Living as Severe COPD Patient: Life of Stepping on the Thin Ice / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the life experiences of patients with a severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). METHODS: The data were collected through in-depth interviews of six patients suffering from severe COPD. The interviewed data were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim and checked for accuracy. The Giorgi method of phenomenology was used for analyzing data. RESULTS: Eight themes forming the, units of meaning, were: Repeated and Unpredictable Suffering of Dyspnea, Confidence Loss/Exhaustion Life due to non-efficient breathing, Gradually Deprived Liberty, Absolute Being to Sustaining my life, Source of Burden but Significant Person I am in the Family, Endless Tug-of-War-Capability/Endeavor to Breath, Longing for my Life, and Dead-end of breathing. CONCLUSION: The study results provide an in-depth understanding of life experiences of patients suffering from severe COPD. The findings will be useful to nurses caring for this population.

Lipid Profile Status of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Hospitalized Patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum level of total cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), low density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins, (HDL) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients admitted in National Institute of Disease of Chest and Hospital, Mohakhali, Dhaka during. January 2009 to January 2010. Twenty two patients with COPD and 22 healthy controls were included in this study. Total cholesterol, HDL and TG levels were determined with ILAB 1800 Chemistry Analyzer using ILAB test Reagents. LDL concentration was calculated using the Friedewald Equation. The mean level of TG was 150.04±29.66 mg/dl and 126.14±13.28 in COPD patients and healthy control, respectively. A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups (p<0.001). The mean level of TC was 181.83±20.11 mg/dl and 176.28±15.35 mg/dl in COPD patients and healthy control respectively (p<0.001). LDL level mean value was 116.12±14.26 mg/dl and 108.95±10.39 in COPD patients and control respectively (p<0.001). The mean value of HDL showed 38.79±2.4 in COPD patients and 39.014±1.56 in control. A statistically significance was also found between the two groups (p<0.001). Our results showed that the values of TC, TG, LDL were higher than healthy control that is highly significant statistically. On the other hand, the was significantly decreased HDL level compared with controls.

Respiratory centre sensitivity and exercise tolerance in healthy Thais and in Thai COPD patients.

This study was conducted with the aim of determining the range of normal value of respiratory centre sensitivity and exercise tolerance in healthy Thais and any divergence from the normal range in those with COPD. Findings in healthy subjects disclosed that the end-tidal PCO2 and tidal volume response to CO2 were higher and exercise tolerance was lower among the elderly compared with younger subjects; only in young males was the ventilatory response to CO2 higher than in females. In the group of Thai COPD patients, all data were comparable to those of the match healthy subjects, with the exception that one-third of the patients experienced stronger ventilatory drive while breathing room air and a lower musculo-ventilation transfer index during room-air breathing as well as CO2 rebreathing.

Infectious pneumonia among COPD patients.

This communication described our experiences on pneumonia’s in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exclusive of bronchial asthma (based on cases admitted during the past three years at the Siriraj Hospital), compared to pneumonia’s in previously healthy persons. There were conspicuous discrepancies between the two groups of patients in respects to their clinical manifestations (symptoms, physical signs, chest radiographic features, complete blood counts and arterial blood gas analysis), microbiological profiles, medical treatment and outcome.