New data from C. Esteban et al illuminate research in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
2009 JUL 13 - (NewsRx.com) -- "Forced expiratory volume in 1. second Cut-off points establish the severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To compare how the American Thoracic Society (ATS), the British Thoracic Society (BTS), the Global Initiative for COPD (GOLD) and the ATS-European Respiratory Society (ATS-ERS) guidelines for rating COPD severity predict several significant outcomes," researchers in Spain report. "Five-year prospective cohort study. Spirometry was performed and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) assessed using the Short Form 36 Health Survey and the Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire. Hospital admissions resulting from COPD exacerbation and mortality during a 5-year follow-up period were recorded. In all guidelines, the number of admissions was directly associated with COPD severity. The sensitivity and specificity for 5-year respiratory mortality were respectively 0.21 and 0.97 for the GOLD/ATS-ERS, 0.51 and 0.79 for the BTS, and 0.37 and 0.89 for the ATS guidelines. A similar pattern was seen for all-cause mortality. For HRQoL, statistically significant differences between guidelines were seen only for the BTS and ATS scales. These guidelines did not consistently stratify patients with regard to 5-year mortality and HRQoL. Although the BTS system was slightly superior, none of the guidelines were closely related to these outcomes," wrote C. Esteban and colleagues. The researchers concluded: "Other instruments are needed for a better determination of the severity of COPD.." Esteban and colleagues published their study in International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (Classifying the severity of COPD: are the new severity scales better than the old' International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 2009;13(6):783-790). For additional information, contact C. Esteban, Hospital Galdakao Usansolo, Service Neumology, Dept. of Pneumol, Barrio Labeaga S-N, Galdakao 48960, Vizcaya, Spain. Publisher contact information for the International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease is: International Union Against Tuberculosis Lung Disease (I U a T L D), 68 Boulevard Saint-Michel, 75006 Paris, France. Keywords: Spain, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Clinical Trial Research, Cutaneous Tuberculosis, Lung Disease, Mycobacteria, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Quality of Life. This article was prepared by Tuberculosis Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Tuberculosis Week via NewsRx.com.
|
