researchers Find More Information on COPD–Asthma Overlap Syndrome Characteristics
April 24th 2018In a new study, researchers sought to identify the heterogeneity of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap syndrome, known as ACOS, in patients with mild to moderate airflow restriction. Using national survey and insurance claims data in Korea, they sought to identify the diverse epidemiological characteristics and subtypes of ACOS associated with exac­erbations, healthcare use, and cost.
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Doctors, Patients Weigh COPD Medicines More Than Devices in Survey
April 21st 2018Learning good inhaler technique is critical for effective care and treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other respiratory disorders. But a survey of healthcare providers and patients show that both groups place more importance on medication over devices when it comes to COPD treatments, and both groups show limited concerns about proper device use.
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COPD Study Finds Benefits, Risks in Comparison of Triple, Dual Therapies
April 19th 2018A new study comparing triple therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) against dual therapy resulted in a lower rate of moderate or severe COPD exacerbations and a lower rate of hospitalizations. However, triple therapy had a much higher incidence of pneumonia, which the researchers said was to be expected.
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Studies Link Risk Factors for COPD Back to Childhood
April 14th 2018Childhood factors such as asthma, maternal smoking, bronchitis, allergic rhinitis, and eczema predisposed children to lung function decline and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as adults, according to 2 recent studies. Risks might be minimized by reducing maternal smoking, encouraging immunizations, having good asthma control, and avoiding smoking, researchers said.
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Head-to-Head Study Results About Two COPD Inhalers Gives One an Edge
April 4th 2018A study of 2 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) inhalers from the same company was published recently in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. The DYNAGITO trial showed tiotropium bromide and olodaterol, a dual bronchodilator sold under the name Stiolto Respimat, prevented exacerbations better than tiotropium bromide alone (sold as Spiriva Respimat), although not quite as much as expected.
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Healthcare Providers Struggle to Teach Patients With COPD Proper Inhaler Technique
March 28th 2018Healthcare professionals showed a lack of knowledge about how to assess and teach proper inhaler technique to their patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, or other respiratory diseases, according to a review of 55 studies spanning 39 years examining their understanding of this issue.
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COPD Study Fails to Find Model That Can Predict Exacerbations
March 16th 2018If a health system could identify which patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were at risk for exacerbations of disease, interventions aimed at improving health outcomes could be developed. A study to develop and evaluate predictive models that could be used to identify such high-risk patients was unable to do so, however.
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COPD More Prevalent in Rural Areas, CDC Analysis Finds
March 1st 2018State variations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) outcomes suggest that the condition is more common in large rural areas compared with metropolitan areas, according to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from CDC.
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Claims-Based Risk Model for First Severe COPD Exacerbation
A health insurance claims-based risk assessment tool to predict patients’ first severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation has been developed and validated.
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Patients With COPD Face High Risk of Adverse Drug Reactions Due to Multimorbidity
February 10th 2018Multimorbidity is common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and is associated with high levels of polypharmacy, which can lead to an increased risk of adverse drug reactions.
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MedPAC Reports Lower Readmission Rates and Reduced Medicare Spending With HRRP
February 9th 2018According to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), hospital readmission rates have fallen following implementation of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP), and HRRP did not have a negative impact on mortality rates.
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Shifting Hospital Care to the Home Improved Quality of Life for Patients With COPD
January 30th 2018Shifting care for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) from the hospital to the home reduced hospital readmissions by 64% and emergency department visits by 52%, a Canadian program found.
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Respimat Is First Inhaler to Receive Award for Ease of Use for People With Arthritis
January 24th 2018Respimat from Boehringer Ingelheim is now the first and only inhaler to be awarded the Ease of Use Commendation by the Arthritis Foundation. This award identifies products that make life easier for people with arthritis and other physical limitations.
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Researchers Make COPD Genetic Discovery That Could Identify At-Risk Patients Earlier
January 16th 2018Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but not all smokers develop the condition, and many non-smokers do. Why that is has remained a mystery until now, as a research team, funded by the National Institutes of Health, has discovered genetic variations in the anatomy of the lungs could serve as early-warning indicators.
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Study Shows Psychological Factors Affect Quality of Life in Patients With COPD
January 10th 2018Psychological factors negatively affect quality-of-life scores in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, according to a recent study published in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
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Study Shows the Efficacy of Vaccination in Patients With COPD
January 3rd 2018Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease should be given the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and influenza vaccines to decrease the risk of exacerbations. However, despite the evidence of vaccine efficacy, improvements are needed in coverage and awareness.
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Researchers Find Low Referral Rates to Pulmonary Rehab for Eligible Patients With COPD
December 25th 2017Less than 10% of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who may benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation received a referral from their physician, according to a new study. However, there was no association found between referral status and COPD exacerbations.
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FDA Announces Public Education Campaign to Encourage Smoking Cessation
December 14th 2017The FDA has announced its launch of the “Every Try Counts” campaign, which will encourage smokers to quit by advertising messages of support underscoring the health benefits of quitting. The campaign will also focus on celebrating each quit attempt as a step towards success.
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Implications of DRG Classification in a Bundled Payment Initiative for COPD
Diagnosis-related group coding determines eligibility for many Medicare bundled payment initiatives. This approach excluded many patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease likely to benefit while including others without the disease.
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Identifying Differences of Symptoms of Patients With Severe COPD in 3 Countries
December 5th 2017A study of patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Poland, The Republic of Korea, and the United States identified substantial differences in respiratory symptoms and other respiratory illnesses.
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Identifying the Most Prevalent and Costly Chronic Conditions in Medicaid
November 29th 2017High prevalence of chronic conditions has been a key driver of healthcare costs in the United States, and Medicaid beneficiaries tend to have higher rates of chronic diseases than people not on Medicaid.
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Eosinophil Count in Sputum, Not Blood, Is Better Predictor of COPD Severity in Smokers
November 21st 2017Data from a study of smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) indicate that the concentration of eosinophils in the sputum, rather than the blood, is a better predictor of COPD exacerbations and lung function.
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Impact of Symptoms and COPD Severity on Health-Related Quality of Life
November 14th 2017Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by persistent and progressive airflow limitation, and a new study examined the factors responsible for a high St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire for COPD based on severity of airflow limitation.
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