title: End-of-life prognostic indicators in patients with COPD: part 2.
abstract: In the UK, chronic respiratory diseases cause 13% of adult disability. The major chronic respiratory disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a condition involving chronic airway inflammation that causes airflow obstruction and destruction of lung tissue. This leads to a progressive loss of respiratory membrane, which accounts for the clinical manifestation of COPD, which is difficulty maintaining sufficient gas exchange to meet metabolic demands. The primary cause is smoking, with the vast majority of COPD patients having a past or present history of smoking. However, exposure to industrial pollutants is also a contributing factor, as is a rare genetic predisposition to developing COPD.
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer in Critical Care, School of Care Sciences, Glyntaf Campus, University of South Wales.
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parry
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer in Critical Care, School of Care Sciences, Glyntaf Campus, University of South Wales.
authors.forename: Ray
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Higginson
authors.affiliation: Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr, Ystrad Mynach.
authors.forename: Aoife
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gleeson
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000401:mortality* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006113:United Kingdom; D014797:Vital Capacity; D000070857:Walk Test
keywords: Biomarkers; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Chronic respiratory disease; End of life