COPD
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The minimum clinically important difference (MCID) for diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) has not yet been solidly established. ⋯ We estimated the group-level MCID for DLCO for patients with severe and very severe COPD patients as 1.1 ml/min/mmHg and 11% of baseline DLCO.
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The prevalence of obesity has increased during the last decades and varies from 10-20% in most European countries to approximately 32% in the United States. However, data on how obesity affects the presence of airflow limitation (AFL) defined as a reduced ratio between forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) are scarce. ⋯ High BMI reduces the probability of AFL. Ultimately, this may result in under-diagnosis and under-treatment of COPD among individuals with overweight and obesity.
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It is well-established that COPD patients have a burden of vascular disease that cannot be fully-explained by smoking history but the mechanistic links between atherosclerosis and pulmonary disease in COPD patients are not well-understood. Moreover, in ex-smokers without symptoms or other evidence of COPD, subclinical pulmonary and vascular disease, although potentially present, has not been described or evaluated. Hence our aim was to use sensitive three-dimensional (3D) pulmonary and carotid imaging to quantify pulmonary airway/parenchyma abnormalities and atherosclerosis in ex-smokers without airflow limitation or symptoms consistent with COPD. ⋯ There were univariate relationships for (3)He VDP with carotid intima media thickness (IMT, r = 0.42, p = 0.004), TPV (r = 0.41, p = 0.006) and vessel wall volume (VWV, r = 0.40, p = 0.007). Multivariate models that included age, BMI, FEV1, DLCO and VDP showed that only VDP significantly predicted IMT (β = 0.41, p = 0.001), VWV (β = 0.45, p = 0.003) and TPV (β = 0.38, p = 0.005). In summary, there was imaging evidence of mild airways disease and carotid plaque burden that were related and significantly greater in ex-smokers without airflow limitation than in never-smokers.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) with standard exhalation valve does not improve maximum exercise capacity in patients with COPD.
Although BiPAP has been used as an adjunct to exercise, little is know about its effect on exercise in COPD. We aimed to evaluate the acute effect of BiPAP delivered with a standard valve (Vision, Respironics), compared to no assist, on exercise capacity in individuals with COPD. ⋯ Use of BiPAP with a standard exhalation valve during exercise increases VT and VE at the expense of augmenting VCO2 and dyspnea, which in turns reduces WLpeak in COPD patients.
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a common psychological consequence of exposure to traumatic stressful life events. During COPD exacerbations dyspnea can be considered a near-death experience that may induce post-traumatic stress symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between COPD exacerbations and PTSD- related symptoms. ⋯ Mean FEV1 and FVC were 0.8 ± 0.3 (37.7 ± 14.9% of predicted) and 1.7 ± 0.6 (60 ± 18.8% of predicted), respectively with a mean exacerbation of 2.9 episodes over the past year. Post-traumatic stress symptoms related to PTSD were found in 11 (33.3%) patients (SPTSS mean score 4.13 ± 2.54); moderate to severe depression in 16 (48.5%) (BDI mean score 21.2 ± 12.1) and moderate to severe anxiety in 23 (69.7%) (BAI mean score 23.5 ± 12.4). In a linear regression model, exacerbations significantly predicted post-traumatic stress symptoms scores: SPTSS scores increased 0.9 points with each exacerbation (p = 0.001). Significant correlations were detected between PTSD-related symptoms and anxiety (rs = 0.57; p = 0.001) and PTSD symptoms and depression (rs = 0.62; p = 0.0001). In a multivariable analysis model, two or more exacerbation episodes led to a near twofold increase in the prevalence ratio of post-traumatic stress symptoms related to PTSD(PR1.71; p = 0.015) specially those requiring hospitalization (PR 1.13; p = 0.030) CONCLUSION: PTSD symptoms increase as the patient's exacerbations increase. Two or more exacerbation episodes lead to a near twofold increase in the prevalence ratio of post-traumatic symptomatology. Overall, these findings suggest that psychological domains should be addressed along with respiratory function and exacerbations in COPD patients.