Annals of the American Thoracic Society
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Epidemiology, Mechanical Power, and 3-Year Outcomes in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Patients Using Standardized Screening. An Observational Cohort Study.
Rationale: Limited data on the epidemiology of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) using a standardized screening program exist. Objectives: To describe the population-based incidence of hypoxemic respiratory failure and ARDS using a prospective standardized screening protocol; and to describe the mechanical ventilation practice and the mechanical power and examine their association with 28-day and 3-year survival outcomes. Methods: A prospective standardized screening program for ARDS, as a quality improvement initiative, was initiated at four adult intensive care units over a 27-month period. ⋯ Increasing ARDS severity was associated with increased 28-day hospital and 3-year mortality. Increased mechanical power was associated with increased mortality. Potentially modifiable determinants of mechanical power associated with lower survival included plateau pressure and driving pressure.
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Rationale: Older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at substantially increased risk for medication-related adverse events. Two frequently prescribed classes of drugs that pose a particular risk to this patient group are opioids and benzodiazepines. Research on this topic has yielded conflicting findings. ⋯ Conclusions: Among older adults with COPD, use of opioid and benzodiazepine medications alone or in combination were associated with increased adverse respiratory events. The adverse effects of these medications were not exacerbated in patients with COPD-OSA overlap syndrome. However, the adverse impact of dual opioid and benzodiazepine was greater in patients with high-complexity COPD.
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Comparative Study
Noninvasive Ventilation versus CPAP as Initial Treatment of Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome.
Rationale: Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is an undesirable consequence of obesity. Treatment consists of weight loss and positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. However, the preferred mode of PAP is uncertain. ⋯ The effectiveness of CPAP is similar to that of NIV, but NIV is more costly and requires more resources than CPAP. Given that approximately 70% of patients with OHS have coexistent severe OSA, this recommendation applies to the great majority of patients with stable OHS, but it should not be extrapolated to patients with OHS without severe OSA. Patients of advanced age, with poor lung function, or with greater or recent acute ventilatory failure may not respond adequately to CPAP.
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Rationale: Lung cancer screening with low-dose chest computed tomography decreases mortality for high-risk current or former smokers. Lifetime smoking intensity (cigarette pack-years), an essential eligibility criterion, is poorly recorded in electronic health records, which may contribute to the overall low appropriate use of screening. Objectives: We sought to assess whether elements commonly extractable from electronic health records may be useful as prescreening tools to identify individuals for formal assessment of eligibility. ⋯ Conclusions: These simplified criteria may be useful for identifying individuals who are eligible for lung cancer screening. Applying these criteria as a prescreening tool may improve appropriate referral and implementation of screening. Keywords: lung cancer; early detection of lung cancer; cancer prevention; tobacco abuse.