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Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze current data on the population's level of knowledge about COPD and to evaluate certain diagnostic interventions, such as the use of spirometry., Material and Methods: An epidemiological, observational, cross-sectional study by telephone interview, with random dialing of landline telephone numbers, was conducted in November 2019, in a nationally representative sample of adults over 40 years of age., Results: From a total of 51,079 telephone calls, a total of 1920 individuals responded. Mean age was 61.9 years and 31.6% were men. Overall, 19.4% were current smokers and 13.4% reported respiratory disease (5% reported COPD). In total, 27.9% had spontaneous knowledge of COPD, which is a relative increase from the 17% observed in 2011. The most frequent information channel was the media (35.5%), with a significant presence of social networks and the Internet (25.7%). Almost one fifth (18.1%) had chronic respiratory symptoms. Of these, 59.3% had requested medical care, and 66.2% had undergone spirometry. Spirometry was performed less frequently in subjects treated in primary care compared to respiratory medicine departments (51.9% versus 79.1%; P < .001)., Conclusions: Knowledge of COPD is still scarce, and strategies are needed to increase awareness and the importance of assessing respiratory symptoms and increased use of spirometry., (Copyright © 2020 SEPAR. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: Conflicting data exist on the role of pulmonary dendritic cells (DCs) and their maturation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Herein, we investigated whether disease severity and smoking status could affect the distribution and maturation of DCs in lung tissues of patients undergoing elective pneumectomy or lobectomy for suspected primary lung cancer., Materials and Methods: A total of 75 consecutive patients were included. Spirometry testing was used to identify COPD. Lung parenchyma sections anatomically distant from the primary lesion were examined. We used flow cytometry to identify different DCs subtypes-including BDCA1-positive myeloid DCs (mDCs), BDCA3-positive mDCs, and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs)-and determine their maturation markers (CD40, CD80, CD83, and CD86) in all participants. We also identified follicular DCs (fDCs), Langerhans DCs (LDCs), and pDCs in 42 patients by immunohistochemistry., Results: COPD was diagnosed in 43 patients (16 current smokers and 27 former smokers), whereas the remaining 32 subjects were classified as non-COPD (11 current smokers, 13 former smokers, and 8 never smokers). The number and maturation of DCs did not differ significantly between COPD and non-COPD patients. However, the results of flow cytometry indicated that maturation markers CD40 and CD83 of BDCA1-positive mDCs were significantly decreased in smokers than in non-smokers (P = 0.023 and 0.013, respectively). Immunohistochemistry also revealed a lower number of LDCs in COPD patients than in non-COPD subjects., Conclusions: Cigarette smoke, rather than airflow limitation, is the main determinant of impaired DCs maturation in the lung.

We sought to investigate whether the serum concentrations of several inflammatory biomarkers are related to the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) -765G>C polymorphism in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and a control group of non-COPD smokers. Serum inflammatory markers (CRP, SAA, CXCL8, and sICAM-1) were measured by ELISA in 144 patients with COPD and in 55 control subjects. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes, and the COX2 -765G>C (rs20417) polymorphism was genotyped. After adjustment for age and active smoking, CRP and SAA concentrations were associated with the COX2 polymorphism in controls (p=0.041 and 0.014, respectively) but not in COPD patients. The CXCL8 and sICAM-1 concentrations were not associated with the COX2 polymorphism for either cases or controls. The results of the present study indicate that there is a relationship between the COX2 -765G>C polymorphism and the concentrations of CRP and SAA in non-COPD smokers and that this relationship does not exist in COPD patients., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: We analysed the effectiveness of a high intensity behavioural-cognitive intervention compared to minimal intervention started during a hospital stay, to see if the combination of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can increase the quitting rate at 12 months of follow up., Method: A total of 2560 active smokers were studied during their hospital stay. Of these, 717 smokers refused to enter the study and after a minimal intervention they were asked if we could telephone them after one year to ask if they still smoked. The remaining 1843 smokers who received high intensity cognitive therapy were randomised to receive or not receive NRT. The follow up after discharge was carried out by outpatient visits or with telephone sessions., Results: At one year of follow up, 7% of those who declined to enter the study had stopped smoking compared to 27% of those who entered the study (p<0.001). There were significant differences between the group that only had behavioural therapy (21% stopped) compared to the group that also had NRT (33% stopped; p=0.002). In this latter group there were significant differences (p=0.03) between those who had follow up in clinics (39% stopped) compared to those who were followed up telephone sessions (30%). In the multivariate analysis, the predictors of quitting at 12 months were: to have used NRT (OR 12.2; 95% CI, 5.2-32; p=0.002) and a higher score in the Richmond Test (OR 10.1; 95% CI, 3.9-24.2; p=0.01)., Conclusions: A cognitive type intervention started on smokers when admitted to hospital increases quitting rates at 12 months, compared to a minimal intervention, and these rates increase even more significantly if NRT is added., (Copyright © 2010 SEPAR. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)

Background: The objective of this analysis is to evaluate tobacco use and the level of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) knowledge among the general adult population in Spain and to compare these results to those obtained in the 2011 survey. Methods: A cross-sectional, observational, epidemiological study was conducted by telephone interviews and stratified by sex, age, and setting. The study design was identical to that of the study conducted in 2011. Results: Of a total of 89,601 phone contacts, there were 6534 respondents. The average age was 61.5 years. With respect to smoking, 30.9% reported being former smokers and 14.7% were current smokers, 63.6% of whom reported having attempted to quit. Among the current smokers, 19.7% claimed to use electronic cigarettes, although 88% believe these pose a health risk. No significant differences were found in smoking prevalence or frequency of attempts to quit according to residential setting (rural/urban). The highest prevalence of current smoking in men was recorded in the 55–64 years age range (31.6%), while in women it was from 45 to 54 years (34.6%). Smoking has decreased with respect to 2011, from 21.1% to 16.1% in men and from 17.9% to 13.2% in women, with a clear variability according to region. Of the population surveyed, 32.5% had spontaneous knowledge about COPD, with significant geographic variability. The most frequent sources of information about the disease were social media and the Internet (39.6%), followed by the media (35.2%). Conclusions: The prevalence of tobacco use in adults has considerably decreased and there is greater knowledge about COPD in Spain, although there is significant variability according to region, which could explain the geographic variability in the prevalence of COPD. Strategies are needed to increase COPD education and awareness and to reinforce smoking prevention measures among women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archivos de Bronconeumología (English Edition) is the property of Sociedad Espanola de Neumologia y Cirugia Toracica (SEPAR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The European COPD Audit initiated by the European Respiratory Society (ERS) evaluated the management of hospital admissions due to exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in several European countries. Data on the treatment of severe acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPDs) in Switzerland are scarce. Objectives: In light of the GOLD 2010 guidelines, this work aims to examine the quality of care for AECOPD and to provide specific recommendations for the management of severe AECOPD in Switzerland. Methods: A total of 295 patients requiring hospital admission to 19 Swiss hospitals due to exacerbation of COPD during a predefined 60 days in 2011 were included in the study. We compared the Swiss data to the official GOLD 2010 recommendations and to the results of the other European countries. Results: Approximately 43% of the Swiss patients with severe AECOPD were current smokers at hospital admission, compared to 33% of the patients in other European countries (p < 0.001). In Switzerland and in Europe, spirometry data were not available for most patients at hospital admission (65 and 60%, respectively; p = 0.08). In comparison to other European countries, antibiotics were prescribed 14% less often in Switzerland (p < 0.001). Only 79% of the patients in the Swiss cohort received treatment with a short-acting bronchodilator at admission. Conclusions: Considering the overall high standard of health care in Switzerland, in light of the GOLD 2010 guidelines we are able to make 7 recommendations to improve and standardize the management of severe AECOPD for patients treated in Switzerland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is estimated that the world population will reach a record 7.3 billion in 2015, and the high burden of chronic conditions associated with ageing and smoking will increase further. Respiratory diseases in general receive little attention and funding in comparison with other major causes of global morbidity and mortality. In particular, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD) has been a major public health problem and will remain a challenge for clinicians within the 21st century. Worldwide, COPD is in the spotlight, since its high prevalence, morbidity and mortality create formidable challenges for health-care systems. This review emphasizes the magnitude of the COPD problem from a clinician's standpoint by drawing extensively from the new findings of the Global Burden of Disease study. Updated, distilled information on the population distribution of COPD is useful for the clinician to help provide an appreciation of the relative impact of COPD in daily practice compared with other chronic conditions, and to allocate minimum resources in anticipation of future needs in care. Despite recent trends in reduction of COPD standardized mortality rates and some recent successes in anti-smoking efforts in a number of Western countries, the overarching demographic impact of ageing in an ever-expanding world population, joined with other factors such as high rates of smoking and air pollution in Asia, will ensure that COPD will continue to pose an ever-increasing problem well into the 21st century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archivos de Bronconeumología (English Edition) is the property of Sociedad Espanola de Neumologia y Cirugia Toracica (SEPAR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)