| 1. |
- Akbarshahi, Hamid, et al.
(författare)
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No gender-related bias in COPD diagnosis and treatment in Sweden : a randomised, controlled, case-based trial
- 2020
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Ingår i: ERJ Open Research. - : European Respiratory Society (ERS). - 2312-0541. ; 6:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: COPD is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The prevalence, morbidity and mortality of COPD among females have increased. Previous studies indicate a possible gender bias in the diagnosis and management of COPD. The present study aims to determine if there is gender bias in the management of COPD in Sweden.Methods: This was a double-blind, randomised (1:1), controlled, parallel-group, web-based trial using the hypothetical case scenario of a former smoker (40 pack-years and quit smoking 3 years ago) who was male or female. The participants were blind to the randomisation and the purpose of the trial. The case progressively revealed more information with associated questions on how the physician would manage the patient. Study participants chose from a list of tests and treatments at each step of the case scenario.Results: In total, 134 physicians were randomised to a male (n=62) or a female (n=72) case. There was no difference in initial diagnosis (61 (98%) male cases and 70 (97%) female cases diagnosed with COPD) and planned diagnostic procedures between the male and female cases. Spirometry was chosen by all the physicians as one of the requested diagnostic tests. The management of the hypothetical COPD case did not differ by sex of the responding physician.Conclusion: In Sweden, diagnosis and management of a hypothetical patient with COPD did not differ by the gender of the patient or physician.
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| 2. |
- Almqvist, Linnéa, et al.
(författare)
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Remission of adult-onset asthma is rare: a 15-year follow-up study
- 2020
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Ingår i: Erj Open Research. - : European Respiratory Society (ERS). - 2312-0541. ; 6:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: There are few long-term clinical follow-up studies of adult-onset asthma. The aim of this article was to study clinical characteristics of adult-onset asthma in relation to remission and persistence of the disease in a 15-year follow-up. Methods: A cohort of 309 adults aged 20-60 years with asthma onset during the last 12 months verified by bronchial variability, was recruited between 1995 and 1999 from the general population in northern Sweden. The cohort was followed-up in 2003 (n=250) and between 2012 and 2014 (n=205). Structured interviews and spirometry were performed at recruitment and the follow-ups. Bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) and skin-prick tests were performed at recruitment and blood samples were collected at the last follow-up. Remission of asthma was defined as no asthma symptoms and no use of asthma medication during the last 12 months. Results: Of eight individuals in remission in 2003, five had relapsed between 2012 and 2014 and in total, 23 (11%) were in remission, while 182 had persistent asthma. Those in remission had higher mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s % predicted at recruitment than those with persistent asthma (94.6 versus 88.3, p=0.034), fewer had severe BHR (27.3% versus 50.9%, p=0.037) and they had less body mass index increase (+1.6 versus +3.0, p=0.054). Of those with persistent asthma, 13% had uncontrolled asthma and they had higher levels of blood neutrophils than those with partly controlled or controlled asthma. Conclusion: Higher forced expiratory volume in 1 s % predicted and less-severe BHR was associated with remission of adult-onset asthma, but still, the proportion in remission in this 15-year follow-up was low.
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| 3. |
- Barnes, H., et al.
(författare)
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Occupation versus environmental factors in hypersensitivity pneumonitis: population attributable fraction
- 2020
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Ingår i: Erj Open Research. - : European Respiratory Society (ERS). - 2312-0541. ; 6:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Despite well-documented case series of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), epidemiological data delineating relative contributions of risk factors are sparse. To address this, we estimated HP risk in a case-referent study of occupational and nonoccupational exposures. Methods: We recruited cases of HP by ICD-9 codes from an integrated healthcare delivery system (IHCDS) and a tertiary medical care centre. We drew referents, matched for age and sex, from the IHCDS. Participants underwent comprehensive, structured telephone interviews eliciting details of occupational and home environmental exposures. We employed a hierarchical analytic approach for data reduction based on the false discovery rate method within clusters of exposures. We measured lung function and selected biomarkers in a subset of participants. We used multivariate logistic regression to estimate exposure-associated odds ratios (ORs) and population attributable fractions (PAFs) for HP. Results: We analysed data for 192 HP cases (148 IHCDS; 44 tertiary care) and 229 referents. Occupational exposures combined more than doubled the odds of developing HP (OR 2.67; 95% CI 1.73-4.14) with a PAF of 34% (95% CI 21-46%); nonoccupational bird exposure also doubled the HP odds (OR 2.02; 95% CI 1.13-3.60), with a PAF of 12% (3-21%). Lung function and selected biomarkers did not substantively modify the risk estimates on the basis of questionnaire data alone. Discussion: In a case-referent approach evaluating HP risk, identifiable exposures accounted, on an epidemiological basis, for approximately two in three cases of disease; conversely, for one in three, the risk factors for disease remained elusive.
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| 4. |
- Bjerg, Anders, et al.
(författare)
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Shorter time to clinical decision in work-related asthma using a digital tool
- 2020
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Ingår i: ERJ open research. - Lausanne, Switzerland : European Respiratory Society (ERS). - 2312-0541. ; 6:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- PEF curves are a useful but cumbersome tool in diagnosing work-related asthma. Using a digital spirometer and smartphone app, time to clinical decision could be shortened by 6-7 weeks. Physician's time spent analysing PEF data is also shortened.
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| 5. |
- Broberg, Ellen, et al.
(författare)
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Mechanically ventilated patients exhibit decreased particle flow in exhaled breath as compared to normal breathing patients
- 2020
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Ingår i: Erj Open Research. - : European Respiratory Society (ERS). - 2312-0541. ; 6:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: In this cohort study, we evaluated whether the particles in exhaled air (PExA) device can be used in conjunction with mechanical ventilation during surgery. The PExA device consists of an optical particle counter and an impactor that collects particles in exhaled air. Our aim was to establish the feasibility of the PExA device in combination with mechanical ventilation (MV) during surgery and if collected particles could be analysed. Patients with and without nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing lung surgery were compared to normal breathing (NB) patients with NSCLC. Methods: A total of 32 patients were included, 17 patients with NSCLC (MV-NSCLC), nine patients without NSCLC (MV-C) and six patients with NSCLC and not intubated (NB). The PEx samples were analysed for the most common phospholipids in surfactant using liquid-chromatography-mass-spectrometry (LCMS). Results: MV-NSCLC and MV-C had significantly lower numbers of particles exhaled per minute ( particle flow rate; PFR) compared to NB. MV-NSCLC and MV-C also had a siginificantly lower amount of phospholipids in PEx when compared to NB. MV-NSCLC had a significantly lower amount of surfactant A compared to NB. Conclusion: We have established the feasibility of the PExA device. Particles could be collected and analysed. We observed lower PFR from MV compared to NB. High PFR during MV may be due to more frequent opening and closing of the airways, known to be harmful to the lung. Online use of the PExA device might be used to monitor and personalise settings for mechanical ventilation to lower the risk of lung damage.
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| 6. |
- D. Ubags, Niki, et al.
(författare)
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ERS International Congress, Madrid, 2019: highlights from the Basic and translational Science Assembly
- 2020
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Ingår i: ERJ Open Research. - : European Respiratory Society (ERS). - 2312-0541. ; 6:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this review, the Basic and Translational Sciences Assembly of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) provides an overview of the 2019 ERS International Congress highlights. In particular, we discuss how the novel and very promising technology of single cell sequencing has led to the development of a comprehensive map of the human lung, the lung cell atlas, including the discovery of novel cell types and new insights into cellular trajectories in lung health and disease. Further, we summarise recent insights in the field of respiratory infections, which can aid in a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying these infections in order to develop novel vaccines and improved treatment options. Novel concepts delineating the early origins of lung disease are focused on the effects of pre- and post-natal exposures on neonatal lung development and long-term lung health. Moreover, we discuss how these early life exposures can affect the lung microbiome and respiratory infections. In addition, the importance of metabolomics and mitochondrial function analysis to subphenotype chronic lung disease patients according to their metabolic program is described. Finally, basic and translational respiratory science is rapidly moving forward and this will be beneficial for an advanced molecular understanding of the mechanisms underlying a variety of lung diseases. In the long-term this will aid in the development of novel therapeutic targeting strategies in the field of respiratory medicine.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Kibuule, D, et al.
(författare)
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Predictors of loss to follow-up of tuberculosis cases under the DOTS programme in Namibia
- 2020
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Ingår i: ERJ open research. - : European Respiratory Society (ERS). - 2312-0541. ; 6:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In Namibia, one out of every 25 cases of tuberculosis (TB) is “lost to follow-up” (LTFU). This has impacted negatively on national efforts to end the disease by 2035. The aim of this study was to determine the trends and predictors of LTFU under the directly observed treatment short-course (DOTS) programme in Namibia.MethodsThe study involved a retrospective longitudinal analysis of a nationwide cohort of TB cases registered under the DOTS programme in Namibia from 2006 to 2015. The trends and predictors of LTFU among cases in the National Electronic TB Register of the National TB and Leprosy Program were respectively determined by interrupted time series and multivariate logistic regression analyses using R-Studio software.ResultsOut of 104 203 TB cases, 3775 (3.6%) were LTFU. A quarter (26%) of cases with poor outcomes were due to LTFU. The annual decline in cases of LTFU was significant between the first (2005–2010) and second (2010–2015) medium-term plan period for TB programme implementation (p=0.002). The independent predictors of LTFU were male sex (p=0.004), 15–24 years age group (p=0.03), provider of treatment (p<0.001), intensive phase (p=0.047) and living in border/transit regions (p<0.001). HIV co-infection and TB regimen were not significant predictors of LTFU.ConclusionsThere were declining trends in LTFU in Namibia. DOTS programmes should integrate socioeconomic interventions for young and middle-aged adult male TB cases to reduce LTFU.
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| 10. |
- Kjellström, Barbro, et al.
(författare)
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Adherence to disease-specific drug treatment among patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension
- 2020
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Ingår i: European Respiratory Journal Open Research. - Sheffield : European Respiratory Society (ERS). ; 6:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) require lifelong treatment. The aim of the present study was to investigate adherence to disease-specific treatment in patients with PAH or CTEPH. Methods: The study comprised an adult population diagnosed with PAH (n=384) or CTEPH (n=187) alive in 2016-2017. The study utilised three registries: the Swedish PAH registry, the National Board of Health and Welfare, and Statistics Sweden. Withdrawals from pharmacies of disease-specific oral treatments were studied. Adherence was assessed as: 1) Number of days covered defined as the difference between the total number of daily dosages dispensed and the total number of days covered; and 2) Manual assessment by two persons that independently reviewed each patient's prescription fill history to detect anomalies or patterns of deteriorating or improving adherence over time. Results: The mean age was 61±16 years, 61% were female and mean time since diagnosis was 4.6 years. Adherence was 62% using the Number of days covered method and 66% by the Manual assessment method. Drug-specific adherence varied from 91% for riociguat to 60% for sildenafil. Good adherence was associated with shorter time since diagnosis in patients with PAH and with lower number of concomitant other chronic treatments in patients with CTEPH. Age, sex, socioeconomic status or number of pulmonary hypertension (PH) treatments were not associated with adherence. Conclusion: Adherence to oral disease-specific treatment was 60-66% and associated with time since diagnosis and number of concomitant chronic treatments. Sex, age or socioeconomic factors did not affect adherence.
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