BMJ 2003;326:177-178 ( 25 January )

Editorials

Non-invasive ventilation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Effective in exacerbations with hypercapnic respiratory failure

Papers p 185

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

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality, and about 15% of adults in industrialised countries have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease when defined by spirometry. Mild exacerbations are common, and the development of hospital at home services for acute exacerbations has improved the treatment options for managing mild exacerbations safely in the community. Severe exacerbations, however, remain the largest single cause of emergency admissions for respiratory disease (far higher than for asthma), with a mean hospital stay of around 10 days. According to hospital episode statistics from the Department of Health, exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease resulted in 135 000 admissions and just under a million bed days in England in 2000-1 (www.doh.gov.uk/hes). These account for over a third of the overall healthcare costs associated with treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the United Kingdom. Exacerbations are not only expensive but can impair lung . . . [Full text of this article]
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This article has been cited by other articles:

  • O'Driscoll, B R., Babu, K S, Chauhan, A J (2003). Management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. BMJ 326: 821-821 [Full text]  
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Rapid Responses:

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Methyl-xanthines for exacerbations of COPD?
David J Rogers
bmj.com, 24 Jan 2003 [Full text]
Seriously misleading statement in BMJ editorial on COPD management.
Dr B. Ronan O'Driscoll
bmj.com, 31 Jan 2003 [Full text]
Picture tells the wrong message
Diane E Laws
bmj.com, 27 Jan 2003 [Full text]
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