Respiration; international review of thoracic diseases
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Observational Study
Predictors of the overlap syndrome and its association with comorbidities in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The occurrence of both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in an individual patient has been described as 'overlap syndrome', which has been associated with poor prognosis. Little is known about the possible predictors of the overlap syndrome and its association with comorbidities contributing to impaired outcome. ⋯ Almost 20% of COPD patients also have OSA. BMI and smoking history seem to be predictors of the overlap syndrome, and these patients may be more often affected by hypertension and diabetes.
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Limited information is available regarding the factors related to short-term hospital admission following an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (eCOPD). ⋯ Just a few easily recorded parameters may allow clinicians to identify patients at a higher risk of short-term readmission and establish preventive strategies.
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Treatment with lung volume reduction coils (LVRC) may be effective in patients with severe heterogeneous emphysema and incomplete fissures. ⋯ This is the first study to show that LVRC in patients with heterogeneous emphysema and incomplete fissures improves exercise capacity, quality of life and lung function up to 90 days after the intervention. Further studies are needed to assess the long-term effects of LVRC in these patients.
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Clinical Trial
Can lung ultrasound replace chest radiography for the diagnosis of pneumonia in hospitalized children?
Lung ultrasound is a non-radiating accurate alternative tool to chest X-ray (CXR) in the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in adults. ⋯ In our series, lung ultrasound was highly accurate for the diagnosis of CAP in hospitalized children. These results provide the rationale for a multicenter study in children.
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Existing prediction models for mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients have not yet been validated in primary care, which is where the majority of patients receive care. ⋯ The ADO index showed excellent prediction properties in an out-of-population validation carried out in COPD patients from primary care settings.