Predicting Frequent COPD Exacerbations Using Primary Care Data Published by Dove Medical Press

     

The International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease has published the original research “Predicting frequent COPD exacerbations using primary care data”.

Acute COPD exacerbations account for much of the rising disability and costs associated with COPD. Patients at risk of exacerbation can be identified from routinely available, computerized primary care data.

As corresponding author Professor David Price says "This paper, drawing on expertise and analysis from the global not for profit organisation - the Respiratory Effectiveness Group (REG) (http://www.effectivenessevaluation.org), draws on a large real life representative and well characterised database (the OPCRD http://optimumpatientcare.org/opcrd/) to examine factors predictive of who is at risk in a broad COPD population of over 16,000 patients. The analysis undertaken by Research in Real Life (www.rirl.org) confirmed that prior exacerbations is a major predictor but of note other important independent predictors include raised blood eosinophils and a number of co-morbidities notably asthma, non allergic rhinitis, nasal polyps, ischaemic heart disease, GERD and anxiety or depression. This enables the calculation of a risk prediction tool that REG and OPC are now rolling out in practice."
 
As Dr Richard Russell, Editor-in-Chief, explains “This is a thorough and significant database analysis that will point to new areas of research and focus in a prospective manner”
 
The International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is an international, peer-reviewed journal of therapeutics and pharmacology focusing on concise rapid reporting of clinical studies and reviews in COPD. Special focus will be given to the pathophysiological processes underlying the disease, intervention programs, patient focused education, and self-management protocols.
 
Dove Medical Press Ltd is a privately held company specializing in the publication of Open Access peer-reviewed journals across the broad spectrum of science, technology and especially medicine.

Updated 19 November 2015