Survival in COPD patients after regular use of fluticasone propionate and salmeterol.

Maugeri Foundation Respiratory Failure item set (MRF-28) questionnaire [3] assessment in the treated subjects, also showed a positive impact of one of the most important endpoints of the long-term ventilatory strategy in these patients, which is the health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Although, it is still not clear whether survival can be positively influenced by NPPV in addition to standard long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT), the result obtained on specific HRQoL (together with the positive, although not significant, trend towards the reduction in the follow-up admissions in the critical care area) seems to justify the prescripton of NPPV, at least when a poor condition of the patient (i.e. severe disability, frequent exacerbations and hospitalisations, low effect and clinical control by LTOT) can be proven. Obviously, any conclusion should be made with caution at present. However, although the prescription of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation cannot be recommended as a generalised option in the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, an effort should be made to look for the best candidates on the basis of their history and the pathophysiological background available. E. Clini*, N. Ambrosino *Division of Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Fondazione Villa Pineta ONLUS, Pavullo and Cardiosurgery Dept, Division of Pneumology, Azienda Ospedaliera Pisana, Pisa, Italy.