BPCO

In 2014 new data on COPD were published that allow us to improve the management of patients. The gradual withdrawal of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) under the cover of double bronchodilatation in baseline treatment (WISDOM study) was not accompanied by an increase in exacerbations. A Canadian retrospective cross sectional study has shown the particular role of ICS in patients over 65 years old. A study underlined the probable role of systemic corticosteroids during exacerbations treated by mechanical ventilation, invasive or not. The COLUMBUS study confirmed the role of macrolides, in particular azithromycin, in the long term treatment of patients with COPD who have frequent exacerbations (3 or more per year) despite taking maximal inhaled therapy and stopping smoking. The timing of pulmonary rehabilitation has been clarified and it seems that it should not be started in the acute phase (i.e. before the end of the exacerbation in hospitalized patients). This questions the demonstrated role of initiation of pulmonary rehabilitation soon after an exacerbation. Finally, the STATCOPE study removes any place for statins in the baseline treatment of COPD patients without cardiovascular comorbidity. All these studies are detailed in this paper.