The findings have implications for patient self-management of their chronic disease, and clinicians should screen for worsened cognitive function, the researchers wrote.
Cognitive issues were seen in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who had exacerbations and regular use of long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT), according to a recent study.
The authors, writing in Clinical Respiratory Journal, noted that the findings have implications for patient self-management of their chronic disease, and that clinicians should screen for worsened cognitive function.
A complete understanding of CD in COPD is still unknown, despite the fact that poorly controlled COPD has negative effects on workplace participation, health status, and leads to higher health care costs. The prevalence of CD in COPD varies between 10.4% and 48.5%, the authors wrote, and it depends on the type of neuropsychological evaluation as well as the study population.
The hypothesis in this study was that the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) could be useful in evaluating the cognitive status of patients with COPD.
In this study, conducted in Turkey, the patients were awaiting hospital discharge after acute exacerbation; they were compared with stable outpatients with COPD and with healthy controls. The study also evaluated the impact on cognitive status in patients dependent on LTOT and compared them with those not on LTOT in order to see the efficiency of long-term oxygen therapy.
The 121 participants, aged 40 to 80, were divided into 3 groups:
Patients with COPD were divided into 2 groups, those using LTOT and those who were not.
The LTOT group was receiving continuous oxygen therapy at home 24 hours a day to maintain oxygen saturation between 88% and 95%; the continuous oxygen therapy had been given for more than 2 years.
All the patients were receiving combination medical therapy consisting of long‐acting beta agonists, inhaler steroids, and long‐acting anticholinergic agents.
The patients (52.9% male, mean age 67) were asked the MMSE questions in their native language.
Results showed that scores were lower in the COPD‐E group (18.9) than in the COPD‐S group (25.7). There was no significant different between those with stable COPD and the control group.
Those in the COPD-E group had older average age, and older age was related to a lower MMSE score, compared with those in the stable group or the control group.
MMSE scores were also low in the LTOTD group (18.8) compared with those not on LTOT (24.9); the authors said this is important because MMSE identifies clinically significant CD.
The presence of 4 comorbidities also had an effect on MMSE scores compared with patients with none or 1 comorbidity, the researchers said.
In addition, their study showed that “low MMSE was related with decreased pO2 and sO2 values and increased pCO2 values. Our study showed that was a negative correlation between MMSE scores and pCO2. Because of CO2 retention and systemic inflammation, COPD patients have a decreased cognitive function.”
Taking CD into account can improve recovery time, quality of life and lower hospitalization risk, the authors said.
Reference
Çilingir BM, Günbatar H, Çilingir V. Cognitive dysfunction among patients in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Effects of exacerbation and long‐term oxygen therapy. Clin Respir J. Published online August 8, 2020. doi: 10.1111/crj.13250
Real-World Study Reveals Key Insights into DLBCL Treatment Patterns, Outcomes
April 18th 2024A recent study offers valuable insights into the characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in patients across different lines of therapy, providing a look into the landscape of DLBCL management.
Read More
Navigating Health Literacy, Social Determinants, and Discrimination in National Health Plans
February 13th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the February 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on how health plans can screen for health literacy, social determinants of health, and perceived health care discrimination.
Listen
Gene, Light Therapy Combo Shows Promise Against Prostate Cancer Cells in Proof-of-Concept Study
April 18th 2024In their preclinical model, the researchers found efficacy both in vitro and in vivo by using CRISPR-Cas9 to mimic porphyria and combining the technology with light therapy.
Read More
Drs Raymond Thertulien, Joseph Mikhael on Racial Disparities in Multiple Myeloma Care Access
December 28th 2023In the wake of the 2023 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition, Raymond Thertulien, MD, PhD, of Novant Health, and Joseph Mikhael, MD, MEd, FRCPC, FACP, chief medical officer of the International Myeloma Foundation, discussed health equity research highlights from the meeting and drivers of racial disparities in multiple myeloma outcomes.
Listen
Collecting SDOH Data Can Assess Risk of Medical Nonadherence, Improve HEI and Star Ratings
April 18th 2024At the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) 2024 annual meeting, a panel of presenters explored changes coming to Medicare that incorporate social determinants of health (SDOH) data to improve patient and health system outcomes.
Read More