Active clinical trials for "Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive"

In response to the European regulatory authorities, GSK is conducting a post-marketing observational study to assess the efficacy of Relenza when used as prophylaxis against influenza. SPECIFIC AIMS Determine the frequency of patients who received Relenza from October 2006 through April 2009, and among them the number who have no concurrent diagnosis of influenza, i.e., those receiving Relenza for prophylaxis, and among these the number who have a family member with a medical visit for influenza within three days preceding the above indentified patient's dispensing of Relenza. This is to determine the feasibility of conducting detailed analysis. If analysis is feasible then tabulate the frequency of influenza-like-illness and respiratory outcomes in users of prophylactic Relenza and their family members and in family members of persons using Relenza for the treatment of influenza (i.e., index cases). If analysis is feasible then estimate the direct effect of prophylactic Relenza on the occurrence of influenza-like-illness and respiratory outcomes, the secondary effect of Relenza treatment of influenza on susceptible family members, and the total effect of Relenza (treatment plus prophylaxis). METHODS Overview of Study Design This is an analysis of the 30-day risk of influenza-like illness and respiratory outcomes in persons for whom some household members (index cases) have had a medical visit associated with a diagnosis of influenza. The exposed individuals to the index case will be categorized into one of four cohorts according to whether the exposed person received prophylactic Relenza or no antiviral treatment and by whether the index family member with a diagnosis of influenza received antiviral treatment. Estimates of the direct effect of Relenza prophylaxis, the indirect effectof preventing disease in susceptible family members, and the total effect of disease reduction when both index cases and susceptible family members are treated will be obtained from different comparisons between cohorts, as outlined below. The research will cover the first three influenza seasons during which Relenza has been indicated for prophylactic use in the United States. These will be from October through April of 2006-2009.

To investigate safety and effectiveness information on the use of Tiotropium Respimat for long time of period in daily practical clinical circumstances, and to obtain proper drug use information.

The purpose of the study is to find out if AZD2423 can reduce inflammation in the lungs of patients with mild COPD.

A retrospective analysis on a cohort of unselected COPD patients admitted to pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) performed in one rehabilitation centre has shown that the usual program is feasible and effective even in the presence of complex comorbidities, although some combined diseases might reduce the overall proportion of patients who respond to pre-defined outcomes criteria (Crisafulli E, et al. Thorax 2008;63:487-92). The aim of this prospective study is to describe the pattern of prevalence of the most frequently associated COPD-comorbidities and the clinical impact on rehabilitation outcomes, referred to 3 teaching and 1 private hospitals admitting for pulmonary rehabilitation purposes.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a growing cause of death, disability and health care costs in Canada. Nevertheless, COPD remains largely under-diagnosed and under-treated, particularly in its early stages. Patients with mild COPD have variable respiratory symptoms and often go unrecognized by their caregivers. Recent studies indicate that even smokers with near normal breathing test results can have extensive small airway disease/dysfunction at rest, which becomes more pronounced during the stress of exercise thus leading to unpleasant breathing difficulty. This study seeks to better understand the nature and causes of breathing discomfort and activity limitation in a group of patients with mild COPD. The investigators will compare detailed tests of small airway function and conduct an evaluation of several key physiological parameters during the stress of exercise in patients with mild COPD and in healthy, age-matched, non-smoking control subjects. The investigators will also compare detailed physiological responses to exercise under conditions of chemical loading and mechanical unloading of the respiratory system in patients with mild COPD. The proposed study will be the first to systematically test the hypothesis that pathophysiological abnormalities in ventilatory demand, pulmonary gas exchange, small airway function, dynamic ventilatory mechanics and respiratory muscle function contribute significantly to exertional dyspnea and activity-limitation in patients with mild COPD. This study will be the first to determine if these abnormalities can be manipulated.

Nasal CPAP will improve cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) performance in patients with overlap syndrome(COPD and OSA). Nasal CPAP is proven to improve cardiopulmonary exercise testing in patients with OSA. The investigators hypothesis is that patients with overlap syndrome will have a greater improvement in their cardiopulmonary exercise testing besides a possible improvement in their lung function test and airway resistance.

The investigators will describe the characteristics, prevalence, incidence, severity co-morbidity and management of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the UK. 100 practices will be sampled amounting to a total study population of about 10 000 patients. Information will be collected electronically and, where necessary, by a hand search of patient records.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma are common respiratory diseases in which people experience long-term inflammation of the lungs. Exacerbations, or prolonged worsening of symptoms, of asthma and COPD are often life-threatening and can lead to frequent need for hospitalization. Even with the proper use of bronchodilators, corticosteroids, and other currently available medications, clinical responses among people with COPD and asthma are variable. There remains a significant unmet clinical need for new therapeutic approaches and insights, including the identification of biomarkers to accurately assess the presence of airway infection and intensity of airway inflammation. This study will investigate potential natural biological causes and new biomarkers for increased susceptibility to persistent airway infection in asthma and COPD.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic lung disease. Azithromycin, an antibiotic, may be beneficial at reducing the symptoms and severity of the disease. This study will analyze previously collected study data to evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of azithromycin and determine how azithromycin affects the frequency and severity of COPD exacerbations.

The purpose of this research is to understand the properties of mucus in persons with COPD, specifically Chronic Bronchitis. We hypothesize that those with Chronic Bronchitis have dehydrated mucus, and thus have a harder time coughing it out of their lungs. This leads to a greater vulnerability for lung infection, inflammation and airflow obstruction. Ultimately, our goal is to understand how mucus dehydration contributes to the progression of COPD/Chronic Bronchitis so that better therapies and interventions can be developed for future generations.