• Impact of Inactivity on Disease Progression
• Diagnosis and Clinical Objectives
• Role of Pulmonary Rehabilitation
• Pharmacologic Management of COPD

Dick D. Briggs, Jr., MD, MACP, Chairman
Emeritus Professor
Eminent Scholar Chair
Pulmonary Diseases
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Dr. Briggs has received honoraria related to formal advisory activities, development of educational materials, and speakers' bureau activities, as well as grant support related to research activities from Altana Pharma, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Pfizer Inc., and Schering-Plough Corporation. Dr. Briggs has also indicated that his presentation would include the discussion of unlabeled/investigational uses of inhaled corticosteroids, ?-blockers, and PDE? inhibitors that are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for certain uses in the United States.

Frank Sciurba, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Dr. Sciurba has received honoraria related to formal advisory activities from Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation and Pfizer Inc. Dr. Sciurba has indicated that his presentation would not include the discussion of unlabeled uses of commercial products or investigational products not yet approved by the FDA for any use in the United States.

Richard L. ZuWallack, MD
Professor of Clinical Medicine
University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Associate Chief of Pulmonary and Critical Care
St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center
Hartford, Connecticut
Dr. ZuWallack has received honoraria related to formal advisory activities from Novartis AG and honoraria related to speakers' bureau activities from Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation and Pfizer Inc. Dr. ZuWallack has indicated that his presentation would not include the discussion of unlabeled uses of commercial products or investigational products not yet approved by the FDA for any use in the United States.

This activity should take approximately 1 hour to complete. The participant should, in order, read the objectives and supplement, answer the multiple-choice post-test, and complete the answer form, registration, and evaluation.

This activity is designed for physicians who have an interest in enhancing their knowledge and understanding of the management of respiratory disease.

Chronic Obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a slowly progressive disease impacting the nation's health. Despite potential risks and established clinical guidelines, recent data suggest that some patients are not being managed optimally for this disease. Unless it is interrupted, the severity of COPD progresses in a downward spiral that begins with the presence of dyspnea. To compensate for their shortness of breath, patients become less active, which leads to deconditioning, worsening the dyspnea, and, thereby, increasing inactivity. This descending spiral can be interrupted by pulmonary rehabilitation, which may improve endurance and activity, relieve symptoms, and lead to an improvement in quality of life. Components of pulmonary rehabilitation should be integrated into COPD management, which may slow progression and minimize exacerbations.

This activity will provide clinicians with information on the effects of prolonged inactivity on the progression of COPD symptoms. The complementary effects of traditional pharmacologic treatment and pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD patient management will be discussed, as well as differentiating pharmacologic options indicated for COPD treatment in regard to optimizing benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation.

• Identify the effects of prolonged inactivity on the progression of COPD symptoms

• Summarize the complementary beneficial effects of traditional pharmacologic treatment and pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD patient management

• Differentiate the pharmacologic options indicated for COPD treatment in regard to optimizing the benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation

MediCom Worldwide, Inc. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

MediCom Worldwide, Inc. designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)^TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

There are no fees for participating in this activity. All participants must complete the Activity Evaluation Form. Certificates will be mailed 6 to 8 weeks following receipt of a completed, qualified form.

Term of Approval: September 1, 2007-September 30, 2008

Copyright © 2007 Elsevier Inc.