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Management of COPD: pulmonologists' adherence to Polish guidelines
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Abstract
Term COPD is used by 95% of responders (R). For 73% of R COPD patients count for more than 20% of their consultations. Clinical signs of cor pulmonale are present in 10% and signs of respiratory failure in 10 to 20% of all patients. Patients with mild, moderate, severe and very severe disease represent respectively 18, 48, 24 and 10% of the total.
Spirometry is performed to confirm diagnosis by 81% of R. However, bronchodilating test is performed in all patients only by 34% of R. 97% of R give antismoking advice to all patients. Only 6% of R are current smokers and 61% are life nonsmokers.
Bronchodilating treatment is commonly prescribed. Most frequently prescribed drugs are: LABA (65% of patients) short acting anticholinergic (44%) and ICS (21%) of patients. ICS are over prescribed and systemic steroids are still chronically used in somewhat less than 20% of patients. 43% of R give systemic steroids to all patients during exacerbation of severe disease.
Results of the study should be taken with caution. Low response rate suggest that only physicians interested in the treatment of COPD patients participated. A real life situation is probably worse than presented.
Pneumonol. Alergol. Pol. 2005, 73, 135-141.
Abstract
Term COPD is used by 95% of responders (R). For 73% of R COPD patients count for more than 20% of their consultations. Clinical signs of cor pulmonale are present in 10% and signs of respiratory failure in 10 to 20% of all patients. Patients with mild, moderate, severe and very severe disease represent respectively 18, 48, 24 and 10% of the total.
Spirometry is performed to confirm diagnosis by 81% of R. However, bronchodilating test is performed in all patients only by 34% of R. 97% of R give antismoking advice to all patients. Only 6% of R are current smokers and 61% are life nonsmokers.
Bronchodilating treatment is commonly prescribed. Most frequently prescribed drugs are: LABA (65% of patients) short acting anticholinergic (44%) and ICS (21%) of patients. ICS are over prescribed and systemic steroids are still chronically used in somewhat less than 20% of patients. 43% of R give systemic steroids to all patients during exacerbation of severe disease.
Results of the study should be taken with caution. Low response rate suggest that only physicians interested in the treatment of COPD patients participated. A real life situation is probably worse than presented.
Pneumonol. Alergol. Pol. 2005, 73, 135-141.
Keywords
COPD; management; pulmonologists; questionnaire


Title
Management of COPD: pulmonologists' adherence to Polish guidelines
Journal
Advances in Respiratory Medicine
Issue
Article type
Research paper
Pages
135-141
Published online
2008-02-18
Bibliographic record
Pneumonol Alergol Pol 2005;73(3-4):135-141.
Keywords
COPD
management
pulmonologists
questionnaire
Authors
Jan Zieliński
Paweł Kuca
Przemysław Ptasznik
Robert Pływaczewski