News

In Memory of Sreedhar Nair
Sreedhar Nair, MD, FACP, FCCP, Founder and President of The National Emphysema Foundation (NEF), died on March 3, 2014, after bravely suffering from a long battle with heart disease.

February 08, 2013
Adherence to Inhalation Therapy May Improve Quality of Life in COPD Patients
Adherence to inhalation therapy may contribute to adherence with overall therapeutic regimens and improved health status in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). That is according to a recent study published in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

February 08, 2013
Future Management of COPD Sees Shift in Approach to Treatment
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of disability and mortality and is significant strain on the healthcare industry, creating personal and financial burdens that must be addressed. However, according to a recent article published in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, evolving scientific evidence on the natural history and clinical course of COPD has fueled a fundamental shift in how clinicians treat the disease.

February 08, 2013
LVRS Surgery
Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) may improve the quality of life and overall well-being in patients with severe emphysema, according to the National Emphysema Treatment Trial (NETT), the first study to randomize emphysema patients to receive LVRS or non-surgical medical care.

February 08, 2013
Gene Therapy May Prevent the Progression of Emphysema
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have discovered a new gene therapy that may prevent the progression of emphysema. The study, published online in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, describes a method of treatment that will express therapeutic genes in lung tissues over a lifetime after a single treatment.

February 08, 2013
Gene Variant said to Protect against Asthma, COPD
A variant of the gene MMP12, which plays a role in inflammation, seems to protect the lungs of children with asthma and adults who smoke, according a recent study. This new gene raises hope that improved prevention and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) will be discovered.

February 08, 2013
Even Mild COPD May Limit Heart Function
Researchers have long known that severe cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have diminished the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively. However, a new study funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health suggests that there are strong links between heart function and mild COPD.

February 08, 2013
Asthma, Emphysema Patients May Be Misusing Inhalers
Many people with asthma or emphysema may be taking their inhaled medications incorrectly, according to a recent study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

February 08, 2013
Study Challenges Provisions for End-of-Life Care in COPD Patients
A recent study published in the British Medical Journal has challenged the current assumptions supporting the provisions for end-of-life care for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

February 08, 2013
The National Association of Managed Care Physicians (NAMCP) Unveils COPD Resource Center
The National Association of Managed Care Physicians (NAMCP) has unveiled the Medical Directors COPD Resource Center, a resource designed to provide medical directors, practicing physicians and patients with up-to-date information on the diagnosis and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

February 08, 2013
COPD Comorbidities Linked to Higher Risk for Death
A number of comorbidities commonly associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are independently associated with a higher likelihood of death. That is according to “Comorbidities and Risk of Mortality in Patients with COPD,” a study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine on May 3.