Thomas Ringbaek

A Comparison of the Assessment of Quality of Life with CAT, CCQ, and SGRQ in COPD Patients Participating in Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Abstract Background: The aim of this study was to compare the COPD specific health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) instruments, the St Georges Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), COPD Assessment Test (CAT), and COPD Clinical Questionnaire (CCQ), in terms of feasibility and correlations in COPD patients participating in pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). Methods/materials: Ninety consecutive patients with mainly severe COPD who participated in a 7-week PR programme were assessed with CAT, CCQ, SGRQ. In addition to evaluating the scores obtained by the questionnaires we also assessed the need of help and the time needed to complete the questionnaires. Results: Patients had mean FEV1 = 38.7% of predicted value and poor quality of life (mean SGRQ total score 51.1, CAT 1.81, and CCQ 26.5 units). There were good correlations between the overall scores for the three HR-QoL instruments: CAT versus CCQ, r = 0.77; CAT versus SGRQ, r = 0.73; and CCQ versus SGRQ, r = 0.75 (p < 0.001 for all correlations). The average time to complete the questionnaires was 578 seconds for SGRQ, 107 seconds for CAT, and 134 seconds for CCQ. The need for assistance while answering the questionnaire was 86.5% for SGRQ, 53.9% for CAT, and 36.0% for CCQ. Conclusions : we observed a good correlation between the SGRQ, CCQ and CAT in this group of patients with severe COPD undergoing pulmonary rehabilitation. We found that CAT and CCQ have the advantage of being easier and faster to complete than the SGRQ. The need for help with the completion of the questionnaires was especially seen in patients with low education level.

Does long-term oxygen therapy reduce hospitalisation in hypoxaemic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?

The aim of this study was to determine whether long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) reduces hospitalisation in hypoxaemic patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The circumstances of initiation of LTOT (start during hospitalisation versus start as an outpatient) and compliance with oxygen were also investigated (continuous oxygen therapy (COT) ≥15 h daily versus noncontinuous oxygen therapy (NCOT) <15 h daily). A total 246 COPD patients were studied, with each patient acting as their own control. Patients were divided into four groups: 125 patients on COT who started LTOT in conjunction with hospitalisation, 37 patients on COT who started LTOT as outpatients, 58 patients on NCOT who started LTOT in conjunction with hospitalisation and 26 patients on NCOT who started LTOT as outpatients. Admission rates, days spent in hospital and number of patients with at least one hospitalisation (ever hospitalised) were compared in two periods of 10 months before and after initiation of LTOT. Overall during the LTOT period, in comparison with the preoxygen period, the admission rates, hospital days and “ever hospitalised” were reduced by 23.8%, 43.5% and 31.2%, respectively. Among patients who started LTOT as outpatients, a tendency towards a higher effect in the compliant group was observed. This study shows that in hypoxaemic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, long-term oxygen therapy is associated with a reduction in hospitalisation.

Compliance with LTOT and consumption of mobile oxygen.

The aim of the study was to investigate compliance with long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT), the consumption of mobile oxygen and factors that might influence on these measures. The study included 182 patients with LTOT and 125 patients answered a questionnaire on daily activities. Information on arterial gas tension, lung function, and diagnosis was obtained from the medical file. Data on oxygen systems and the actual usage of oxygen were obtained from the oxygen suppliers. Seventy-six per cent of the patients had a concentrator and 35% had both stationary and mobile oxygen. Good compliance (use of oxygen > 15 h day-1) was seen in 65%. Of the tested factors, only mobile oxygen had an influence on the effective usage. Outdoor activity was reported in 65% of the patients. Only 48% of these patients had mobile units, while 21% of the home-bound patients had mobile units. Of the patients with mobile oxygen, only 39% used their mobile unit > 2 h week-1. Poorer usage of stationary oxygen was observed in patients with outdoor activity (2.4 hours day-1 less). Although only 16 (13%) patients reported a usage less than 15 h day-1, the actual consumption was less than 15 h day-1 in 29%. In conclusion, patients on LTOT tended to overestimate their oxygen usage. Acceptable compliance was observed in 65% of the patients. Only mobile oxygen had a significant impact on the overall compliance. As more patients had outdoor activities than expected, and as these activities had a negative impact on the usage of stationary oxygen, more attention must be paid on detecting outdoor activities. However, as fewer than half of the patients with outdoor activity and mobile oxygen used their mobile systems, there is a need for measures to improve compliance with mobile oxygen. Using lists referring to the actual usage and discussing the usage with the patients may improve the compliance and cost-benefit.

Long-term effects of 1-year maintenance training on physical functioning and health status in patients with COPD: A randomized controlled study.

PURPOSE To examine whether maintenance training (MT) for 1 year improved the long-term effects of a 7-week chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) rehabilitation program. METHODS After a 7-week outpatient rehabilitation program, 96 patients with COPD were randomized to either an MT group (n = 55) or a control group (n = 41). Both groups were requested to continue unsupervised training at home. The MT group received weekly supervised training the first 6 months, supervised training every second week the next 6 months, and finally no supervised training the last 6 months of the 18-month study period. Primary effect parameters were Endurance Shuttle Walk Test (ESWT) time and health status (St. Georges Respiratory Questionnaire, SGRQ). Secondary effect parameters were adherence to supervised training, dropout rates, and hospitalization. RESULTS Compared with the control group, the MT group had significantly better ESWT times at 3 and 6 months (+43.9 seconds; P= .03, and +75.1 seconds; P= .02) and insignificantly higher ESWT time at 12 months (+66.6 seconds; P= .40). SGRQ total score declined gradually after the 7-week program with no difference between the 2 groups, and after 18 months, the score was 1.7 units (95% confidence interval: −0.7 to 4.1) worse than at randomization. There was no difference between the 2 groups regarding dropout rates or hospitalization. DISCUSSION Weekly MT for 12 months improved walking time but had no influence on health-related quality of life or hospital admissions, compared with unsupervised daily training at home. The effect of the MT was closely related to adherence to the program.

Shuttle walking test as predictor of survival in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients enrolled in a rehabilitation program.

BACKGROUND: The Incremental Shuttle Walking Test (ISWT) is used to assess exercise capacity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is employed as an outcome measure for pulmonary rehabilitation. We studied the value of this test in predicting survival in COPD patients enrolled in a rehabilitation program. METHODS: A total of 416 patients performed an ISWT before entering a 7-week outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program. Their survival was observed over a mean period of 4.5 years (range = 1.2–7.2 years). RESULTS: During the observation period, 169 (40.6%) patients died. Univariate analyses showed that the ISWT as well as age, gender, present and previous tobacco smoking, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, body mass index, oxygen saturation at rest, long-term oxygen therapy, Medical Research Council dyspnea score, and treatment with oral corticosteroids were significantly associated with survival. Multivariate analysis, including relevant confounders, revealed that low ISWT was independently associated with poor survival (P = .001). The association was not linear and the risk of dying increased markedly when ISWT was lower than 170 m (RR = 2.84, 95% CI: 2.05–3.93). CONCLUSION: This study shows that the ISWT is a strong and independent predictor of survival in patients with COPD enrolled in a rehabilitation program.

Bacteriology in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients admitted to hospital

We investigated the bacterial flora and antimicrobial sensitivity in sputum from patients admitted to hospital with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) in order to recommend the best empirical treatment for these patients. The survey was a retrospective study of all patients admitted to Hvidovre hospital with the diagnosis AECOPD during 2004. A total of 118 patients were included. Microscopy, culture and sensitivity testing investigated their sputums. Clinical and paraclinical features were collected from the patients’ files. Among the 118 patients, 59 (50%) had a positive sputum culture. The group with positive cultures had a higher blood neutrophil count (p=0.03). There were no other clinical differences between the groups with and without positive sputum culture. The majority of patients with positive sputum cultures were infected with bacteria other than S. pneumonia, mostly H. influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis. Patients with low FEV1<1.0 litre were more likely to be infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (p=0.03). The sensitivity patterns of the bacteria showed that the majority were resistant to penicillin. If antibiotics are initiated empirically for AECOPD we recommend either cefuroxime for intravenous treatment or amoxicillin-clavulanate for oral treatment.

Rehabilitation in COPD: the long-term effect of a supervised 7-week program succeeded by a self-monitored walking program.

Pulmonary rehabilitation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) improves exercise tolerance and health status, however, these effects have been shown to decline after termination of the rehabilitation program. This study has examined the long-term effect of a 7-week supervised rehabilitation program combined with daily self-monitored training at home on exercise tolerance and health status. Two hundred and nine consecutive COPD patients who had completed a 7-week pulmonary rehabilitation program were assessed with endurance shuttle walk test (ESWT) and the St Georges Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) at baseline, 0, 3, and 12 months after the program. Sixty-eight (32.5%) patients did not attend the 1-year follow-up. Among the 141 patients who competed the 1-year evaluation, the initial improvement after the 7-week program in the ESWT time was 180 s or 101% (p = 0.001) and in SGRQ 3.4 units (p = 0.001). These effects were maintained at the 1-year evaluation (ESWT 59% above baseline; p < 0.001 and improved SGRQ 3.0 units compared with baseline; p = 0.011). The 31 patients who attended the 6-month, but not the 12-month evaluation, improved ESWT time by 96 s (p = 0.02) without any change in SGRQ +2.0 (p = 0.40). A relative simple and inexpensive 7-week supervised rehabilitation program combined with daily self-monitored training at home was able to maintain significant improvement in exercise tolerance and health status throughout 1 year. Death and hospital admissions due to acute exacerbations were the main reasons for non-attendance in the follow-up period.

Vitamin D Status in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Who Participate in Pulmonary Rehabilitation

PURPOSE Vitamin D deficiency is common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; however, no study has evaluated the influence of vitamin D status on effects of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). METHODS We studied 311 patients, who participated in a 7-week outpatient PR. Vitamin D status was assessed at entry and examined for association with patient characteristics, dropout from PR, and effect on endurance shuttle walk time. RESULTS Vitamin D level 25 nM was seen in 61 (19.6%) of the patients. They were significantly younger, were more frequently on long-term oxygen therapy, had higher body mass index and fat-free mass index, had worse quality of life score, tended to have lower percent predicted value for forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration, and more frequently were current smokers. They had a 3-time higher risk of dropout from the PR program (P = .003) compared with patients with normal vitamin D status and a poorer improvement in endurance shuttle walk time (P = .03). DISCUSSION In conclusion, vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with higher dropout rates from PR, and there was a tendency toward a poorer improvement in endurance shuttle walk time.

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Process and Prognosis in Suspected Lung Cancer

Survival rates of patients with lung cancer are poor in Denmark and worse than in the other Nordic countries. The study focuses on the diagnostic process, the selection for operation, prognostic factors and outcome in lung cancer. The study comprised 467 consecutive patients with cancer-suspect lesions. In 40% of cases the diagnostic delay exceeded 30 days. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy and fine-needle biopsy (FNB) were the most important diagnostic tests, with approximately 90% accuracy in central and peripheral lesions. FNB of peripheral lesions diagnosed benign histology or small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in 16 patients, and due to that procedure a thoracotomy was prevented. Surgery was performed on 83 (33%) of 252 patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Three-year survival was 37% in all surgically treated patients and 64% after radical operation; 59% of the patients with stage I tumours were alive after three years, but none with stage IV at diagnosis. Among patients operated on, preoperated forced expiratory volume (FEV1) was related to survival rate. Survival rates were higher in women than in men with or without surgery. Of 43 patients with SCLC, 32 received chemotherapy, and half of these were alive after one year. Conclusions from the study were that diagnosis should be speeded up and that diagnostic FNB of peripheral lesions is of value for preventing unnecessary operations. Standard registration of tumour, node, metastasis (TNM) classification, resection, FEV1 (% of predicted) and gender could increase the validity of international comparisons.

Effect of tele health care on exacerbations and hospital admissions in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomized clinical trial

Background and objective Tele monitoring (TM) of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has gained much interest, but studies have produced conflicting results. Our aim was to investigate the effect of TM with the option of video consultations on exacerbations and hospital admissions in patients with severe COPD. Materials and methods Patients with severe COPD at high risk of exacerbations were eligible for the study. Of 560 eligible patients identified, 279 (50%) declined to participate. The remaining patients were equally randomized to either TM (n=141) or usual care (n=140) for the 6-month study period. TM comprised recording of symptoms, saturation, spirometry, and weekly video consultations. Algorithms generated alerts if readings breached thresholds. Both groups received standard care. The primary outcome was number of hospital admissions for exacerbation of COPD during the study period. Results Most of the enrolled patients had severe COPD (forced expiratory volume in 1 second <50%pred in 86% and ≥hospital admission for COPD in the year prior to enrollment in 45%, respectively, of the patients). No difference in drop-out rate and mortality was found between the groups. With regard to the primary outcome, no significant difference was found in hospital admissions for COPD between the groups (P=0.74), and likewise, no difference was found in time to first admission or all-cause hospital admissions. Compared with the control group, TM group patients had more moderate exacerbations (ie, treated with antibiotics/corticosteroid, but not requiring hospital admission; P<0.001), whereas the control group had more visits to outpatient clinics (P<0.001). Conclusion Our study of patients with severe COPD showed that TM including video consultations as add-on to standard care did not reduce hospital admissions for exacerbated COPD, but TM may be an alternative to visits at respiratory outpatient clinics. Further studies are needed to establish the optimal role of TM in the management of severe COPD.