Implications of Cardiopulmonary Risk for the Management of COPD: A Narrative Review.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) constitutes a major global health burden and is the third leading cause of death worldwide. A high proportion of patients with COPD have cardiovascular disease, but there is also evidence that COPD is a risk factor for adverse outcomes in cardiovascular disease. Patients with COPD frequently die of respiratory and cardiovascular causes, yet the identification and management of cardiopulmonary risk remain suboptimal owing to limited awareness and clinical intervention. Acute exacerbations punctuate the progression of COPD in many patients, reducing lung function and increasing the risk of subsequent exacerbations and cardiovascular events that may lead to early death. This narrative review defines and summarises the principles of COPD-associated cardiopulmonary risk, and examines respiratory interventions currently available to modify this risk, as well as providing expert opinion on future approaches to addressing cardiopulmonary risk.

Usability and feasibility of the Test of Adherence to Inhalers (TAI) Toolkit in daily clinical practice: The BANANA study.

The Test of Adherence to Inhalers (TAI) Toolkit links an adherence measurement instrument (the TAI) to proven effective interventions for different causes of non-adherence to inhaled medication. This study aimed to assess the usability and feasibility of the TAI Toolkit in clinical practice. The TAI Toolkit was piloted in eight primary and secondary care settings. Each study site included 10 patients with asthma and/or COPD and suspected non-adherence. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) recorded clinical data and TAI Toolkit outcomes. Data on usability and feasibility were collected in semi-structured interviews and with the System Usability Score (SUS). Of the included patients, 81% were non-adherent, and sporadic non-adherence was the most common (69%). The TAI Toolkit was valued with a mean SUS-score of 85.9 by the HCPs. They found the toolkit to 'be visually attractive', 'easy-to-use' and 'give insight into patients' adherence', thereby offering good potential for its use in clinical practice.

Uncovering patterns of inhaler technique and reliever use: the value of objective, personalized data from a digital inhaler.

Electronic inhalers provide information about patterns of routine inhaler use. During a 12-week study, 360 asthma patients using albuterol Digihaler generated 53,083 inhaler events that were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 41,528 (78%) of the recorded inhalation events were suitable for flow analysis (having a PIF ≥ 18 L/min and <120 L/min). Median PIF, inhalation volume, inhalation duration, and time to PIF for these events steadily decreased between the first and last 10 days of the study, by 5.1%, 12.6%, 15.9%, and 6.4%, respectively. Continuous short-acting beta2-agonist (SABA) overuse, defined as ≥2 SABA inhalations/week throughout the study period, was seen in 29% (n = 104) of patients. Of 260 patients with ≥1 instance of acute short-term SABA overuse, 55 (21%) had a confirmed exacerbation. Electronic recording of real-life inhaler use can capture valuable, objective information that could inform disease management and clinical decision-making.

Does mixing inhaler devices lead to unchecked inhaler technique errors in patients with COPD? Findings from the cross-sectional observational MISMATCH study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be prescribed multiple inhalers that require different techniques for optimal performance. Mixing devices has been associated with poorer COPD outcomes suggesting that it leads to inappropriate inhaler technique. However, empirical evidence is lacking. AIMS: Compare the nature and frequency of dry powder inhaler (DPI) technique errors in patients with COPD using (1) a single DPI or (2) mixed-devices (a DPI and pressurised metered dose inhaler (pMDI)). METHODS: Data from the PIFotal study-a cross-sectional study on Peak Inspiratory Flow in patients with COPD using a DPI as maintenance therapy, capturing data from 1434 patients on demographic characteristics, COPD health status and inhaler technique-were used to select 291 patients using mixed-devices. Frequency matching based on country of residence and DPI device type was used to select 291 patients using a DPI-only for comparison. Predetermined checklists were used for the evaluation of DPI video recordings and complemented with additional errors that were observed in ≥10%. Error proportions were calculated for the (1) individual and total number of errors, (2) number of critical errors and (3) number of pMDI-related errors. RESULTS: The study sample contained 582 patients (mean (SD) age 69.6 (9.4) years, 47.1% female). DPI technique errors were common, but not significantly different between the groups. The majority of patients made at least one critical error (DPI-only: 90.7% vs mixed-devices: 92.8%). Proportions of total, 'pMDI-related' and critical errors did not significantly differ between the groups. CONCLUSION: The nature and frequency of inhaler technique errors did not substantially differ between patients prescribed with a single DPI and mixed-devices. Currently, 'pMDI-related errors' in DPI use are not accounted for in existing checklists. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ENCEPP/EUPAS48776.

Brazilian version of the Clinical COPD Questionnaire, administered by interview: reliability and validity measurement properties / Versão brasileira do Clinical COPD Questionnaire, aplicado por meio de entrevista: propriedades de medida de confiabilidade e validade

ABSTRACT Objective: To test the reliability, validity, and interpretability of the Brazilian version of the Clinical COPD Questionnaire (CCQ) in patients with COPD. Methods: Fifty patients with COPD completed the CCQ by interview on two occasions. At the first visit, the CCQ was administered twice, by two different raters, approximately 10 min apart; the patients also underwent spirometry and were administered the COPD Assessment Test, the modified Medical Research Council scale, and Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). At the second visit (1-2 weeks later), the CCQ was readministered. We tested the hypothesis that the CCQ total score would correlate positively with the total and domain SGRQ scores (r ≥ 0.5). Results: Of the 50 patients, 30 (60%) were male. The mean age was 66 ± 8 years, and the mean FEV1 was 44.7 ± 17.9% of the predicted value. For all CCQ items, Cronbach's alpha coefficient (95% CI) was 0.93 (0.91-0.96). To analyze the interrater reliability and test-retest reliability of the CCQ, we calculated the two-way mixed effects model/single measure type intraclass correlation coefficient (0.97 [95% CI: 0.95-0.98] and 0.92 [95% CI: 0.86-0.95], respectively); the agreement standard error of measurement (0.65 for both); the smallest detectable change at the individual level (1.81 and 1.80, respectively) and group level (0.26 and 0.25, respectively); and the limits of agreement (−0.58 to 0.82 and −1.14 to 1.33, respectively). The CCQ total score correlated positively with all SGRQ scores (r ≥ 0.70 for all). Conclusions: The Brazilian version of the CCQ showed an indeterminate measurement error, as well as satisfactory interrater/test-retest reliability and construct validity.

RESUMO Objetivo: Testar a confiabilidade, validade e interpretabilidade da versão brasileira do Clinical COPD Questionnaire (CCQ) em pacientes com DPOC. Métodos: Cinquenta pacientes com DPOC preencheram o CCQ por meio de entrevista em duas ocasiões. Na primeira visita, o CCQ foi aplicado duas vezes, por dois avaliadores, com intervalo de aproximadamente 10 min; os pacientes também foram submetidos a espirometria e aplicação do COPD Assessment Test, da escala modificada do Medical Research Council e do Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). Na segunda visita (1-2 semanas depois), o CCQ foi reaplicado. Testamos a hipótese de que a pontuação total no CCQ se correlacionaria positivamente com a pontuação total e a pontuação nos domínios do SGRQ (r ≥ 0,5). Resultados: Dos 50 pacientes, 30 (60%) eram do sexo masculino. A média de idade foi de 66 ± 8 anos, e a média do VEF1 foi de 44,7 ± 17,9% do valor previsto. Para todos os itens do CCQ, o coeficiente alfa de Cronbach (IC95%) foi de 0,93 (0,91-0,96). Para analisar a confiabilidade interavaliadores e teste-reteste do CCQ, calculamos o coeficiente de correlação intraclasse de duas vias modelo de efeitos mistos para medidas únicas (0,97 [IC95%: 0,95-0,98] e 0,92 [IC95%: 0,86-0,95], respectivamente); erro-padrão de medida do tipo concordância (0,65 para ambas); a mínima mudança detectável individual (1,81 e 1,80, respectivamente) e no grupo (0,26 e 0,25, respectivamente); e os limites de concordância (−0,58 a 0,82 e −1,14 a 1,33, respectivamente). A pontuação total no CCQ correlacionou-se positivamente com todas as pontuações no SGRQ (r ≥ 0,70 para todas). Conclusões: A versão brasileira do CCQ apresentou erro de medida indeterminado, assim como confiabilidade interavaliadores/teste-reteste e validade de construto satisfatórias.