BACKGROUND Surfactant protein D (SP-D) is a lung-specific protein proposed to predict clinical outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the changes in serum SP-D during acute exacerbation (AECOPD) episodes and the relationship of serum SP-D with the overall severity of the disease in stable COPD (SCOPD) remain unclear. METHODS Serum SP-D levels were ana...

BACKGROUND We investigated the prevalence of depression among patients with COPD treated in long-term in-patient rehabilitation facilities, using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D). Furthermore, the relationship between the severity of air-flow obstruction (the percent of predicted FEV(1)), BODE (body mass index, degree of air-flow obstruction, dyspnea, exercise capac...

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a type of obstructive lung disease characterized by long-term poor airflow. Tobacco smoking is the most common cause of COPD, with a number of other factors such as air pollution and genetics playing a smaller role. Objectives: The objective of the study is to predict severity of COPD based on RDW value. Material & Methods: This Retros...

OBJECTIVES To assess whether there is a correlation between oxygen uptake (VO2) and heart rate (HR) on-kinetics in the constant-load cycle-ergometer test (CLT) and the BODE index and its isolated variables in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHOD Fourteen male patients between 55 and 78 years of age with moderate to severe COPD were evaluated. Each patient underwe...

Background: Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) has been applied during pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, it remains unclear if the addition of IMT to a general exercise training program leads to additional clinically relevant improvements in patients with COPD. Aim of the Study: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the ad...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the prevalence of sarcopenia in COPD patients, as well as to determine whether sarcopenia correlates with the severity and prognosis of COPD. METHODS A cross-sectional study with COPD patients followed at the pulmonary outpatient clinic of our institution. The patients underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The diagnosis of sarcopenia was made on the basis of the sk...

RATIONALE Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are afflicted by comorbidities. Few studies have prospectively evaluated COPD comorbidities and mortality risk. OBJECTIVES To prospectively evaluate COPD comorbidities and mortality risk. METHODS We followed 1,664 patients with COPD in five centers for a median of 51 months. Systematically, 79 comorbidities were recorded. ...