Top 5 Most-Read COPD Articles of 2022

The most-viewed articles on chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) focus on improving patient outcomes by implementing integrated primary care and at-home interventions for individuals with COPD.

Here are the top 5 most-read COPD articles of 2022.

5. Health Outcomes of Patients With Severe COPD Improve With Integrated Primary Care Service

One study found that integrated primary care may improve health outcomes in patients with severe COPD witout increases costs. The researchers assessed health status of these individuals, COPD exacerbations, quality of life, and health care costs to identify burdens to care that may have better outcomes if addressed in the primary care setting.

The primary care intervention studied included unput from pulmonologists to support general practitioners in diagnosing and treating COPD.

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4. Factors of COPD and the Role of a Patient’s Environment and Job

Occupation and industry risk factors are associated with higher rates of COPD in addition to smoking, explained Meilin Young, MD, a pulmonary and critical care specialist with Allegheny Health Network.

While COPD traditionally has been predominant in men, women facing a risking prevalence of COPD as they are increasingly being exposed to the risks that cause airway diseases.

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3. At-Home Interventions Significantly Cut Readmission Rates in COPD, Study Finds

One study saw reduced readmissions for patients who had received post-hospitalization at-home interventions by a respiratory therapist. Significant improvements in patient outcomes and cost-effectiveness highlight the benefits of at-home interventions in reducing the burden of re-hospitalization for COPD.

CMS has targeted COPD readmissions—in 2015 the agency began penalizing hospitals with high rates of readmissions among patients treated for COPD exacerbations.

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2. Noninvasive Ventilation at Home Lowers Mortality and Health Care Costs in Hypercapnic COPD-CRF

Noninvasive ventilation at home (NIVH) can reduce mortality risk, hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and Medicare costs for patients with hypercapnic COPD with chronic respiratory failure, a study found. The researchers investiated how the timing of starting NIVH affected these outcomes in patients and found starting NIVH sooner after diagnosis had the greatest reductions.

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1. Study Probes Genetic Links Between Asthma, COPD Overlap

While asthma and COPD are 2 different diseases, they share some features and a subset of patients experiences symptoms consistent with both. These patients have significantly worse outcomes than patients with one disease or the other.

A new study identified 8 genetic signals that suggest an overlap between asthma and COPD. This overlap is suggestive that genetics may make some individuals more predisposed symptoms of both conditions than others.

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