Triple therapy (ICS/LABA/LAMA) in COPD: thinking out of the box.

Triple inhaler therapy in COPD might in some real-life situations be useful outside of the strict indications reported by the registration agencies, but at the same time in some other situations it could be better avoided, even when recommended http://ow.ly/CbOe30njXV2.

A gender difference in circulating neutrophils in malnourished patients with COPD.

BACKGROUND: Circulating markers of inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may correlate to disease progression and extrapulmonary complications such as malnourishment. However, surprisingly little is known about gender-related differences for circulating inflammatory markers in COPD. PURPOSE: To characterize differences in circulating markers of inflammation in malnourished female and male patients with COPD. SUBJECTS: Thirty female and 11 male patients with a clinical diagnosis of COPD and malnourishment were examined. A group of control subjects without evidence of COPD was recruited for comparison of some variables. METHODS: Blood samples were drawn, and the following parameters were studied: leukocytes and differential counts, C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8, myeloperoxidase (MPO), neutrophil elastase (NE), intracellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular endothelial adhesion molecule-1, and E-selectin. RESULTS: The mean neutrophil concentration was significantly (P = 0.019) higher in female (4.5 × 10(9)/L) than in male patients with COPD (3.5 × 10(9)/L) and significantly higher than in female control subjects (3.1 × 10(9)/L) (P < 0.01, n = 85). The mean CRP values were considerably higher in female (4.9 mg/mL) than in male patients with COPD (1.5 mg/mL), but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.20). The mean concentrations of IL-6 and IL-8 tended to be higher in female than in male patients with COPD, but these differences did not reach statistical significance either (P > 0.05). Confounding factors (smoking, medication) could not explain the gender differences noted. The concentrations of MPO and NE displayed a strong correlation (r = 0.89; P < 0.01, n = 41) but revealed no gender differences. The latter was true for concentrations of adhesion molecules as well. CONCLUSIONS: Our study puts forward evidence of a gender-related difference in systemic inflammation in malnourished patients with COPD in terms of circulating neutrophils being more abundant in female patients. Among these female patients, there was also a trend toward an increase in two neutrophil-mobilizing cytokines. New and better-powered studies are warranted to confirm and characterize this potentially important phenomenon in greater detail.

A validated disease specific prediction equation for resting metabolic rate in underweight patients with COPD.

Malnutrition is a serious condition in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Successful dietary intervention calls for calculations of resting metabolic rate (RMR). One disease-specific prediction equation for RMR exists based on mainly male patients. To construct a disease-specific equation for RMR based on measurements in underweight or weight-losing women and men with COPD, RMR was measured by indirect calorimetry in 30 women and 11 men with a diagnosis of COPD and body mass index <21 kg/m(2). The following variables, possibly influencing RMR were measured: length, weight, middle upper arm circumference, triceps skinfold, body composition by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and bioelectrical impedance, lung function, and markers of inflammation. Relations between RMR and measured variables were studied using univariate analysis according to Pearson. Gender and variables that were associated with RMR with a P value <0.15 were included in a forward multiple regression analysis. The best-fit multiple regression equation included only fat-free mass (FFM): RMR (kJ/day) = 1856 + 76.0 FFM (kg). To conclude, FFM is the dominating factor influencing RMR. The developed equation can be used for prediction of RMR in underweight COPD patients.

Validity of the ActiReg system in assessing energy requirement in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Malnutrition and weight loss are common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and effective nutritional support relies on accurate assessment of energy requirement. This could only be performed by measuring energy expenditure using objective methods. The aim of this study was to examine the validity of the ActiReg system in assessing energy requirement in non-hospitalized patients with severe COPD, using doubly labelled water (DLW) as criterion method. METHODS: Total energy expenditure (TEE) was assessed from 14 days DLW analysis in 13 patients. During the first 7 days TEE was simultaneously assessed using the ActiReg system, combining measured resting energy expenditure (REE) with physical activity monitoring. RESULTS: A difference of -88 (782) kJ d(-1) (P = 0.69) was observed between the ActiReg system and DLW. REE explained 52% of the variation in TEE from DLW. Adding physical activity energy expenditure from the ActiReg system (PAEE(AR) = TEE(AR)-REE) increased the explained variation in TEE from DLW with 16%. CONCLUSIONS: The ActiReg system is valid in assessing energy requirement in non-hospitalized patients with severe COPD. The unique feature of being able to discriminate within both the low intensity activity range and moderate-to-high intensity activity range makes the ActiReg system a valuable tool in clinical nutritional support.