This week, Amol, general internal medicine resident at the University of Toronto, discusses the GOLD 2016 COPD management guidelines, and compares it to the new Star Wars movie!
While many clinicians will have a well-practiced approach to managing COPD exacerbations, Amol examines the evidence for why we do what we do. He talks about the definition of an exacerbation, patient outcomes, patient assessment, evidence behind the mainstays of therapy, and co-morbidities.
What is the cost of dementia? A retrospective cohort study attempts to answer this question by comparing the end of life health care costs for patients with dementia with other conditions. The study found that not only is low socioeconomic status associated with dementia, the healthcare costs are also higher for dementia patients. Amol considers the policy implications of these findings.
What do you think about the GOLD 2016 COPD guidelines? Better than a blockbuster movie? Let us know @roundstable!
The Papers
1. GOLD 2016 COPD Guidelines: http://www.goldcopd.org/guidelines-global-strategy-for-diagnosis-management.html
2. Short term systemic steroids in COPD: http://www.cochrane.org/CD006897/AIRWAYS_are-shorter-courses-of-systemic-steroids-as-effective-as-conventional-longer-courses-in-the-treatment-of-patients-with-flare-ups-of-copd
3. Antibiotics for COPD: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD010257/abstract
Good Stuff
1. “Sprinkles”: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/sprinkles-1.3418357
Music Credits (Creative Commons)
In your Robotic Heart – Nicolai Heidlas https://soundcloud.com/nicolai-heidlas/in-your-robotic-heart
Drive – Nicolai Heidlas https://soundcloud.com/nicolai-heidlas/drive-fresh-upbeat-pop-background-music
Vintage Dream – Nicolai Heidlas https://soundcloud.com/nicolai-heidlas/vintage-dream-loungejazzy-background-music
All tracks have been modified for the purposes of this podcast.
