Is proactive surveillance approach to guarantee a functional arteriovenous fistula at first dialysis worth?
A dedicated surveillance program of patients with AVFs in the pre-dialysis stadium detects failure to mature. Close coaching and proactive intervention can aid the patient in his own "fistula first" project.
Severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients who were overweight or obese had a greater FFM, exercise capacity and inspiratory muscle strength than patients with the same degree of airflow obstruction who were of normal weight or underweight, and higher FFM was independently associated with higher exercise capacity. These characteristics of overweight or obese patients might counteract the drawbacks of excess weight and lead to an improved prognosis in COPD.