Chest
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Sarcoidosis is an idiopathic multiorgan disease with variable clinical outcomes. Comprehensive analysis of sarcoidosis mortality in US veterans is lacking. ⋯ Mortality among veterans with sarcoidosis is rising. Differences identified by service branch and higher risk among male Veterans raise questions about differences in environmental exposures. The narrower racial disparities and smaller impact of ADI than in other studies may highlight the role of universal health care access in achieving equitable outcomes.
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Guidelines advise minimizing asthma exacerbation risk, which is achieved partially through good clinical practice activities, including scheduled asthma reviews, inhaler technique checks, and asthma management plans. We assessed how frequently these activities are provided and how effective they are in clinical practice. ⋯ Most children in the United Kingdom do not receive the guideline-recommended activities to monitor their asthma. This study suggests that these activities, if implemented, are effective in clinical practice and maximally effective when combined in the same visit.
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Hypnotics and Mortality in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Hospital and National Data-Based Analysis.
Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) may experience insomnia and use hypnotics. However, the effect of the use of hypnotics on their clinical course remains unclear. ⋯ This study found that continuous use of hypnotics was associated with an increased risk of mortality in patients with IPF. Given the relatively high cumulative incidence of hypnotics use in this population, there is an urgent need to reassess the appropriate use of hypnotics for patients with IPF.
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Airway mucus plugs are frequently identified on CT scans of patients with COPD with a smoking history without mucus-related symptoms (ie, cough, phlegm [silent mucus plugs]). ⋯ Mucus plugs are common in patients with COPD without mucus-related symptoms. Silent mucus plugs are associated with worse functional, structural, and clinical measures of disease. CT scan-identified mucus plugs can complement the evaluation of patients with COPD.
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Patients with OSA are at increased risk of postoperative cardiorespiratory complications and death. Attempts to stratify this risk have been inadequate, and predictors from large, well-characterized cohort studies are needed. ⋯ These findings provide a basis for better identifying high-risk patients with OSA and determining appropriate postoperative care.