STUDY OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to gain insight into patients' comprehension, recognition, and experience of exacerbations of COPD, and to explore the patient burden associated with these events. DESIGN: A qualitative, multinational, cross-sectional, interview-based study. SETTING: Patients' homes. PATIENTS: Patients (n = 125) with predominantly moderate-to-very severe COPD (age > or = 50 years; with two or more exacerbations during the previous year). INTERVENTIONS: Patients underwent a 1-h face-to-face interview with a trained interviewer. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: During the preceding year, patients experienced a mean +/- SD of 4.6 +/- 5.4 exacerbations, after which 19.2% (n = 24) believed they had not fully recovered. Although commonly used by physicians, only 1.6% (n = 2) of patients understood the term exacerbation, preferring to use simpler terms, such as chest infection (16.0%; n = 20) or crisis (16.0%; n = 20) instead. Approximately two thirds of patients stated that they were aware of when an exacerbation was imminent and, in most cases, patients recounted that symptoms were consistent from one exacerbation to another. Some patients (32.8%; n = 41), however, reported no recognizable warning signs. At the onset of an exacerbation, 32.8% of patients (n = 41) stated that they reacted by self-administering their medication. Some patients spontaneously mentioned a fear of dying (12.0%; n = 15) or suffocating (9.6%; n = 12) during exacerbations, and effects on activities, mood, and personal/family relationships were frequently reported. Physicians tended to underestimate the psychological impact of exacerbations compared with patient reports. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that patients with frequent exacerbations have a poor understanding of the term exacerbation. Patient recollections suggest that exacerbation profiles vary enormously between patients but that symptoms/warning signs are fairly consistent within individuals, and are generally recognizable. Exacerbations appear to have a significant impact on patient well-being, including psychological well-being, and this may be underestimated by physicians.
STUDY OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to gain insight into patients' comprehension, recognition, and experience of exacerbations of COPD, and to explore the patient burden associated with these events. DESIGN: A qualitative, multinational, cross-sectional, interview-based study. SETTING:Patients' homes. PATIENTS: Patients (n = 125) with predominantly moderate-to-very severe COPD (age > or = 50 years; with two or more exacerbations during the previous year). INTERVENTIONS:Patients underwent a 1-h face-to-face interview with a trained interviewer. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: During the preceding year, patients experienced a mean +/- SD of 4.6 +/- 5.4 exacerbations, after which 19.2% (n = 24) believed they had not fully recovered. Although commonly used by physicians, only 1.6% (n = 2) of patients understood the term exacerbation, preferring to use simpler terms, such as chest infection (16.0%; n = 20) or crisis (16.0%; n = 20) instead. Approximately two thirds of patients stated that they were aware of when an exacerbation was imminent and, in most cases, patients recounted that symptoms were consistent from one exacerbation to another. Some patients (32.8%; n = 41), however, reported no recognizable warning signs. At the onset of an exacerbation, 32.8% of patients (n = 41) stated that they reacted by self-administering their medication. Some patients spontaneously mentioned a fear of dying (12.0%; n = 15) or suffocating (9.6%; n = 12) during exacerbations, and effects on activities, mood, and personal/family relationships were frequently reported. Physicians tended to underestimate the psychological impact of exacerbations compared with patient reports. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that patients with frequent exacerbations have a poor understanding of the term exacerbation. Patient recollections suggest that exacerbation profiles vary enormously between patients but that symptoms/warning signs are fairly consistent within individuals, and are generally recognizable. Exacerbations appear to have a significant impact on patient well-being, including psychological well-being, and this may be underestimated by physicians.
Authors: Aureliano Paolo Finch; Patricia van Velzen; Gerben Ter Riet; Peter J Sterk; Jan M Prins; Judith E Bosmans Journal: Pharmacoeconomics Date: 2019-05 Impact factor: 4.981
Authors: Sarah E Jones; Ruth E Barker; Claire M Nolan; Suhani Patel; Matthew Maddocks; William D C Man Journal: J Thorac Dis Date: 2018-05 Impact factor: 2.895
Authors: Dheeraj Gupta; Ritesh Agarwal; Ashutosh Nath Aggarwal; V N Maturu; Sahajal Dhooria; K T Prasad; Inderpaul S Sehgal; Lakshmikant B Yenge; Aditya Jindal; Navneet Singh; A G Ghoshal; G C Khilnani; J K Samaria; S N Gaur; D Behera Journal: Lung India Date: 2013-07
Authors: Darwin Feliz-Rodriguez; Santiago Zudaire; Carlos Carpio; Elizabet Martínez; Antonia Gómez-Mendieta; Ana Santiago; Rodolfo Alvarez-Sala; Francisco García-Río Journal: Can Respir J Date: 2013 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 2.409
Authors: Eulàlia Borrell; Mar Rodríguez; Pere Torán; Laura Muñoz; Guillem Pera; Núria Montellà; Mònica Monteagudo; Magalí Urrea; Yolanda Puigfel; Antonio Negrete; Xavier Mezquiriz; Cristina Domènech; Anna Lacasta; Ma Llum García; Sandra Maneus; Glòria Tintoré Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2009-01-09 Impact factor: 3.295