Related Articles Symposium on obesity and asthma - November 2, 2006. Can Respir J. 2007 May-Jun;14(4):201-8 Authors: Boulet LP, Hamid Q, Bacon SL, Bergeron C, Boulet LP, Chen Y, Dixon AE, Ernst P, Hamid Q, Holguin F, Irvin CG, Kimoff RJ, Komakula S, Laprise C, Lavoie KL, Shore SA, Teodorescu M, Vohl MC Asthma and obesity are frequently associated, and obesity has been considered a factor contributing to both an increase in severity of asthma and to its development. The present document summarizes the proceedings of a symposium held in Montreal, Quebec, on November 2, 2006, under the auspices of the Réseau en santé respiratoire du Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec in collaboration with the McGill University -- Strauss Severe Asthma Program, Université Laval (Quebec City) and Université de Montréal. It includes an overview of the various aspects of the relationships between asthma and obesity with regard to animal models; genetic, hormonal and physiological determinants; influence of comorbidities (eg, sleep apnea syndrome); epidemiology; clinical and psychological features; and management of asthma in the obese population.
Related Articles Sex differences in the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and psychological distress in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Chest. 2007 May 15; Authors: Laurin C, Lavoie KL, Bacon SL, Dupuis G, Lacoste G, Cartier A, Labrecque M Background Psychiatric disorders are highly prevalent in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In general, psychiatric disorders are more common in women than in men. The extent to which women with COPD suffer from greater psychiatric and psychological morbidity is not known. The present cross-sectional study evaluated the prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders, levels of psychological distress, and quality of life in 62 women and 54 men with documented, stable COPD. METHODS: All patients (n=116) underwent a sociodemographic and medical history interview, followed by a structured psychiatric interview and standard spirometry. Patients also completed a battery of questionnaires measuring psychological distress and quality of life. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of psychiatric disorders was 49%. Significantly more women than men met diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders (56% vs. 35%) and a trend for greater levels of major depression in women was found (18% vs. 7%). Women had significantly higher anxiety sensitivity and depressive symptoms compared to men, but did not report more limitations in psychological functioning. Women also reported being less confident in their ability to control respiratory symptoms, and more daily physical limitations compared to men, despite having comparable COPD severity, dyspnoea scores, and exacerbation rates. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that psychiatric disorders are at least three times higher in COPD patients compared to the general population, and nearly two times higher in women than in men. Women also have greater psychological distress, worse perceived control of symptoms and greater functional impairment. Greater efforts should be made to identify and treat psychiatric disorders in COPD patients, particularly in women.
Related Articles Two-year follow-up status of emergency department patients with chest pain: Was it panic disorder? CJEM. 2003 Jul;5(4):247-54 Authors: Fleet RP, Lavoie KL, Martel JP, Dupuis G, Marchand A, Beitman BD OBJECTIVES: We previously reported that 25% (108/441) of consecutive patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) of the Montreal Heart Institute with a chief complaint of chest pain suffered from panic disorder (PD). The purpose of the present study was to re-examine these patients (with and without PD) 2 years after their initial ED visit to determine their psychiatric and psychosocial status. METHODS: An interviewer, who was kept blind to patients' initial medical and psychiatric diagnoses, attempted to contact all patients who participated in the initial study by phone. Patients who completed the phone interview were sent a battery of psychological questionnaires by mail. RESULTS: A total of 301 (70%) patients completed the phone interview, and 228 (52%) patients completed the self-report questionnaires. Participants and non-participants did not differ with respect to age, gender, initial self-report scores, or initial cardiac or psychiatric diagnoses. At follow-up, significantly (p < 0.05) more PD+ than non-PD (PD-) patients reported: 1) chest pains in the last month (57% vs. 31%); 2) one or more ED consultations in the past year for chest pain (40% vs. 14%); 3) one or more hospitalizations in the past year (31% vs. 11%); and 4) perceiving their general health as "poor" (22% vs. 9%). PD+ patients displayed a significant (p < 0.05) worsening of their panic symptoms, agoraphobic avoidance, depression, and trait anxiety, and reported significantly (p < 0.05) greater suicidal ideation compared to PD- patients (32% vs. 9%). Of all PD+ patients, only 22% (18/82) reported receiving some form of mental health treatment for their symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Unrecognized and untreated PD has a chronic and disabling course. Greater efforts should be made to screen for PD in patients complaining of chest pain in EDs.
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NCBI: db=PubMed; Term=Lavoie KL