Chest
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
A comparative study of community-acquired pneumonia patients admitted to the ward and the ICU.
Limited information is available on the health-care utilization of hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) depending on the location of care. Our aim was to compare the clinical characteristics, etiologies, and outcomes of patients with CAP who were admitted to the ICU with those admitted who were to the ward service. ⋯ ICU patients present with more severe disease and more comorbidities. ICU patients stay longer in the hospital and have a much higher mortality rate when compared to ward patients. Management strategies should be designed to improve clinical outcomes in ICU patients.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Validation of a method to screen for pulmonary hypertension in advanced idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
We have developed a method to screen for pulmonary hypertension (PH) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients, based on a formula to predict mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) from standard lung function measurements. The objective of this study was to validate this method in a separate group of IPF patients. ⋯ A prediction formula for MPAP using standard lung function measurements can be used to screen for PH in IPF patients.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Occult traumatic pneumothorax: diagnostic accuracy of lung ultrasonography in the emergency department.
The role of chest ultrasonography (US) in the diagnosis of pneumothorax (PTX) has been established, but how it compares with lung CT scanning in the diagnosis of radiooccult PTX and in the determination of its topographic extension has not yet been completely evaluated. ⋯ Lung US scans carried out in the ED detect occult PTX and its extension with an accuracy that is almost as high as the reference standard (CT scanning).
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Multicenter Study
Variability of the prevalence of undiagnosed airflow obstruction in smokers using different diagnostic criteria.
To estimate the prevalence of undiagnosed airflow obstruction (AFO) in Hong Kong smokers with no previous diagnosis of respiratory disease, and to assess its variability when applying different prediction equations and diagnostic criteria. ⋯ Undiagnosed AFO was prevalent in Hong Kong smokers. Estimated prevalence rates were highly affected by the criteria used to define AFO. The predicted lower fifth percentile values calculated from a local reference equation as the LLN of FEV(1)/FVC ratio should be used for the diagnosis of AFO.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
The efficacy and safety of combination salmeterol (50 microg)/fluticasone propionate (500 microg) inhalation twice daily via accuhaler in Chinese patients with COPD.
Few studies of the efficacy and safety of therapy with combinations of salmeterol/fluticasone propionate (SFCs) have been conducted in Chinese patients with COPD, and the benefits of combination therapy in nonsmoking patients with COPD are, to our knowledge, not known. ⋯ SFC therapy achieved sustained improvement in lung function, quality of life, and control of symptoms, and was well tolerated in Chinese patients. Greater improvements in lung function were found only for COPD patients with a history of smoking.