Asthma and COPD according to the pulmonologist.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate how pulmonologists view the impact that asthma and COPD has on their patients, as well as how they treat these diseases.


METHODS
Survey including 227 pulmonologists participating in the VI Brazilian Asthma Conference, II Brazilian COPD Conference and II Brazilian Smoking Conference, all of which were held in 2007.


RESULTS
According to the answers given by the pulmonologists, COPD is a public health problem of equal or greater importance than asthma, and COPD causes various disruptions in the lives of patients and their family members. When prescribing an inhalation device, pulmonologists feel that simplicity of use is more important than is the cost. There was a slight preference for the Aeroliser and Diskus systems. The budesonide-formoterol combination was the therapeutic regimen most often cited for the continued treatment of the symptomatic asthma, whereas tiotropium bromide was the most often cited medication for the treatment of patients with COPD. Selection of the therapeutic regimen for asthma and COPD is primarily influenced by the results of therapeutic trials published in the literature.


CONCLUSIONS
The opinions of pulmonologists on the topics under study are in concordance with data in the specialized literature.
Campos
Hisbello da Silva
Hda S
Professor Hélio Fraga Referral Center, National School of Public Health, National Ministry of Health, Rio de Janeiro (RJ) Brazil. hisbello@globo.com
Lemos
Antonio Carlos Moreira
AC
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019819:Budesonide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015272:Pulmonary Medicine
D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004983:Ethanolamines; D019819:Budesonide; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate