On World COPD Day, we take a look back at some of the most significant articles published on the disease in 2017, including new GOLD guidelines, the risks of opioids for COPD patients, and the benefits of NIV on patient outcomes.

The following is a list of 17 of RT’s most popular articles on COPD in 2017, in no particular order. Click on the headlines to read the articles.

#1 / Each Year COPD Kills 3.2M, Asthma Kills 400K

Published: August 20, 2017

According to a new report from Lancet Respiratory Medicine, worldwide deaths from COPD reached 3.2 million in 2015, and asthma deaths reached 400,000.

#2 / Give Them Comfort: Controlling COPD Symptoms at the End of Life (Part II)

Published: August 27, 2017

The importance of controlling symptoms such as breathlessness and pain during the final days of COPD can improve the quality of life, or perhaps the quality of death.

#3 / Elevated Cardiac Risk for COPD Patients Using Opioids

Published: July 5, 2017

New opioid use was associated with elevated rates of ischemic heart disease-related morbidity and mortality among older adults with COPD.

#4 / Reducing COPD Readmissions with or without the Affordable Care Act

Published: August 1, 2017

As the fate of the Affordable Care Act volleys about in Congress, hospitals that have seen improvements in reducing COPD readmissions under the ACA plan to continue their work with or without the bill.

#5 / Regular Use of Disinfectants in Hospitals Tied to COPD

Published: September 11, 2017

Tasks involving frequent exposure to disinfectants and specific chemicals in disinfectants were associated with a 22% to 32% increased risk of developing COPD.

#6 / NHLBI Releases COPD National Action Plan

Published: May 25, 2017

The first-ever COPD National Action Plan is a detailed, patient-centered roadmap for addressing COPD, the nation’s third leading cause of death that affects 16 million Americans and costs more than $32 billion a year.

#7 / 30% Jump in Mortality from COPD from 1980-2014

Published: September 27, 2017

Between 1980 and 2014, the mortality rate increased in the US for COPD (30.8%), interstitial lung disease and pulmonary sarcoidosis (100.5%), and all other chronic respiratory diseases (42.3%), a JAMA study reports.

#8 / COPD Patients More Active in Self-care with Social Support

Published: July 15, 2017

People with COPD are more likely to be active and to participate in pulmonary rehabilitation if they live with others and have a caregiver, ATS research reports.

#9 / Grape Compound May One Day Treat COPD

Published: October 16, 2017

According to a study in British Journal of Pharmacology, a compound naturally-derived from grapes called isorhapontigenin could be a potential drug therapy for COPD.

#10 / Positive Airway Pressure May Reduce COPD Hospitalizations

Published: July 12, 2017

Despite reported benefits, only 7.5% of the more than 1.8 million COPD patients analyzed in a recent study were receiving any form of positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy.

#11 / GOLD 2017 Report Recommends Changes for COPD Diagnosis, Treatment

Published: February 2, 2017

The Global Initiative for the Diagnosis, Management and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) has published its 2017 report.

#12 / COPD: Adding NIV to Home Oxygen Therapy Improves Outcomes

Published: May 25, 2017

The use of noninvasive ventilation with home oxygen therapy significantly reduced the median time to readmission or death in patients hospitalized with COPD, according to results from the HOT-HMV study.

#13 / Mortality Nearly Double for Bronchiectasis Patients with COPD

Published: June 6, 2017

According to a study in Plos One, a COPD diagnosis in a patient with bronchiectasis resulted in a 1.77-times increase in mortality risk compared to patients with bronchiectasis alone.

#14 / COPD: Fruits and Veggies Reduce Smokers’ Risk

Published:

Current and former smokers eating 5 or more portions of fruit and vegetables every day were 40% and 34% less likely to develop COPD compared to those eating 2 or fewer daily servings.

#15 / Chronic Rhinitis a Strong Predictor for Early Readmissions for Asthma, COPD Patients

Published: March 15, 2017

Chronic rhinitis treatment should be prioritized for patients with chronic obstructive lung diseases including COPD and asthma, in order to reduce 30-day readmission rates.

#16 / Online Pulmonary Rehab for COPD Equally Effective

Published: May 24, 2017

Online pulmonary rehab for patients with COPD was as effective as face-to-face rehabilitation programs at improving patients’ exercise capacity and symptom control.

#17 / Dogs, Grandkids Can Keep COPD Sufferers Active

Published:

Keeping COPD patients active may come down to small things — like walking a dog or taking care of a grandchild, reports Reuters.