Effects of Opioids on Breathlessness and Exercise Capacity in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review.
Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease commonly suffer from breathlessness, deconditioning, and reduced health-related quality of life (HRQL) despite best medical management. Opioids may relieve breathlessness at rest and on exertion in COPD. We aimed to estimate the efficacy and safety of opioids on refractory breathlessness, exercise capacity, and HRQL in COPD.
