COPD News

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is associated with increased risk for sudden cardiac death, especially in those with frequent exacerbations 5 years after diagnosis, according to new data from the Rotterdam study.

Approximately 138.5 million Americans, or almost 44%, currently live in areas where pollution levels often are considered too dangerous to breathe, according to the State of the Air 2015 report from the American Lung Association.

Patients with COPD and high blood eosinophil count experienced a greater benefit from the use of inhaled corticosteroids to reduce exacerbation frequency compared with patients with low eosinophil count, according to study results.

Individuals with COPD exacerbations requiring hospitalization were common and considered a predictor of reduced survival across all COPD stages, according to study results.

Total hospitalizations and ED visits from 2001 to 2012 for COPD have increased despite efforts to reduce COPD incidence, according to study results.

Lung function decline quickened during a 5-year follow-up in patients with moderate to severe COPD who ceased use of or sporadically maintained inhaled corticosteroid treatment after 30 months of therapy, according to study results.

The American Thoracic Society and the European Respiratory Society have combined resources to issue a series of recommendations for the future of COPD research to attempt to determine the impact of COPD-related clinical practice guidelines on outcomes in patients with COPD.

The use of roflumilast in patients with COPD increases the production of a protein called PDE4B2, which may result in patients developing a tolerance to the drug after repeated use, according to study results published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA.

GlaxoSmithKline’s Breo Ellipta showed no new safety concerns while being tested to treat asthma, according to a preliminary review from the FDA.

International experts are calling for the sale of tobacco to be phased out by 2040 and for governments to be proactive and institute strict policy to guide this process.