American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Jan 2023
Image Phenotyping of Preterm-born Children using Hyperpolarised 129Xe Lung MRI and Multiple-breath Washout.
Rationale: Preterm birth is associated with low lung function in childhood, but little is known about the lung microstructure in childhood. Objectives: We assessed the differential associations between the historical diagnosis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and current lung function phenotypes on lung ventilation and microstructure in preterm-born children using hyperpolarized 129Xe ventilation and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and multiple-breath washout (MBW). Methods: Data were available from 63 children (aged 9-13 yr), including 44 born preterm (⩽34 weeks' gestation) and 19 term-born control subjects (⩾37 weeks' gestation). ⋯ MBW metrics were all significantly increased in the POLD group compared with preterm- and term-born control subjects. Linear regression confirmed the differential effects of obstructive disease on ventilation defects and BPD on lung microstructure. Conclusion: We show that ventilation abnormalities are associated with POLD, and BPD in infancy is associated with abnormal lung microstructure.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Jan 2023
Multicenter StudyValidation of Proposed Criteria for Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis.
Rationale: Criteria for progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) have been proposed, but their prognostic value beyond categorical decline in FVC remains unclear. Objectives: To determine whether proposed PPF criteria predict transplant-free survival (TFS) in patients with non-idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) forms of interstitial lung disease (ILD). Methods: A retrospective, multicenter cohort analysis was performed. ⋯ S. test cohort, with 6 maintaining TFS associations in the UK validation cohort. Validated PPF criteria requiring a combination of physiologic, radiologic, and symptomatic worsening performed similarly to their stand-alone components but captured a smaller number of patients. Conclusions: An FVC decline of ⩾10% and six additional PPF criteria satisfied in the absence of such decline identify patients with non-IPF ILD at increased risk for death or lung transplantation.
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Rationale: Although interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA), specific patterns of incidentally-detected abnormal density on computed tomography, have been associated with abnormal lung function and increased mortality, it is unclear if a subset with incidental interstitial lung disease (ILD) accounts for these adverse consequences. Objectives: To define the prevalence and risk factors of suspected ILD and assess outcomes. Methods: Suspected ILD was evaluated in the COPDGene (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Genetic Epidemiology) study, defined as ILA and at least one additional criterion: definite fibrosis on computed tomography, FVC less than 80% predicted, or DLCO less than 70% predicted. ⋯ George's Respiratory Questionnaire score (mean difference [MD], 3.9 points; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.6-7.1; P = 0.02), reduced 6-minute-walk test (MD, -35 m; 95% CI, -56 m to -13 m; P = 0.002), greater supplemental oxygen use (odds ratio [OR], 2.3; 95% CI, 1.1-5.1; P = 0.03) and severe respiratory exacerbations (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.1-7.5; P = 0.03), and higher mortality (hazard ratio, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.2-4.6; P = 0.01) compared with ILA without suspected ILD. Risk factors associated with suspected ILD included self-identified Black race (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.1-3.3; P = 0.01) and pack-years smoking history (OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1-1.3; P = 0.0005). Conclusions: Suspected ILD is present in half of those with ILA in COPDGene and is associated with exercise decrements and increased symptoms, supplemental oxygen use, severe respiratory exacerbations, and mortality.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Jan 2023
Extracellular Vesicle-Encapsulated microRNAs as Novel Biomarkers of Lung Health.
Rationale: Early detection of respiratory diseases is critical to facilitate delivery of disease-modifying interventions. Extracellular vesicle-enriched microRNAs (EV-miRNAs) may represent reliable markers of early lung injury. Objectives: Evaluate associations of plasma EV-miRNAs with lung function. ⋯ A subset of participants with distinct EV-miRNA expression patterns had increased risk of declining lung function over time, which was replicated in the independent NAS sample. Significant EV-miRNAs were shown in pathway analyses to target biological pathways that regulate respiratory cellular immunity, the lung inflammatory response, and airway structural integrity. Conclusions: Plasma EV-miRNAs may represent a robust biomarker of subclinical lung injury and may facilitate early identification and treatment of patients at risk of developing overt lung disease.
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Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. · Jan 2023
Care Quality for Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the Readmission Penalty Era.
Rationale: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fifth-leading cause of admissions and third-leading cause of readmissions among U. S. adults. Recent policies instituted financial penalties for excessive COPD readmissions. ⋯ Conclusions: The pre-HRRP trends toward improving care quality for inpatient COPD care slowed after HRRP implementation. This suggests that financial penalties for readmissions did not stimulate higher quality of care for patients hospitalized with COPD. It remains unclear what policies or approaches will be effective to ensure high care quality for patients hospitalized with COPD exacerbations.