El uso del límite inferior de la normalidad como criterio de EPOC excluye pacientes con elevada morbilidad y alto consumo de recursos sanitarios / The Use of the Lower Limit of Normal as a Criterion for COPD Excludes Patients With Increased Morbidity and High Consumption of Health-Care Resources

El objetivo de este estudio es analizar las características clínicas de 2 poblaciones de pacientes con EPOC, una diagnosticada utilizando el límite inferior de la normalidad (LIN) y otra por criterio GOLD, y comparar la población excluida por el criterio LIN con una población control sin EPOC. Los pacientes con EPOC por criterio LIN presentaban valores significativamente más bajos de FEV1/FVC 0,55 (0,8) vs 0,66 (0,2), p=0,000; de FEV1 44,9% (14) vs 53,8% (13), p=0,000, y de FVC 64,7% (17) vs 70,4% p 0,04. Los 2 grupos de EPOC presentaron una mayor frecuentación en urgencias en el último año (57 y 52% de los pacientes, respectivamente, frente al 11,9% del grupo control), sin que hubiera diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre ambos. Este mismo patrón se observó en el número de visitas a urgencias en el último año: 1,98 (1,6), 1,84 (1,5) y 1,18 (0,7), respectivamente. Cuando se analizó la prevalencia de las comorbilidades que más frecuentemente se asocian a EPOC se detectó, frente al grupo control, un claro incremento en el porcentaje de pacientes que presentaban trastornos asociados; sin embargo, estas diferencias fueron poco relevantes entre los dos grupos de EPOC. Las diferencias tampoco fueron relevantes entre ambos grupos de EPOC en el perfil de prescripción farmacológica. Como conclusión, el uso del LIN como criterio para establecer el diagnóstico de EPOC, frente al criterio GOLD, excluye una población con importantes manifestaciones clínicas y con un elevado consumo de recursos sanitarios. Antes de su implementación debe analizarse la relevancia de aplicar este criterio en la práctica clínica(AU)

The objective of this study is to analyze the clinical characteristics of two COPD patient populations: one diagnosed using the lower limit of normal (LLN) and another diagnosed by the GOLD criteria. We also compared the population excluded by the LLN criterion with a non-COPD control population. The COPD patients determined with the LLN criterion presented significantly lower levels of FEV1/FVC at 0.55 (0.8) vs. 0.66 (0.2), P=.000; FEV1 44.9% (14) vs. 53.8% (13), P=.000, and FVC 64.7% (17) vs. 70.4% p 0.04. The two COPD groups presented more frequent ER visits in the last year (57% and 52% of the patients, respectively, compared with 11.9% of the control group), without any statistically significant differences between the two. This same pattern was observed in the number of ER visits in the last year: 1.98 (1.6), 1.84 (1.5) and 1.18 (0.7), respectively. When we analyzed the prevalence of the comorbidities that are most frequently associated COPD, there was a clear increase in the percentage of patients who presented associated disorders compared with the control group. Nevertheless, these differences were not very relevant between the two COPD groups. The differences also were not relevant between both COPD groups in the pharmacological prescription profile. In conclusion, the use of the LLN as a criterion for establishing the diagnosis of COPD, compared with the GOLD criteria, excludes a population with important clinical manifestations and with a high consumption of health-care resources. Before its implementation, the relevance of applying this criterion in clinical practice should be analyzed(AU)

Utilización excesiva de corticoides inhalados en la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica / The Excessive Use of Inhaled Corticosteroids in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

A pesar de que las recomendaciones de las principales guías clínicas han restringido las indicaciones de los corticoides inhalados en la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC), actualmente más del 80% de los pacientes están recibiendo este tratamiento en España, en su mayoría con dosis elevadas. Una revisión detallada de la literatura no justifica el uso de estas dosis elevadas, posicionamiento que está de acuerdo con las recomendaciones de la FDA. Una revaloración de su seguridad, la consistencia de los datos de eficacia, que muestran resultados similares con dosis moderadas, y una mejor selección de los pacientes exige un replanteamiento del uso de este tratamiento en el paciente con EPOC(AU)

Despite the fact that the recommendations of the main clinical guidelines have restricted the indications for inhaled corticosteroids in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), currently more than 80% of patients are receiving this treatment in Spain, mostly with high doses. A detailed review of the literature does not justify the use of these high doses, a position that agrees with the recommendations of the FDA. A re-evaluation of their safety, the consistency of the data on their efficacy showing similar results with moderate doses and a better patient selection require the use of this treatment in COPD patients to be reconsidered(AU)

The use of the lower limit of normal as a criterion for COPD excludes patients with increased morbidity and high consumption of health-care resources.

The objective of this study is to analyze the clinical characteristics of two COPD patient populations: one diagnosed using the lower limit of normal (LLN) and another diagnosed by the GOLD criteria. We also compared the population excluded by the LLN criterion with a non-COPD control population. The COPD patients determined with the LLN criterion presented significantly lower levels of FEV1/FVC at 0.55 (0.8) vs. 0.66 (0.2), P=.000; FEV1 44.9% (14) vs. 53.8% (13), P=.000, and FVC 64.7% (17) vs. 70.4% p 0.04. The two COPD groups presented more frequent ER visits in the last year (57% and 52% of the patients, respectively, compared with 11.9% of the control group), without any statistically significant differences between the two. This same pattern was observed in the number of ER visits in the last year: 1.98 (1.6), 1.84 (1.5) and 1.18 (0.7), respectively. When we analyzed the prevalence of the comorbidities that are most frequently associated COPD, there was a clear increase in the percentage of patients who presented associated disorders compared with the control group. Nevertheless, these differences were not very relevant between the two COPD groups. The differences also were not relevant between both COPD groups in the pharmacological prescription profile. In conclusion, the use of the LLN as a criterion for establishing the diagnosis of COPD, compared with the GOLD criteria, excludes a population with important clinical manifestations and with a high consumption of health-care resources. Before its implementation, the relevance of applying this criterion in clinical practice should be analyzed.

The excessive use of inhaled corticosteroids in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Despite the fact that the recommendations of the main clinical guidelines have restricted the indications for inhaled corticosteroids in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), currently more than 80% of patients are receiving this treatment in Spain, mostly with high doses. A detailed review of the literature does not justify the use of these high doses, a position that agrees with the recommendations of the FDA. A re-evaluation of their safety, the consistency of the data on their efficacy showing similar results with moderate doses and a better patient selection require the use of this treatment in COPD patients to be reconsidered.