Medpedia

• COPD
• Heart Failure, Congestive

Inclusion Criteria:
-  Caucasians
-  Males and females
-  Age > 50 years
-  Smoking history > 10 pack years
-  Diagnosis of COPD according to GOLD 2008 and/or diagnosis of CHF according to ESC
2008
Exclusion Criteria:
-  History of bronchial asthma
-  Fixed airflow limitation due to other chronic diseases such as cystic fibrosis,
bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP), bronchiectasis, TBC etc.
-  Combined restrictive-obstructive functional impairment

We will recruit 100 patients older than 50 years with diagnosis of COPD and/or CHF. COPD is
defined by presence of fixed airflow obstruction (post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC less than
70%) according to Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines. Each
patient will be characterized by medical history and physical examination. Patients with a
diagnosis of COPD must have: 1) had a history of chronic respiratory symptoms, i.e., cough
and sputum and/or breathlessness and only occasional wheezing (SGRQ and MMRC Questionnaire);
2) they had to be smokers or ex-smokers with more than 10 pack-years, and 3) a documented
absence of a history of variable airflow obstruction and/or diagnosis of asthma. Each
patient will perform pulmonary function tests, including reversibility to inhaled
bronchodilator (400 µg albuterol); arterial blood gases, and routine blood tests. In
addition, each patient will undergo regular PA/LL chest x-ray. The diagnosis of CHF is
established according to the criteria of European Society of Cardiology. At time of entry in
the study, all patients will be in clinically stable condition (ie, no changes in medication
dosage or frequency, and no exacerbations of disease or hospital admissions in the preceding
6 weeks). Clinical and biological follow-up of these patients will be prospectively followed
for 2 years, from 2009 to 2011.

• Procedure: Lung function testing, echocardiography, blood sampling
  All patients will undergo to: physical examination 6' Minute Walk test pulmonary function testing (spirometry + volumes and reversibility testing) carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) with single-breathe technique ECG echocardiography

• Leonardo M Fabbri, MD
  Principal Investigator, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia

• Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena
  Modena, 41124, Italy
  Recruiting
  Bianca Beghé, MD PhD

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  bianca.beghe@unimore.it
  Susanna Nerbano, Bsc

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  susanna.nerbano@unimore.it

  Investigators

  • Alessia Verduri, MD PhD
    Sub-Investigator
  • Bianca Beghé, MD PhD
    Sub-Investigator

• University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
  Lead Sponsor
• Italy: Ministry of Health