Pneumonia in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Marcos I. Restrepo 1, Oriol Sibila 2, Antonio Anzueto 3
1 South Texas Veterans Health Care System and Veterans Evidence Based Research Dissemination and Implementation Center (VERDICT) (MR), San Antonio, Texas, USA; 2 Associate Editor, BRN reviews Servei de Pneumologia Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, CIBERES, Universitat de Barcelona; 3 University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, and South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, Texas, USA
*Correspondence: Antonio Anzueto, Email not available
Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a frequent comorbid condition associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Pneumonia is the most common infectious disease condition. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the impact of pneumonia in patients with COPD. We will evaluate the epidemiology and factors associated with pneumonia. We are discussing the clinical characteristics of COPD that may favour the development of infections conditions such as pneumonia. Over the last 10 years, there is an increased evidence that COPD patients treated with inhaled corticosteroids are at increased risk to develop pneumonia. We will review the available information as well as the possible mechanisms for these events. We will also discuss the impact of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in the prevention of pneumonia in COPD patients.
