BACKGROUND: The present study was designed to describe the clinical profile of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the treatment prescribed by primary care physicians (PCPs) in Spain. METHOD: An observational, multicenter and cross-sectional study was performed in patients diagnosed with acute exacerbation of COPD and treated by PCPs. Patients diagnosed with asthma, cystic fibrosis, significant bronchiectasis or pneumonia were not included in the study. RESULTS: A total of 329 general physicians recruited 1088 evaluable patients across the country. Mean age was 66.5+/-10.2 years; male : female ratio was 3 : 1. Spirometry was performed in 28.3% of the patients. The number of acute exacerbations in the last year was 3.3+/-2.5; 88.7% had increased expectoration, 87.5% increased dyspnea, 64.4% increased sputum purulence, and 43.5% fever. A total of 6.1% (n = 59) of patients were hospitalized due to exacerbation. The most frequently prescribed medications were antibiotics (84.5%, n = 919), mucolytic agents (72.5%, n = 789), inhaled corticosteroids (ICs) (71.3%, n = 776), and short-acting beta-adrenergic drugs (67.8%, n = 738). Oral corticosteroids were prescribed to 436 patients (40.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical profile of acute exacerbations of COPD treated in a primary care setting in Spain was characterized by shortness of breath and increased sputum production. Patients were managed by PCP mainly in outpatient clinics with antibiotics, mucolytic agents, inhaled corticosteroids, oral corticosteroids and short-acting beta-adrenergic agents. The percentage of patients with confirmed diagnosis of COPD by pulmonary function tests was very low.
BACKGROUND: The present study was designed to describe the clinical profile of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the treatment prescribed by primary care physicians (PCPs) in Spain. METHOD: An observational, multicenter and cross-sectional study was performed in patients diagnosed with acute exacerbation of COPD and treated by PCPs. Patients diagnosed with asthma, cystic fibrosis, significant bronchiectasis or pneumonia were not included in the study. RESULTS: A total of 329 general physicians recruited 1088 evaluable patients across the country. Mean age was 66.5+/-10.2 years; male : female ratio was 3 : 1. Spirometry was performed in 28.3% of the patients. The number of acute exacerbations in the last year was 3.3+/-2.5; 88.7% had increased expectoration, 87.5% increased dyspnea, 64.4% increased sputum purulence, and 43.5% fever. A total of 6.1% (n = 59) of patients were hospitalized due to exacerbation. The most frequently prescribed medications were antibiotics (84.5%, n = 919), mucolytic agents (72.5%, n = 789), inhaled corticosteroids (ICs) (71.3%, n = 776), and short-acting beta-adrenergic drugs (67.8%, n = 738). Oral corticosteroids were prescribed to 436 patients (40.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical profile of acute exacerbations of COPD treated in a primary care setting in Spain was characterized by shortness of breath and increased sputum production. Patients were managed by PCP mainly in outpatient clinics with antibiotics, mucolytic agents, inhaled corticosteroids, oral corticosteroids and short-acting beta-adrenergic agents. The percentage of patients with confirmed diagnosis of COPD by pulmonary function tests was very low.
Authors: Robert Wilson; Antonio Anzueto; Marc Miravitlles; Pierre Arvis; Daniel Haverstock; Mila Trajanovic; Sanjay Sethi Journal: Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis Date: 2015-06-02
Authors: Laurent Bertoletti; Sara Quenet; Silvy Laporte; Joan Carles Sahuquillo; Francisco Conget; José María Pedrajas; Mar Martin; Ignacio Casado; Antonio Riera-Mestre; Manuel Monreal Journal: Respir Res Date: 2013-07-18
Authors: Johanna Laue; Hasse Melbye; Peder A Halvorsen; Elena A Andreeva; Maciek Godycki-Cwirko; Anja Wollny; Nick A Francis; Mark Spigt; Kenny Kung; Mette Bech Risør Journal: Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis Date: 2016-12-08
Authors: David B Price; Eran Gefen; Gokul Gopalan; Rosie McDonald; Vicky Thomas; Simon Wan Yau Ming; Emily Davis Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-01-24 Impact factor: 3.240