Chest
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Multicenter Study
Noninvasive prognostic biomarkers for left heart failure as predictors of survival in pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Three biomarkers, soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (ST2), galectin 3 (Gal3), and N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide prohormone (NT-proBNP), are approved for noninvasive risk assessment in left-sided heart failure, and small observational studies have shown their prognostic usefulness in heterogeneous pulmonary hypertension cohorts. We examined associations between these biomarkers and disease severity and survival in a large cohort of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (ie, group 1 pulmonary hypertension). We hypothesized that additive use of biomarkers in combination would improve the prognostic value of survival models. ⋯ ST2 and NT-proBNP are strong, noninvasive prognostic biomarkers in PAH. Despite its prognostic value in left-sided heart failure, Gal3 was not predictive in PAH. Adding ST2 to survival models significantly improves model predictive capacity. Future studies are needed to develop multimarker assays that improve noninvasive risk stratification in PAH.
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Observational Study
Impact of preoperative right heart chambers measurement in the evaluation of pulmonary hypertension after aortic valve replacement.
Severe pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with aortic stenosis is related to poor prognosis following aortic valve replacement (AVR). Current European PH guidelines recommend adding two different echocardiographic signs to tricuspid regurgitation velocity (TRV) in PH estimation, classifying its probability as low (TRV ≤ 2.8 m/s), intermediate (TRV 2.9-3.4 m/s), and high (TRV > 3.4 m/s). The right ventricle is an important determinant of prognosis in PH. The goal of this study was to analyze the value of right atrial area > 18 cm2 and right ventricular/left ventricular ratio > 1 in the long-term prognosis following AVR, mainly in the intermediate probability group. ⋯ Incorporating measurement of the right cavities into the PH probability model in the assessment of long-term prognosis following AVR allowed better risk discrimination, especially in the intermediate probability group.
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Multicenter Study
Chronic cough in individuals with COPD: a population-based cohort study.
The role and impact of chronic cough in individuals with COPD have not been described in the general population. This study hypothesized that comorbid chronic cough is a marker of disease severity in individuals with COPD. ⋯ Comorbid chronic cough in individuals with COPD is associated with a more severe disease in terms of more respiratory symptoms and health-care utilizations, lower lung function, and increased inflammation in blood.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of the Combination of Atomoxetine and Oxybutynin on Obstructive Sleep Apnea Endotypic Traits.
We recently showed that administration of the combination of the noradrenergic drug atomoxetine plus the antimuscarinic oxybutynin (ato-oxy) prior to sleep greatly reduced OSA severity, likely by increasing upper airway dilator muscle activity during sleep. In patients with OSA who performed the ato-oxy trial with an esophageal pressure catheter to estimate ventilatory drive, the effect of the drug combination (n = 17) and of the single drugs (n = 6) was measured on the endotypic traits over a 1-night administration and compared vs placebo. This study also tested if specific traits were predictors of complete response to treatment (reduction in apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] > 50% and < 10 events/h). ⋯ Ato-oxy markedly improved the measures of upper airway collapsibility, increased breathing stability, and slightly reduced the arousal threshold. Patients with relatively lower AHI and less severe upper airway collapsibility had the best chance for OSA resolution with ato-oxy.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Hospital-Based Resource Use and Costs Among Patients With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Enrolled in the Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Prospective Outcomes (IPF-PRO) Registry.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a rare and serious condition that is associated with high health-care resource use. The goal of this study was to estimate hospital-related resource use and costs by using a national, prospective registry of patients who were diagnosed with IPF or who had their diagnosis confirmed at the enrolling center in the past 6 months in the United States. ⋯ IPF is associated with a substantial economic burden incurred by patients requiring hospital care. Future research in IPF should focus on improving clinical outcomes while reducing cost of care in hospitals.