Expert review of respiratory medicine
-
Expert Rev Respir Med · Dec 2020
Childhood asthma as a risk factor for adult chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Background: Due to the disagreement in studies, the present study performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the relationship between childhood asthma and the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adulthood. Methods: Literature search was performed in Medline and Embase databases until the end of 2019. Data were recorded as adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI). ⋯ The relationship between childhood asthma and COPD in adulthood was reported somewhat greater in random sampling method studies than consecutive sampling method studies (OR = 2.89; 95% CI: 1.72-4.86; p = 0.001). Conclusion: Asthma in childhood could be considered as an independent risk factor for COPD in adulthood. Since type of study, sampling method, sample size of study and COPD prevalence are the main sources of heterogeneity, further prospective high-quality studies assessing the relationship of childhood asthma and adulthood COPD are recommended to be performed.
-
Expert Rev Respir Med · Dec 2020
ReviewEndobronchial valve therapy for severe emphysema: an overview of valve-related complications and its management.
Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction treatment with one-way valves is an effective guideline treatment option for patients with severe emphysema. However, important challenges and adverse reactions may occur after treatment. ⋯ Treating severe emphysema patients with one-way valves requires continuous dedication and expertise, especially to achieve an optimal outcome and elegantly deal with the various complications after treatment.
-
Expert Rev Respir Med · Nov 2020
Meta AnalysisMortality in COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome and corticosteroids use: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) secondary to viral pneumonitis is one of the main causes of high mortality in patients with COVID-19 (novel coronavirus disease 2019). We systematically reviewed mortality in COVID-19 patients with ARDS and the potential role of systemic corticosteroids in COVID-19 patients. ⋯ The high mortality in COVID-19 associated ARDS necessitates a prompt and aggressive treatment strategy which includes corticosteroids. Most of the studies included no information on the dosing regimen of corticosteroid therapy, however, low-dose corticosteroid therapy or pulse corticosteroid therapy appears to have a beneficial role in the management of severely ill COVID-19 patients.
-
Expert Rev Respir Med · Sep 2020
ReviewCovid-19: a comprehensive review of a formidable foe and the road ahead.
The Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) caused by the novel beta coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) started in late December 2019 in Wuhan, China. Within a short span, COVID-19 was declared a global public health emergency affecting 214 countries with 5,939,234 confirmed cases and 3,67,255 deaths as of 30 May 2020. With limited knowledge about SARS-CoV-2, no approved treatment or vaccine is available till date. ⋯ The scale of the outbreak has brought the governments, health-care professionals, and scientists around the world under tremendous pressure to devise control strategies and develop novel prevention measures. While availability of vaccine for COVID-19 may take time, the disease may be contained through hand hygiene, physical distancing, travel restriction, and aggressive steps such as 'lockdown.' Clinical trials at different phases are ongoing across different countries to expedite the development of effective drugs and vaccine to overcome the pandemic.