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Jong Geol Jang, Jin Hong Chung, Kyeong-Cheol Shin, Hyun Jung Jin, Kwan Ho Lee, June Hong Ahn Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonology and Allergy, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University and Regional Center for Respiratory Diseases, Yeungnam University Medical Center, Daegu, Republic of KoreaCorrespondence: Kwan Ho Lee; June Hong AhnDepartment of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonology and Allergy, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University and Regional Center for Respiratory Diseases, Yeungnam University Medical Center, 170 Hyeonchung-ro, Namgu, Daegu, 42415, Republic of KoreaTel +82-53-640-6601; +82-53-640-6577Fax +82-53-620-3849Email ghlee@med.yu.ac.kr; fireajh@gmail.comObjective: Critical inhaler handling errors are associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, real-world data on inhaler device handling techniques and the risk factors for critical inhaler errors in the Asian population have been examined in only a few studies. We evaluated the rates and risk factors for critical inhaler errors in the COPD population in Korea.Methods: COPD patients were prospectively enrolled from January 2018 to November 2019. An advanced practice nurse evaluated their inhaler technique. The 308 inhalers used by the 261 participants in this study included dry powder inhalers (DPIs; Turbuhaler, Breezhaler, Ellipta, Diskus, Genuair), a soft mist inhaler (SMI; Respimat), and pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDIs).Results: The percentage critical errors for Turbuhaler, Breezhaler, Ellipta, Diskus, Genuair, Respimat, and pMDI usage were 60.0%, 41.0%, 27.8%, 12.5%, 44.4%, 45.5%, and 55.0%, respectively. In the multivariate analyses, female sex, short COPD duration, dissatisfaction with the inhaler (assessed by FSI-10), and moderate acute exacerbations (AEs) in the prior year were independent risk factors for any critical error in the DPI group. In the SMI group, a low education level and frequent AEs in the prior year were independent risk factors for any critical error, whereas a high COPD assessment test (CAT) score was the only risk factor in the pMDI group.Conclusion: Critical inhaler errors are common among patients with COPD, regardless of their preferred inhaler device. The rates and risk factors for critical inhaler errors differed among patients using different devices. Optimal device selection considering the risk factors of inhaler misusage will improve disease control in COPD patients.Keywords: COPD, inhalation therapy, error, risk factor

Joon Young Choi,1 Hyoung Kyu Yoon,2 Kyeong-Cheol Shin,3 So-Young Park,4 Chang Youl Lee,5 Seung Won Ra,6 Ki Suck Jung,7 Kwang Ha Yoo,4 Chang-Hoon Lee,8 Chin Kook Rhee9 1Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Vincent’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Suwon, Republic of Korea; 2Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yeouido St Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 3Division of Pulmonology and Allergy, Regional Center for Respiratory Disease, Yeungnam University Medical Center, Daegu, Republic of Korea; 4Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 5Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University Medical Center, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea; 6Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Republic of Korea; 7Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University Medical School, Anyang, Republic of Korea; 8Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 9Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of KoreaCorrespondence: Chin Kook RheeDivision of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 222 Banpodaero, Seochogu, Seoul 06591, Republic of KoreaTel +82 2 2258 6067Fax +82 2 599 3589Email chinkook77@gmail.comPurpose: Previous studies have used various definitions to classify chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients into chronic bronchitis (CB) and non-CB patients. This study was performed to identify differences among three definitions of CB based on the classical method, St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and the CAT (COPD Assessment Test) score.Patients and methods: We extracted data from the multicenter Korea COPD Subgroup Study (KOCOSS) cohort, for which patients recruited from among 47 medical centers in South Korea beginning in April 2012. Patients were classified according to three different definitions of CB: 1) classical definition; 2) SGRQ (using questions regarding cough and sputum); and 3) CAT score (comprising cough [CAT1] and sputum [CAT2] subscale scores).Results: A total of 2694 patients were enrolled in this study. The proportions of CB were 10.8%, 35.8%, and 24.0% according to the classical, SGRQ, and CAT definitions, respectively. The three definitions yielded consistently significant differences between CB and non-CB patients in modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale CAT score, SGRQ score, number of moderate-to-severe exacerbations per year and forced expiratory volume in 1 second. By three definitions, CB consistently predicted future risk of exacerbation. The kappa coefficient of agreement between the classical definition and SGRQ definition was 0.29, that of the classical definition and CAT definition was 0.32, and that of the SGRQ definition and CAT definition was 0.44.Conclusion: Patients with CB according to the new definitions based on SGRQ or CAT score showed similar clinical characteristics to those defined according to the classical definition. The new CB definitions may be used as alternatives to the classical definition.Keywords: chronic bronchitis, CAT score, SGRQ score, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, KOCOSS database

June Hong Ahn, Jin Hong Chung, Kyeong-Cheol Shin, Eun Young Choi, Hyun Jung Jin, Mi Suk Lee, Mi Jeong Nam, Kwan Ho Lee Division of Pulmonology and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University Medical Center, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, South KoreaCorrespondence: Kwan Ho LeeDivision of Pulmonology and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University Medical Center, 170 Hyunchung-Ro, Nam-Gu, Daegu 42415, South KoreaEmail ghlee@med.yu.ac.krObjective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) acute exacerbations are significant causes of morbidity and mortality. “Frequent exacerbator” phenotypes are considered a distinct subgroup and this phenotype has a negative effect on lung function, quality of life, activity, hospital admission, and mortality. We assess inhaler handling technique and adherence, and evaluate risk factors associated with frequent exacerbations in COPD patients.Methods: This study was a cross-sectional, case-control study. We prospectively enrolled 189 COPD patients from Yeungnam University Hospital from January 2018 to November 2018. Subjects were tested regarding their inhaler technique in face-to-face interviews with an advanced practice nurse of inhaler upon study entry. Frequency of moderate to severe COPD exacerbations were reviewed via electronic medical records during 12 months prior to study entry. Frequent exacerbations were defined as ≥2 moderate to severe exacerbations in the prior 12 months. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify risk factors for frequent exacerbations.Results: Among 189 COPD patients, 50 (26.5%) were frequent exacerbators. Based on univariate analyses, body mass index (BMI) < 25 kg/m2, lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), higher mMRC, lower feeling of satisfaction with the inhaler, and any critical errors were potential risk factors for frequent exacerbations. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that BMI < 25 kg/m2 (OR, 2.855, 95% CI, 1.247–6.534; p=0.013), higher mMRC (OR, 1.625, 95% CI, 1.072–2.463; p=0.022), and any critical error (OR, 2.020, 95% CI, 1.021–3.999; p=0.044) were risk factors.Conclusion: Any critical error, BMI < 25 kg/m2 and high mMRC are independent risk factors for frequent exacerbations in COPD patients. Careful monitoring and education around inhaler devices, particularly in frequent exacerbators, are important components of COPD treatment.Keywords: COPD, inhalation therapy, drug use error, disease exacerbation

Jong Geol Jang,1 Jee Seon Kim,2 Jin Hong Chung,1 Kyeong Cheol Shin,1 June Hong Ahn,1 Mi Sook Lee,3 So Hee Bang,3 Da Yeong Park,3 Mee Jung Nam,3 Hyun Jung Jin,1,* Kwan Ho Lee1,* 1Division of Pulmonology and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University Medical Center, College of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea; 2Department of Internal Medicine, Semyeong Christianity Hospital, Pohang, Republic of Korea; 3Department of Education and Management Services, Yeungnam University Medical Center,College of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Hyun Jung JinDivision of Pulmonology and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, 170 Hyeonchung-ro, Nam-gu, Daegu 42415, Republic of KoreaTel +82-53-640-6578Fax +82-53-640-6449Email jhj0619@yu.ac.krBackground: Despite the increasing prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) worldwide, knowledge and awareness of COPD remain extremely low. This prospective study aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of organized educational intervention.Patients and methods: The study participants included patients diagnosed with COPD and receiving inhaler treatment. In this prospective study, the patients made three sequential visits to the hospital (baseline, 1 month, 3 months). On their first and second visits, patients received systematic education about COPD. On their first and third visits, each patient was evaluated using a COPD Assessment Test, COPD Knowledge Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.Results: Fifty-five participants were enrolled in the study. The mean COPD knowledge score before and after education was 12.51±3.19 and 17.89±1.37, respectively, indicating a significant increase in the score post-education (P

Hye Sook Choi,1 Yong Bum Park,2,3 Kyeong Cheol Shin,4 Seung Hun Jang,3,5 Kang Hyeon Choe,6 Young Sam Kim,7 Sun Young Kyung,8 Sung Ho Yoon,9 Ju Sang Kim,10 Sung Soo Jung11 1Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 2Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital-Kangdong, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 3Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea; 4Division of Pulmonology and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea; 5Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Republic of Korea; 6Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Republic of Korea; 7Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 8Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Republic of Korea; 9Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chosun University Hospital, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; 10Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University, Incheon St Mary’s Hospital, Incheon, Republic of Korea; 11Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chungnam National University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Republic of Korea Background and objective: The Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Tool-Patient-Reported Outcomes (EXACT-PRO) has been suggested as a reliable and valid measure for early assessment of COPD exacerbations and perceived recovery. However, there has been no evidence for EXACT-PRO efficacy in assessing recovery from treatment in a randomized controlled trial. The study evaluated the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of EXACT-PRO for the evaluation of the efficacy of acute treatment in patients with COPD exacerbation.Methods: In a Phase III randomized controlled study for assessing the efficacy of antibiotic treatment on COPD exacerbation, EXACT-PRO was evaluated in the responders and non-responders.Results: A total of 295 patients were analyzed (259 responders and 37 non-responders). Cronbach’s α was 0.96 for EXACT total, 0.96 for the breathlessness domain, 0.89 for the cough and sputum domain, and 0.93 for the chest symptoms domain. The EXACT score correlated with the COPD assessment test (CAT) score (r=0.8, P

Hye Sook Choi,1 Ju Ock Na,2 Jong Deog Lee,3 Kyeong-Cheol Shin,4 Chin Kook Rhee,5 Yong Il Hwang,6 Seong Yong Lim,7 Kwang Ha Yoo,8 Ki Suck Jung,6 Yong Bum Park9 1Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyunghee University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 2Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan-si, Republic of Korea; 3Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea; 4Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea; 5Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 6Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang, Republic of Korea; 7Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 8Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea; 9Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea Background: The 2017 GOLD guidelines revised assessment of COPD by eliminating the FEV1 criterion.Aim: First, we explored the redistribution of 2011 GOLD groups by reference to the 2017 GOLD criteria. Second, we investigated the characteristics of GOLD B patients and the natural course of GOLD B patients according to the 2017 GOLD guidelines.Methods: In total, 2,010 COPD patients in the Korean COPD Subgroup Study cohort were analyzed at baseline and 1 year after enrollment.Results: The 2011 GOLD C patients were redistributed to the 2017 A (64.5%) and C (35.4%) groups. The 2011 GOLD D patients were redistributed to the 2017 B (61.6%) and D (38.6%) groups. The GOLD B patients constituted 62.7% of all patients according to the 2017 classification. Such patients exhibited higher % predicted FEV1 values, longer six-minute walk distances, fewer symptoms, and lower inflammatory marker levels than GOLD D patients. Most GOLD B patients remained in that group (69.1%), but 13.8% progressed to group D at 1-year follow-up. The factors associated with progression from GOLD B to GOLD D were older age, higher modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) and St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) symptom scores, and a lower % predicted FEV1 value.Conclusion: Severe symptoms, poorer health status, and greater airflow limitation increased patients’ risk of exacerbation and progression from group B to group D when the 2017 GOLD criteria were applied. Keywords: COPD, GOLD B, progression

Dong-Won Lee,1 Hyun-Jung Jin,2 Kyeong-Cheol Shin,2 Jin-Hong Chung,2 Hyoung-Woo Lee,3 Kwan-Ho Lee2 1Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, Andong Sungso Hospital, Andong, 2Division of Pulmonology and Allergy, 3Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University Hospital, Daegu, South Korea Background: Sarcopenia and decreased bone-mineral density (BMD) are common in elderly people, and are major comorbidities of obstructive airway disease (OAD). However, the relationship between sarcopenia and BMD in each OAD phenotype, especially asthma–COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS), is not yet clear. We aimed to evaluate differences in BMD according to the presence of sarcopenia in each OAD phenotype. Materials and methods: Among the research subjects in KNHANES IV and V (2008–2011), 5,562 were ≥50 years old and underwent qualified spirometry and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. A total of 947 subjects were included in the study: 89 had asthma, 748 COPD, and 110 ACOS. Results: In the COPD and ACOS phenotypes, T-scores were lower in the sarcopenia group than the nonsarcopenia group. Prevalence rates of osteopenia and osteoporosis were higher in the sarcopenia group than the nonsarcopenia group. (P

Joon Young Choi,1 Hyoung Kyu Yoon,2 Seoung Ju Park,3 Yong Bum Park,4 Kyeong-Cheol Shin,5 Ju Ock Na,6 Kwang Ha Yoo,7 Ki-Suck Jung,8 Young Kyoon Kim,1 Chin Kook Rhee1 1Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St Mary’s Hospital, 2Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yeouido St Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 3Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, 4Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul, 5Regional Center for Respiratory Disease, Yeungnam University Medical Center, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, 6Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan, 7Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, 8Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Medical Center, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Republic of Korea Background: The chronic bronchitis (CB) phenotype has been associated with poor quality of life and an increased risk of disease in patients with COPD. However, little information exists regarding the relationship between the CB phenotype and the COPD assessment test (CAT) score. The goal of this study was to reveal the different pattern of CAT scores between CB and non-CB patients. Moreover, we aimed to investigate whether the CB phenotype is an independently associated factor for more symptom and high-risk groups.Methods: Data were obtained from the Korea COPD Subgroup Study cohort recruited from 46 centers in South Korea since April 2012. CB patients were defined as having a chronic cough and sputum for 3 months per year, for a period of 2 consecutive years. We investigated the pattern of CAT and subquestionnaire scores between CB and non-CB patients. We also analyzed the proportion of CB phenotypes in each Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage. Finally, we performed a logistic regression analysis to identify whether the CB phenotype was an independently associated factor for more symptom and high-risk groups.Results: Of the 1,106 study patients, 11.5% of patients were found to have a CB phenotype. CB phenotypes were most common in GOLD III (GOLD 2006) and GOLD D (GOLD 2015) stages. CAT scores were significantly higher in CB patients not only in terms of the total score but also for each subquestionnaire. Logistic regression revealed that the CB phenotype is an independently associated factor for more symptom and high-risk groups.Conclusion: The present study revealed that CB patients have higher CAT scores and subquestionnaire results compared to non-CB patients. Additionally, we demonstrated that the CB phenotype is an independently associated factor for both more symptom and high-risk groups. Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, COPD assess­ment test

Chin Kook Rhee,1 Jin Woo Kim,2 Yong Il Hwang,3 Jin Hwa Lee,4 Ki-Suck Jung,3 Myung Goo Lee,5 Kwang Ha Yoo,6 Sang Haak Lee,7 Kyeong-Cheol Shin,8 Hyoung Kyu Yoon9 1Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 2Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Uijeongbu St Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Uijeongbu, 3Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Medical Center, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, 4Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 5Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon, 6Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, 7Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, St Paul’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 8Regional Center for Respiratory Disease, Yeungnam University Medical Center, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Daegu, 9Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yeouido St Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea Background and objective: According to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines, either a modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea score of ≥2 or a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) assessment test (CAT) score of ≥10 is considered to represent COPD patients who are more symptomatic. We aimed to identify the ideal CAT score that exhibits minimal discrepancy with the mMRC score.Methods: A receiver operating characteristic curve of the CAT score was generated for an mMRC scores of 1 and 2. A concordance analysis was applied to quantify the association between the frequencies of patients categorized into GOLD groups A–D using symptom cutoff points. A κ-coefficient was calculated.Results: For an mMRC score of 2, a CAT score of 15 showed the maximum value of Youden’s index with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.70 and 0.66, respectively (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.70–0.77). For an mMRC score of 1, a CAT score of 10 showed the maximum value of Youden’s index with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.77 and 0.65, respectively (AUC 0.77; 95% CI, 0.72–0.83). The κ value for concordance was highest between an mMRC score of 1 and a CAT score of 10 (0.66), followed by an mMRC score of 2 and a CAT score of 15 (0.56), an mMRC score of 2 and a CAT score of 10 (0.47), and an mMRC score of 1 and a CAT score of 15 (0.43).Conclusion: A CAT score of 10 was most concordant with an mMRC score of 1 when classifying patients with COPD into GOLD groups A–D. However, a discrepancy remains between the CAT and mMRC scoring systems. Keywords: COPD, CAT, mMRC, concordance, discrepancy