Preventing exacerbations of chronic bronchitis and COPD

doi:10.1136/bmj.322.7297.1259

BMJ 2001;322:1259-1261 ( 26 May )

Editorials

Preventing exacerbations of chronic bronchitis and COPD

Two recent Cochrane reviews report effective regimens

Papers p 1271

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease affect quality of life and the cost of managing the disease. Thoughthe long term effects of hypersecretion on the deterioration ofventilatory function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonarydisease have been debated for many years,¹ recent data showa good correlation between hypersecretion and long term deteriorationof ventilatory function in these patients.² This is why mucolytics,which seem to have an effect on hypersecretory exacerbations,³might also influence disease progression in chronic obstructivepulmonary disease. Exacerbations are important events for patientswith chronic bronchitis in that they negatively affect qualityof life.¹ Exacerbations also have socio-economic consequences.²Therapies aiming at reducing the occurrence and severity of exacerbationsare therefore ofinterest.

The Cochrane review in this week's issue of the BMJ reports a meta-analysis of drugs considered to have mucolytic effects(p 1271).³ Twenty two studies of 10 drugs were included. . . . [Full text of this article]

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Relevant Article

Oral mucolytic drugs for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: systematic review: Phillippa J Poole and Peter N Black
BMJ 2001 322: 1271. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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