Although outcomes for some serious health conditions improve with a self-management program, COPD may not be one of them. In fact, a recent clinical trial was cut short due to  an increase in mortality among patients participating in a comprehensive care management program (CCMP) that included individual and group education sessions, an action plan to help identify COPD exacerbations earlier and scheduled telephone calls from a case manager.

Overall, 920 COPD patients who were hospitalized for COPD at least once during the previous year were enrolled in 20 Veteran's Affairs outpatient clinics. Two groups were formed for the purpose of the study -- a CCMP group and a guideline-based usual care group. COPD patients in both groups received a COPD information booklet. Their doctors were given COPD guidelines and instructions on how to follow them.

Patients were supposed to be followed during the study from the time it started to the time of their first hospitalization. The study ended abruptly, however, when there was an excess number of deaths in the CCMP group (28 out of 209) compared to the usual care group (10 out of 751). The cause of increased mortality and why the CCMP patients did not seek treatment sooner was  never determined.

How does this study affect people who have COPD? Because COPD exacerbations often lead to serious illness, hospitalization and death, the importance of prevention and/or early recognition of exacerbation symptoms cannot be overemphasized.

To learn more, read:

• Understanding COPD Exacerbation
• Preventing COPD Exacerbation

How do you think a self-management program for COPD patients at home can be improved? Do  you think working closer with your doctor may help? Share your comments.

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According to the Centers for Disease Control, COPD is now the third leading cause of death in this country behind only heart disease and cancer. It is also the only leading cause of death that appears to be rising in numbers each year. One of the most important aspects of the disease is early recognition of symptoms. The earlier you are diagnosed, the sooner you can seek COPD treatment that may help improve your chances of survival.

If you think you think that you may be experiencing any type of respiratory symptoms, this easy, COPD self-assessment tool will help you determine if you need to see a doctor. Once you answer the questions, print out the page and take it to your doctor for further evaluation. Remember, the questionnaire should not replace specific medical advice from a qualified health care provider.

COPD Self-Assessment Screening Tool

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Pearl Therapeutics recently announced that they will be presenting clinical data about their newly developed drug PT003 in upcoming medical meetings at the American Thoracic Society International Conference in San Francisco, California and the Respiratory Drug Delivery Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona.

PT003 is a combination drug developed to treat people with moderate to severe COPD. It contains a long-acting muscarinic (LAMA) and a long-acting beta agonist (LABA).

The presentations will include information that has not been previously reported, namely, that in Phase II trials, PT003 was found to be associated with a significant improvement in home peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) compared to placebo. These improvements were most significant in the morning and evening times, when many COPD patients experience a worsening of COPD symptoms. PT003 was also found to be associated with a reduction in albuterol (rescue) inhaler use.

According to Dr. Colin Reisner, chief medical officer and executive vice president of clinical development for Pearl Therapeutics:

"At ATS this year, we are presenting a compendium of Phase 2b clinical findings that provide further support for PT003 as a potential treatment for patients with moderate-to-severe COPD. It is well documented that patients with COPD experience worsening of their symptoms in the morning and evening. The significant improvement with twice-daily administration of PT003 vs placebo in home PEFR in both the morning and the evening pre- and post-dose assessments suggest that PT003 may provide benefit at the times when patients' symptoms are known to worsen. The potential benefits of this dual-peak effect following morning and evening dosing will be evaluated further in late-stage studies."

For more information and to read the full report, visit Pearl Therapeutics.

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Studies suggest that there is a significant link between heart disease and COPD with each condition having the potential to complicate the other.

In a University of California Irvine study, researchers examined the severity of COPD in 6,266 middle-aged adults in relation to their risk for heart disease. Study results concluded the proportion of patients who were at greatest risk for heart disease progressively increased with the severity of COPD and that cardiovascular risk factors strongly influence outcomes for patients with COPD. How can these findings benefit COPD patients?

In addition to standard COPD treatment, patients who are at greater risk for heart disease may very well benefit from early and aggressive treatment to help reduce these risks. One way this can be approached is through statin therapy. Statins (Lipitor,  Zocor, Pravachol) are medications that help lower cholesterol, which in turn helps reduce the risk for heart disease-related events. Statin therapy may also improve outcomes in COPD.

In conclusion, treatment geared toward modifying risk factors for cardiovascular events in patients with COPD may also help prevent early mortality. This is something that should be openly discussed with your physician at your next doctor's appointment.

Read more about reducing your risk for heart disease:

• Assess Your Risk for Heart Disease
• How Should I Deal With High Heart Disease Risk?
• Cholesterol and Triglycerides: What You Need to Know

^Source:

^{Lee, Hwa MU, MD, FCCP et. al. Relation Between COPD Severity and
Global Cardiovascular Risk in US Adults. CHEST 2012. DOI: 10.1378/chest.11-2421.}

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