COPD, stage and treatment in a large outpatient clinic

Some COPD patients suffer from frequent exacerbations despite triple inhalation treatment. These frequent exacerbators should be identified, as exacerbations often lead to decreasing lung function and increasing mortality. Roflumilast reduces exacerbations in patients with a previous history of exacerbations. Our aim was to describe COPD patient characteristics and compare roflumilast treatment eligible to non-eligible patients. An observational cross-section study was conducted. Patients were included from a large COPD outpatient clinic. Information regarding COPD patient characteristics was registered on a standardized form and lung function was measured. Patients were categorized according to the GOLD classification. Eligibility for roflumilast treatment was assessed and patient characteristics compared between groups. 547 patients were included. Most patients (54%) were in GOLD group D. 62 patients (11.3%) met the criteria for treatment with roflumilast. Among the patients eligible for roflumilast treatment, only 14 patients (22.6%) were receiving treatment. There were no significant differences in FEV1, number of exacerbations, hospitalization due to exacerbation, MRC grade, age, smoking status and medication use between patients receiving roflumilast and not treated eligible patients. Our study documents low use of roflumilast treatment. In view of the established effect of roflumilast we think that this treatment should be considered more consistently as an option among COPD patients fulfilling the criteria for this therapy

Observational study to characterise 24-hour COPD symptoms and their relationship with patient-reported outcomes : results from the ASSESS study

Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank the study investigators at each of the participating centres for their contribution to the study. The full list of study investigators is available in Additional file 1. We would also like to thank Deborah McGregor, PhD, of Complete Medical Communications, who provided medical writing support funded by Almirall, S.A. Barcelona, Spain. This study was funded by Almirall S.A., Barcelona, Spain. The study sponsor was involved in the design of the study, analysis of the data, review of the data, and review and approval of the manuscript. The sponsors placed no restrictions on statements made in the final version of the manuscript or on the decision to submit the manuscript for publication and all authors had full access to the data.Peer reviewedPublisher PD