Chronic Airflow Limitation (chronic + airflow_limitation)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Medical Sciences100%

Selected Abstracts

Low back pain in individuals with chronic airflow limitation and their partners , A preliminary prevalence study

PHYSIOTHERAPY RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2002
Anneliese Synnot
Abstract Background and Purpose The prevalence of low back pain in individuals with chronic airflow limitation, and their partners, is unknown. Individuals with chronic airflow limitation, and their respective partners, are likely to have several risk factors that may increase the predisposition for low back pain. The aim of the present study was to provide preliminary data on the prevalence of low back pain in individuals with chronic airflow limitation, and their partners. Method A cross-sectional observational study design was used. Individuals with chronic airflow limitation, and their partners, were approached at South Australian metropolitan Lung Support Group meetings and invited to participate in the study. Three commonly used questionnaires: the Medical Outcomes Survey Short-Form 36 (MOS SF-36); the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ); and the Nordic Low Back Pain Questionnaire (NLBPQ) were used to collect data on general health, respiratory health and low back pain prevalence, respectively. Odds ratios and independent Student's t -tests were used to analyse data by use of Epi Info Version 6.0 software. Results Sixty subjects participated in the study: 41 individuals with chronic airflow limitation and 19 partners of individuals with chronic airflow limitation. The lifetime, 12-month and seven-day prevalence of low back pain in individuals with chronic airflow limitation was 69%, 58% and 31%, respectively. The prevalence of low back pain in the partners of individuals with chronic airflow limitation was found to be higher, at 74%, 68% and 58 %, respectively. Four significant relationships between general and respiratory health, and low back pain were demonstrated for individuals with chronic airflow limitation. Conclusions The prevalence of low back pain in individuals with chronic airflow limitation was comparable to the lifetime prevalence for the general and older population, and greater than the 12-month prevalence reported for the older population. The prevalence of low back pain for the partners of individuals with chronic airflow limitation was consistently higher than the lifetime and 12-month prevalence reported for individuals with chronic airflow limitation, the older population and family care workers. These findings suggest a larger prevalence study of low back pain in individuals with chronic airflow limitation, and their partners, is warranted. Copyright © 2002 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source]

The use of sputum cell counts to evaluate asthma medications

BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 2 2001
Krishnan Parameswaran
Total and differential cell counts from hypertonic-induced, dithiothreitol-dispersed sputum provide reproducible measurements of airway inflammatory cell counts, which are responsive to treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs. They have helped to understand the kinetics of inflammatory cell changes in asthma after the reduction of corticosteroids and the subsequent re-introduction of treatment. They have identified that the presence of sputum eosinophilia in asthma, chronic cough and chronic airflow limitation is a predictor of steroid-responsiveness and of lack of ,asthma control'. They can be used to study the dose,response effect of inhaled corticosteroids and may be useful to establish the relative potency of different corticosteroid formulations and delivery devices. Sputum cell counts are also useful to study the potential anti-inflammatory effects of drugs like theophylline, long-acting ,-adrenoceptor agonists, leukotriene antagonists and newer drugs in development. They may be helpful to select add-on therapy to corticosteroids in ,difficult-to-control' asthma. [source]

The definition and diagnosis of Asthma

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 11 2009
F. E. Hargreave
Summary The diagnosis of asthma depends on what we mean by the word. Its definition continues to be controversial because there is no single genetic or environmental cause. Addressed from a descriptive point of view, the disease components include airway inflammation, symptoms, variable airflow limitation and chronic airflow limitation. The essentialist definition conveys the message that asthma is a separate disease entity, fails to identify a primary defining characteristic which separates it from other diseases and is long winded. These disadvantages are overcome by the nominalist definition of asthma in which the word ,asthma'refers to an abnormality of airway function, specifically to wide variations in airflow limitation over short periods of time. In patients with asthma the other components of airway disease need to be considered. These have separate nominalist definitions and especially include different types of bronchitis for airway inflammation and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for chronic airflow limitation. What is present will vary between and within patients. The accurate diagnosis of asthma and of other components of disease all require objective measurements. Currently spirometry and airway responsiveness should be available to the general practitioner, who sees milder disease, and additional quantitative sputum cell counts in specialist practice, where moderate to severe disease is more prevalent. Such measurements characterize the patient, identify heterogeneity and allow treatment to be personalized. [source]