mMRC Grade Research Articles

Coinfection of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Aspergillus in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease post cardiac arrest: a case report

IntroductionChronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a lung condition characterized by chronic respiratory symptoms (breathlessness, cough, and expectoration). In the advanced stages, patients often report to the Accident & Emergency department due to worsening of symptoms. Because of the repeated exposure to corticosteroids during the management of exacerbations, these patients are susceptible to super additional infections. Pulmonary aspergillosis can be divided into three main categories: invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. Aspergillus overlap syndrome is defined as the presence of more than one form of Aspergillus in a single patient. However, coinfection with Klebsiella and pulmonary aspergillosis overlap syndrome is rare and poses a treatment challenge. As per a pub med search, no such case report has been reported in a case of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Case reportWe report the case of a 66-year-old male, Punjabi Hindu by ethnicity, who was a reformed smoker with a known case of COPD. He presented with a history of breathlessness (mMRC grade 4) associated with cough with expectoration and wheezing for 15 days and intermittent episodes of hemoptysis for more than 6 months. The examination revealed tachypnea and wheezing throughout the lung fields. He was initially managed with parenteral steroids and frequent nebulization with bronchodilators. On day 5 of hospitalization, the patient experienced worsening of symptoms and cardiac arrest; he was intubated and return of spontaneous circulation was achieved within 5 minutes of cardio pulmonary resuscitation. Tracheal aspirate and culture revealed Aspergillus fumigatus and Klebsiella pneumoniae respectively. He underwent chest CT, which showed features suggestive of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. He was found to have elevated β-d-glucan, galactomannan, and aspergillus IgE and IgG. Severe pneumonia and pulmonary Aspergillus overlap syndrome were managed with antibiotics, steroids, and antifungals. Over the next 15–20 days, his general condition improved. He was discharged after 45 days of hospitalization and continued on oral corticosteroids, antifungals, and inhaled bronchodilators.ConclusionCoinfection with bacteria and fungi worsens the outcome. Clinicians should be aware of the polymicrobial manifestations and various drug interactions involved. Timely diagnosis aids in better management strategies and improved patient outcomes.

The health and economic burden of breathlessness, Australia, 2019: a national survey.

To examine the impact of breathlessness on quality of life, health care use, productivity loss, and economic costs in Australia. National internet-based survey of Australian adults drawn from a web-based survey panel (National Breathlessness Survey). Australian adults (18 years or older), nationally representative by age group, gender, state of residence, and postcode-based socio-economic status (Index ofRelative Socioeconomic Disadvantage quintile), 13-30 October2019. Quality of life assessed with the EQ-5D 5-level version (EQ-5D-5L) and visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS), health care use, productivity loss, and societal cost, each by severity of breathlessness (modified Medical Research Council [mMRC] dyspnoea scale; mMRC grade 1: mild breathlessness; mMRC grades 2-4: clinically important breathlessness). Of 10 072 adults who completed the survey, mild breathlessness was reported by 3044 respondents (30.2%), and clinically important breathlessness by 961 (9.5%). The mean EQ-VAS score was 74.8 points (95% confidence interval [CI], 74.3-75.3 points) and the mean EQ-5D-5L score 0.846 (95% CI, 0.841-0.850) for respondents with mMRC grade 0 breathlessness; for each measure, the mean value declined with increasing severity of breathlessness (trends: each P < 0.001). Respondents with clinically important breathlessness were more likely than those with mild breathlessness to report non-urgent general practitioner visits, urgent general practitioner visits, and specialist visits (exception: mMRC scores of 4) during the preceding year. Among the 2839 respondents of working age, the likelihood of being employed declined with increasing breathlessness severity (mMRC grades 4 v 1: adjusted odds ratio, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.22-0.53). Adjusted mean annual societal cost per person was $1413 (95% CI, $1326-1501) for respondents with mMRC grade 1 breathlessness, $2065 (95% CI, $1766-2365) at mMRC grade 2, $1795 (95% CI, $1371-2218) at mMRC grade 3, and $2075 (95% CI, $1389-2762) at mMRC grade 4. Breathlessness imposes major burdens on individuals, the health care system, and the economy.

Influential factors of adherence to inhalation drug therapy in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

This study aimed to investigate the influential factors of adherence to inhalation drug therapy (IDT) in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A total of 243 patients with stable COPD who visited the chronic disease clinic of the respiratory department of our hospital between April 2022 and October 2022 were selected as participants using the convenience sampling method. Relevant information about all participants was collected by questionnaire for investigation, including basic information, clinical characteristics, inhaled drug names, situational awareness, dose and frequency. Univariate analysis revealed positive correlations between the following factors: (1) the total score of drug adherence and the total scores of the COPD knowledge questionnaire (COPD-Q), social support, subjective support, objective support and support utilisation, (2) the total score of dosage adherence and the total scores of COPD-Q, objective support and support utilisation and (3) the total score of technical standardisation and the total scores of social support, subjective support and objective support (p < 0.05). Multifactorial analysis showed that COPD health literacy, number of acute exacerbations in the past year and social support factors collectively accounted for 37.4% of the variable of patient adherence to IDT, as did COPD health literacy, modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) grading, duration of COPD, utilisation of support and marital status collectively account for 47.4% of the variable of patient dosage adherence. The goodness-of-fit of age, mMRC grading, social support, mode of residence, number of acute exacerbations in the past year and literacy to the patients' inhalation technical standardisation in the model was 47.4%. Dose adherence was predominantly influenced by COPD health literacy, mMRC grading, duration of COPD, utilisation of support and marital status. Inhalation technical standardisation was substantially limited by age, mMRC grading, social support, mode of residence, number of acute exacerbations in the past year and literacy.

Vaping habits and respiratory symptoms using a smartphone app platform

BackgroundWidespread use of e-cigarette (EC) or vaping products causes respiratory disorders including the nationwide outbreak of e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) in 2019. Chronic adverse health effects are now being reported as well. To address this important public health issue, an innovative approach of epidemic control and epidemiologic study is required. We aimed to assess the association between short-term and long-term use of EC products and respiratory health in adults using smartphone app data.MethodsA population-based, repeated measures, longitudinal smartphone app study that performed 8-day survey participation over 60 days for each participant from August 2020 to March 2021, including 306 participants aged 21 years and older in the US. The participants were asked to complete the respiratory health questionnaire daily, weekly, and monthly on their smartphone app. We analyzed the association between vaping habits and respiratory health using generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs).ResultsEC use in the previous 7 days was associated with frequent cough (OR: 5.15, 95% CI: 2.18, 12.21), chronic cough (OR: 3.92, 95% CI: 1.62, 9.45), frequent phlegm (OR: 3.99, 95% CI: 1.44, 11.10), chronic phlegm (OR: 3.55, 95% CI: 1.41, 8.96), episodes of cough and phlegm (OR: 4.68, 95% CI: 1.94, 11.28), mMRC grade 3–4 dyspnea (OR: 3.32, 95% CI: 1.35 to 8.13), chest cold (OR: 3.07, 95% CI: 1.29, 7.33), eye irritation (OR: 2.94, 95% CI: 1.34, 6.47) and nose irritation (OR : 2.02, 95% CI: 0.95, 4.30). Relatively long-term effects of the past 90 days EC use was associated with an increased risk of wheeze (OR: 3.04, 95% CI: 1.31, 7.03), wheeze attack (OR: 2.78, 95% CI: 1.07, 7.24), mMRC grade 3–4 dyspnea (OR: 2.54, 9% CI: 1.05 to 6.18), eye irritation (OR: 3.16, 95% CI: 1.49, 6.68), and eye irritation during the past month (OR: 3.50, 95% CI: 1.52, 8.04).ConclusionsIn this smartphone app-based repeated measures study, short-term and relatively long-term use of EC increased the risk of respiratory symptoms.

Bhramari Pranayama and Thoracic Mobility Exercises for Moderate Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): A Case Study

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a global health issue and a significant cause of morbidity, disability, and mortality due to persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitations. COPD is diagnosed through pulmonary function testing, particularly spirometry, which measures the post bronchodilator FEV1/FVC ratio. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Bhramari pranayama combined with thoracic mobility exercises on increasing exercise/activity tolerance in patient with moderate COPD. This case study is about a 60-year-old male with COPD who presented with breathlessness, cough, and mMRC grade 2 dyspnoea. His FEV1 was 58%, FVC was 75%, and FEV1/FVC (post bronchodilator) was 63%. The patient was given Bhramari pranayama and thoracic mobility exercise for a period of 4 days. After 4 days, there was improvement in dyspnoea severity, exercise capacity, thoracic expansion, FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, and CAT questionnaire score. Hence, we concluded that Bhramari Pranayama and thoracic mobility exercises are effective in increasing exercise/activity tolerance in patient with moderate COPD.

Construction and validation of nomogram prediction model for risk of acute heart failure in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

To investigate the influencing factors of in-hospital acute heart failure (AHF) in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD), and to construct and validate a risk prediction nomogram model. Three Hundred Thirty patients with AECOPD admitted to our hospital from June 2020 to June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed as a training set for the construction of the model. Three Hundred Twenty-five AECOPD patients admitted to the Second People's Hospital of Hefei from 2006 to June 2023 were also collected as the validation set for the validation of the model. A nomogram model was constructed to predict the risk of nosocomial AHF in patients with AECOPD, and C-index and receiver operating characteristic curve were drawn to assess the predictive predictive efficacy of the model. Model fit was evaluated by Hosmer-Lemeshow test, calibration curve was drawn to evaluate the calibration of the model; decision curve was drawn to analyze the net benefit rate of this nomogram model. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that body mass index, mmRC grade, neutrophils, lymphocytes, hemoglobin, creatinine, PO2, PCO2, and Homocysteine were independent risk factors for in-hospital AHF in patients with AECOPD. To construct a nomogram model for risk prediction of in-hospital AHF in patients with AECOPD. The C-index of the training set was 0.949 (95% CI: 0.91-0.961); the C-index of the validation set was 0.936 (95% CI: 0.911-0.961) suggesting good model discrimination. The receiver operating characteristic curve calculated area under curve for the training set was 0.949 (95% CI: 0.928-0.97); area under curve for the validation set was 0.936 (95% CI: 0.91-0.961) suggesting good model accuracy. The results of Hosmer-Lemeshoe goodness-of-fit test and calibration curve analysis showed that the calibration curve of this nomogram model was close to the ideal curve. The clinical decision curve also showed good clinical net benefit of the nomogram model. Body mass index, mmRC grade, neutrophils, lymphocytes, hemoglobin, creatinine, PO2, PCO2, and Homocysteine are risk factors for in-hospital AHF in AECOPD patients, and nomogram models constructed based on the above factors have some predictive value for in-hospital AHF in AECOPD patients. It is also vital for nursing staff to strengthen nursing care.

Prevalence, Risk Factors of Deep Venous Thrombosis in Patients with Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: It is important to increase awareness and identify the predictors of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients presenting with worsening dyspnoea, as they are at a high-risk for Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) due to immobility, inflammation, and comorbidities. Aim: To determine the prevalence of DVT in hospitalised patients with acute exacerbation of COPD, as well as to identify associated risk factors for DVT in this group. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2021 to June 2022 in the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. The sample population consisted of hospitalised patients with acute exacerbation of COPD who were aged over 40 years. All patients underwent routine blood investigations, Electrocardiograph (ECG), echocardiogram, arterial blood gas analysis, D-dimer test, chest radiograph, and lower-limb venous Doppler. Risk assessment was performed using the Modified Well’s criteria for DVT, and pretest probability was determined for all patients. The Chi-square test was used as a test of significance, with a p-value &lt;0.05 considered statistically significant in all analyses. Results: The mean age of the study population was found to be 60.80±10.21 years. Among the 74 patients included in the study, it was found that 3 (4.05%) patients had DVT. There was no statistically significant difference between the DVT and non DVT groups regarding age, sex, obesity, modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) grade of breathlessness, smoking status, severity of airflow obstruction in spirometry, COPD class, type of respiratory failure, and presence of comorbidities. However, there was a statistically significant difference between the DVT and non DVT groups in terms of elevated D-dimer (&gt;500 ng/mL), history of immobilisation for more than three days, and Modified Wells’ score (&gt;2). Conclusion: Patients with acute exacerbation of COPD, associated with a significant history of immobilisation and high D-dimer values, along with a high-risk pretest probability using clinical predictors such as the Modified Wells’ score for DVT, should be considered for evaluation of VTE and early initiation of prophylactic anticoagulation therapy to prevent Pulmonary Thromboembolism.

Burden of Uncontrolled Severe Asthma With and Without Elevated Type-2 Inflammatory Biomarkers

Many patients with asthma have type-2 airway inflammation, identified by the presence of biomarkers, including history of allergy, high blood eosinophil (EOS) count, and high fractional exhaled nitric oxide levels. To assess disease burden in relation to type-2 inflammatory biomarker status (history of allergy, blood EOS count, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide level) in patients with uncontrolled and controlled severe asthma in the NOVEL observational longiTudinal studY (NOVELTY) (NCT02760329). Asthma diagnosis and severity were physician-reported. Control was defined using Asthma Control Test score (uncontrolled <20, controlled ≥20) and/or 1 or more severe physician-reported exacerbation in the previous year. Biomarker distribution (history of allergy, blood EOS count, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide level), symptom burden (Asthma Control Test score, modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale), health status (St George's Respiratory Questionnaire score), exacerbations, and health care resource utilization were assessed. Of 647 patients with severe asthma, 446 had uncontrolled and 123 had controlled asthma. Among those with uncontrolled asthma, 196 (44%) had 2 or more positive biomarkers, 187 (42%) had 1 positive biomarker, 325 (73%) had low blood EOS, and 63 (14%) were triple-negative. Disease burden was similarly high across uncontrolled subgroups, irrespective of biomarker status, with poor symptom control (Asthma Control Test score 14.9-16.6), impaired health status (St George's Respiratory Questionnaire total score 46.7-49.4), clinically important breathlessness (modified Medical Research Council grade ≥2 in 47.3%-57.1%), and 1 or more severe exacerbation (70.6%-76.2%). Type-2 inflammatory biomarkers did not differentiate disease burden in patients with severe asthma. Patients with low type-2 inflammatory biomarker levels have few biologic therapy options; their needs should be addressed.

30-Day Readmission Rate of Patients with COPD and Its Associated Factors: A Retrospective Cohort Study from a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Readmission of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been used as a measure of performance for COPD care. This study aimed to determine the rate of readmission of COPD in tertiary care hospital in Malaysia and its associated factors. A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Malaysia from 1st January to 21st May 2019. Seventy admissions for COPD exacerbation involving 58 patients were analyzed. The majority of the patients were male (89.8%), had a mean age of 71.95 ± 7.24 years and a median smoking history of 40 (IQR = 25) pack-years, 84.5% were in GOLD group D and 91.4% had a mMRC grading of 2 or greater. Approximately 60.3% had upper or lower respiratory tract infection as the cause of exacerbation; one in five patients had uncompensated hypercapnic respiratory failure at presentation, and 27.6% needed mechanical ventilatory support. Approximately 43.1% of patients had a history of exacerbation that required hospitalisation in the past year. The mean blood eosinophil concentration was 0.38 ± 0.46 x109 cells/L. The 30-day readmission rate was 20.3%, revisit rate to the emergency room within 30 days after discharge was 3.4%, and in-hospital mortality rate was 1.7%. Among all characteristics, a higher baseline mMRC grade (p = 0.038) and history of exacerbation in the past 1 year (p < 0.001) were statistically associated with 30-day readmission. The 30-day readmission rate for COPD exacerbation in a Malaysian tertiary hospital is similar to the rates in high-income countries. Exacerbation in the previous year and a higher baseline mMRC grading were significant risk factors for 30-day readmission in patients with COPD. Strategies of COPD management should concentrate on improvement of symptoms control by optimisation of pharmacotherapy, and early initiation of pulmonary rehabilitation, and structured integrated care programs to reduce readmission rates.

Clinical effect of aerobic exercise training in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A retrospective study.

Aerobic exercise training is a kind of pulmonary rehabilitation for lung diseases. This was a retrospective study to assess the efficacy of aerobic exercise training in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at a stable stage. A total of one hundred and fifty-six stable COPD patients who had accepted self-education only or self-education combined with an aerobic exercise training between January 2017 to January 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. A total of 79 patients who had received self-education combined with an aerobic exercise training schedule comprised the aerobic exercise training group (AET group) and 77 patients who had received self-education only were regarded as the education group (EDU group). The acute incidence rate in AET group was 7.6% better than that in EDU group 20.7% (P < .05). The AET group patients expressed higher levels of 6 minutes walking distance (6MWD) (P < .05) and better evaluations of both lung function (P < .05) and T lymphocyte immune response (P < .05), as well as significantly decreased chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment test (CAT) scores and modified British medical research council (mMRC) grades (P < .05). Patients in EDU group did not report any changes in any of these characteristics. The aerobic exercise training intervention contributed to an increasing in 6MWD and decrease in CAT scores and mMRC grades, as well as improving the T lymphocyte immune response in stable COPD patients.

Sociodemographic correlates with prevalence of comorbidities in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a study from a Chinese National Survey

An increase in the prevalence of comorbidities has been reported in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, contemporary estimates of the overall prevalence of the sociodemographic correlates of COPD comorbidities are scarce and inconsistent in China. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of sociodemographic correlates of comorbidities in patients with COPD across China. This was a cross-sectional study. We used data from the Enjoying Breathing Program between May 2020 and April 2022. Participants with COPD from 17 provinces (or equivalent) were included. Comorbidity clusters were stratified based on the number of comorbidities per person. Univariable and multivariable analyses were used to determine the sociodemographic associations of patients with COPD with specific clusters of comorbidities after adjusting for age, sex, and other prespecified covariates. Tetrachoric correlation analyses were performed to determine the associations between specific comorbidities. A total of 3913 participants with COPD were included, of whom 1744 (44.7%) had at least one comorbidity; 25.4% had one comorbid disease, 12.9% had two, and 6.4% had three or more concurrent diseases. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (17.8%), asthma (9.9%), bronchiectasis (8.2%), diabetes (8.2%), and coronary artery disease (7.7%). In the logistic regression models adjusted for a broad set of factors, patients with COPD residing in the east region of China and having health insurance experienced a decreased likelihood of comorbidities (from OR=0.70 [95% confidence interval [CI], 0.53-0.93] to OR=0.50 [95% CI, 0.25-0.99]). However, patients over 80 years had increased risk (OR 1.43 [95% CI 1.01-2.03]), as did those in all Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) grade categories (grade 1: OR=1.30 [95% CI, 1.02-1.65]; grade 2: OR=1.39 [95% CI, 1.07-1.8]; grade 3: OR=1.67 [95% CI, 1.23-2.26]; and grade 4: OR=1.81 [95% CI, 1.00-3.28]) and in Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 2 classification (OR=1.30 [95% CI, 1.03-1.65]) relative to their respective references. The associations observed in these subgroups were consistent regardless of the number of comorbidities per person. Tetrachoric correlations demonstrated negative associations in pairwise comparisons of the top five comorbidities, ranging from-0.03 to-0.31 (p<0.001 in all groups). In China, comorbidities are highly prevalent among patients with COPD, with older age, higher mMRC grade, and lung function decline being the major risk factors. Studies with larger sample sizes are required to elucidate the complex mechanisms underlying COPD comorbidities. This study was funded by CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences (CIFMS) (2021-I2M-1-049 and 2022-I2M-C&T-B-107).

Relationship between Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Severity and Surface Electromyography Parameters during Fatigue Caused by Knee Extensor Contractions

Objective: Skeletal muscle dysfunction, which is characterized by decreased muscle strength and endurance, contributes to dyspnea during exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), regardless of pulmonary function. This study analyzed skeletal muscle function in patients with COPD through surface electromyography (sEMG) evaluations and signal processing and attempted to determine whether sEMG parameters for muscle fatigue reflect the course of the disease. Methods: In 24 patients with COPD, maximal voluntary isometric contraction and ramp contraction were performed during isometric knee extension, and the sEMG activity of the rectus femoris muscle was measured. The patients were divided into three groups according to their modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) grade and Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage. Patients with mMRC grades 0 and 1 were classified into group A, grade 2 into group B, and grades 3 and 4 into group C. Patients with GOLD stage 1 were classified into group I, stage 2 into group II, and stages 3 and 4 into group III. sEMG parameters were compared between groups using one-way analysis of variance. Results: There were significant differences in the minimum median frequency and fatigue index between the mMRC groups. However, the sEMG parameters did not differ significantly among the GOLD groups. Conclusion: Muscle fatigue differs according to the severity of subjective dyspnea in COPD. sEMG evaluations and signal processing can play supplementary roles in evaluating muscle endurance and predicting functional capacity in COPD.

428 Progressive shortness of breath in a post CABG patient: Thinking beyond the obvious

Abstract Background Post-coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) chylothorax is rare accounting for 0.06-0.09% of the cases. Case presentation A 62 year old male patient presented with progressive shortness of breath (mMRC grade 1 to 3) for 6 months. He underwent CABG surgery 7 months prior due to ischemic heart disease. Clinical examination supplemented with radiological imaging revealed evidence of progressive bilateral pleural effusion. Pleural fluid aspiration showed bloody appearance of fluid on right side. Lipid analysis of the aspirate confirmed presence of chylomicrons along with a raised triglyceride level(138mg/dL). Clinical outcome A diagnosis of right-sided post CABG chylothorax with left sided transudative fluid was made. Patient was managed with ICD insertion on the right side and started on total parenteral nutrition (TPN). This was followed by permissible carbohydrate intake and TPN for 11 days. Gradual decrease in collection was noticed in the follow-up x-ray with no recurrence of symptoms. Discussion Most likely that the anterior mediastinal lymphatic chain got injured during the harvesting of internal mammary artery causing leakage of chyle into the thoracic cavity leading to dyspnoea and chest discomfort. Conclusion Lipid measurements may be indicated in all patients with undiagnosed pleural effusion in order to rule out chylothorax. Chylothorax can meet criteria of transudate if associated with congestive cardiac failure, cirrhosis, or nephrotic syndrome. However, the colour of pleural fluid is not always indicative of a chylothorax. While most of the patients can be managed conservatively, surgery is recommended if drainage lasts for more than 1-3 weeks, and daily drainage is 200-500mL.

Functional capacity and dyspnea during follow-up after acute pulmonary embolism

BackgroundDissecting the determinants of functional capacity during long-term follow-up after acute pulmonary embolism (PE) can help to better characterize a patient population with persisting limitation. MethodsIn a prospective cohort study, consecutive unselected survivors of acute PE underwent 3- and 12-month follow-up, including six-minute walking distance (6MWD) and dyspnea assessment with the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale. We used reference equations adjusting for age, sex, and anthropometric measurements to define abnormal 6MWD. ResultsOverall, 323 of 363 (89.0%) patients had at least one recorded 6MWD value at one year. At 3 months, the prevalence of abnormal 6MWD was 21.9% and at 12 months it was 18.3%. At 3 and 12 months, 58.8% and 52.1% with abnormal 6MWD did not report dyspnea, respectively. On average and during follow-up, 6MWD significantly improved with time, while the mMRC dyspnea scale did not. Abnormal 6MWD was associated with younger age (odds ratio per decade, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.88-0.94), higher body mass index (1.10; 1.03-1.17), smoking (3.53; 1.34-9.31), intermediate- or high-risk PE (3.21; 1.21-8.56), and higher mMRC grading (2.28; 1.59-3.27). Abnormal 6MWD at 3 months was associated with the prospectively defined endpoint of post-PE impairment (3.72; 1.50-9.28) and with poor disease-specific and generic health-related quality of life. ConclusionThree months after PE, 37% of patients reported dyspnea and 22% had abnormal 6MWD. After a year, 20% still had abnormal 6MWD. Dyspnea correlated with abnormal 6MWD, but over 50% of patients with abnormal 6MWD did not report dyspnea. Abnormal 6MWD predicted subsequent post-pulmonary embolism impairment and worse long-term quality of life. Clinical Trial RegistrationGerman Clinical Trials Register Identifier DRKS00005939.

The Effectiveness of Home-Based Inspiratory Muscle Training on Small Airway Function and Disease-Associated Symptoms in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by persistent airflow limitations, occurring mainly in the small airways. Weakness in the respiratory muscles contributes to dyspnea and a decreased exercise capacity in COPD patients. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of home-based inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on small airway function and symptoms in COPD patients. This research adopted a non-randomized controlled-study quasi-experimental design. The IMT program consisted of two 15 min sessions·d-1, 5 d·wk-1, with 40% of the maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax) on each participant's assessment results and lasted for 12 weeks. Small airway function was assessed using plethysmography at baseline and after 12 weeks. The modified British Medical Research Council (mMRC), COPD assessment test (CAT), PImax, and 6 min walking distance (6MWD) were recorded at baseline as well as four, eight, and twelve weeks. Twenty-three participants with at least moderate COPD were enrolled in IMT (n = 16) or in the control group (n = 7) in this study. The study participants were mostly male (82.6%), and the average age was 68.29 ± 10.87 years, with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 23.54 ± 4.79. After 12 weeks, the ratios of the first second of forced expiration to the forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC%) (B coefficient [95% Wald confidence interval] of 5.21 [0.46 to 9.96], p = 0.032), forced expiratory flow (FEF25-75%) (0.20 [0.04 to 0.35] L/s, p = 0.012), and FEF50% (0.26 [0.08 to 0.43] L/s, p = 0.004) in the IMT group were significantly better than in the control group. The IMT group showed significantly lower CAT scores at week 8 (-5.50 [-10.31 to -0.695] scores, p = 0.025) than the control group. The mMRC grade, CAT score, PImax, and 6MWD were significantly improved compared to their values at baseline in the IMT group. Home-based IMT effectively improved post-bronchodilator small airway function and disease-associated symptoms in COPD patients.

Characteristics of Inhaler Technique in COPD Patients in a Specialized Center in Armenia, Colombia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The aim of this research was to evaluate the technique of using inhaled drugs in patients with a confirmed history of COPD and describe errors in inhaler technique. Descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in patients with a history of COPD using inhalation therapy, attending pulmonology consultation between August 2020 and April 2021 in Armenia, Colombia. A non-probabilistic sample of 80 adult participants was calculated, and the inhalation technique was evaluated (depending on the device used) using a scale validated for Colombia. Descriptive analysis of the qualitative variables was performed using frequencies and percentages. The Chi-Square test and Fisher's exact test (in corresponding cases) were used to look for association relationships between categorical variables. A total of 80 participants were evaluated, of which 66.3% (n = 53) were male, and 32.5% were older than 80 years. Clinically, 30.0% (n = 24) were classified as Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (mMRC) grade 3, and 51.2% (n = 41) had at least one exacerbation per year. The main comorbidity was hypertension (40.3%). Pressurized metered-dose inhalers with spacer were the most used device at 22.7% (n = 39). Incorrect technique (at least one error in the steps of the inhalation technique used) was found in 48.7%. The most frequent error among all the techniques was the failure to perform pre-inspiratory exhalation. No significant differences were observed between the development of the technique and the characteristics of the participants. Nearly half of the patients who use inhalation devices make errors in the technique. Patient education and training of healthcare personnel represent a fundamental pillar in mitigating the incorrect use of these devices.

Baseline dependent minimally important differences for clinical outcomes of pulmonary rehabilitation in people with COPD

IntroductionMinimally important differences (MIDs) for common outcomes of pulmonary rehabilitation are well documented for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is not known whether MIDs differ based on COPD disease characteristics. This study aimed to estimate MIDs for clinical outcomes of pulmonary rehabilitation dependent upon baseline characteristics. MethodsA database containing 2791 people with COPD was split into derivation (n=2245; age 66±9 years; 50% males; FEV1 47±20% predicted) and comparator (n=546; age 66±9 years; 47% males; FEV1 46±21% predicted) cohorts. MIDs were estimated using 0.5 x SD (symmetrically distributed) or 0.5 x IQR (non-symmetrically distributed) for: 6-minute walk test (6MWT), constant work rate test (CWRT), COPD assessment test (CAT), St. George's respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ), hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), and fat-free mass index (FFMI). MIDs were estimated based on baseline outcome scores, lung function, modified medical research council (mMRC) grade and FFMI. ResultsMID estimates were comparable to previously reported values. MIDs for SGRQ domains (Symptom=8.7 points, Activity=7.1 points, Impact=8.1 points) and FFMI were produced (0.36kg/m2). There was greater variation of change in 6MWT, SGRQ-activity, SGRQ-impact, HADS and FFMI on which the MIDs were determined when categorising for baseline values (all, p<0.05). Greater variation of change in 6MWT on which the MIDs were determined was evident with COPD disease severity grouping (p<0.05). The magnitude of change in 6MWT, CAT, CWRT, SGRQ-activity, and FFMI with baseline mMRC score categorisation resulted in greater variation on which the MIDs were determined (all, p<0.05). Baseline stratification for FFMI resulted in greater variation of change in CWRT (p<0.001) and HADS-depression (p = 0.043) on which MIDs were determined. DiscussionFindings suggest that baseline presentation should be considered for people with COPD when assessing the efficacy of pulmonary rehabilitation. However, clinical significance of the variation underpinning MIDs is yet to be determined.

Value of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in the assessment of symptoms and quality of life in Asian patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The natural course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by symptom exacerbation and quality-of-life reduction. Therefore, symptoms should be properly assessed. Some studies have demonstrated a weak correlation between cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) parameters and symptoms in patients with COPD; however, data on Asian patients are lacking. We investigated the value of CPET parameters in assessing symptoms and quality of life in Asian patients with COPD. Of 681 patients who underwent CPET at Asan Medical Center between January 2020 and June 2022, we analyzed 195 patients with COPD in this retrospective study. A cycle ergometer was used for the incremental protocol. The modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale and COPD Assessment Test (CAT) were administered to assess the patients' symptoms. The mMRC grade was related to maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max, L/min) (Spearman's correlation coefficient ρ=-0.295, P<0.001) and physiological dead space/tidal volume ratio at peak exercise (VD/VT peak) (ρ=0.256, P<0.001). The CAT score was significantly correlated with VO2 max (L/min) (Spearman's correlation coefficient ρ=-0.297, P<0.001) and VD/VT peak (ρ=0.271, P<0.001), but had no correlation with breathing reserve (ρ=-0.122, P=0.089). The optimal cut-off values of VO2 max and VD/VT peak for predicting the onset of clinically significant dyspnea were 1.099 L/min and 0.295, respectively. VO2 max and VD/VT peak comprehensively reflect the symptoms and health-related quality of life of patients with COPD.

CO130 Dyspnea and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Persistent Symptoms after at Least Six Months of Hospital Discharge Due to COVID-19

To evaluate dyspnea in patients with persistent symptoms after at least six months of hospital discharge due to COVID-19 and its correlation with the quality of life, fatigue, and functional status This cross-sectional study included 101 patients with persistent symptoms after at least six months of hospital discharge for COVID-19. A physician evaluated dyspnea using the Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale questionnaire, the quality of life with the EQ-5D-5L, fatigue with an analog scale (0=no fatigue to 10=worst possible fatigue), and functional status with the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status scale (grade 0=no limitation to grade 4=severe limitation). We used Fisher’s exact test for categorical data and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test for continuous data to assess differences across groups. Spearman’s test was used for correlations. The significance level was 5%. Of the participants, 56.4 % (n=57) were women with a mean age of 57.7 (SD±16.3) years. The most reported symptoms were muscle weakness (61.4%, n=62), dyspnea (51.5%, n=52), muscle pain (49.5%, n=50), and fatigue 41 (40.6%, n=41). Seventy-two (71.3%) participants reported an increase in the mMRC dyspnea scale score, with no differences according to ICU requirements. Forty of the 81 (49.4%) participants with an mMRC grade 0 before COVID-19 reported a grade 3-4 during the medical visit. The EQ5D-5L index was 10% lower after COVID-19 (median difference: -0.01 points, interquartile range: -0.14 to -0.05), and those who required ICU admission had a more significant change in the index than those who did not (-0.12 vs -0.07, p=0.008). The mMRC grade reported during the medical visit was negatively correlated with the EQ5D-5L index (rho=-0.5836716, p<0.0001) and positively correlated with fatigue (rho=0.38,p =0.001) and functional status (rho=0.41,p <0.001). Dyspnea is prevalent among patients discharge for COVID-19 with persistent symptoms and may affect their quality of life and functional status.

Factors Responsible for Depression in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Introduction: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a neglected but important health problem, accounts for significant morbidities and mortalities worldwide. By year 2030, it is expected to be the third leading causing of mortality. COPD patients with associated depression can affect disease progression, high healthcare resource utilization, more frequent exacerbations and increased mortality. Objectives: To determine the frequency of factors leading to depression in patients with COPD presenting to tertiary care hospital at Peshawar. Material &amp; Methods: It was descriptive Cross-Sectional Study conducted at Pulmonology unit,Khyber teaching hospital Peshawar from 12th November 2019 to 12th May 2020.Patients with COPD fulfilling the inclusion criteria were assessed for depression. A total of 43 patients were selected according to Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS 21) for Depression. Factors leading to depression like Gold stage of COPD, smoking, socio economic status, mMRC grades of dyspnea and C reactive proteins level were assessed. Frequency was calculated for each of these factors causing depression. These factors were further stratified on basis of age, gender, duration of COPD and no of hospitalization. SPSS version 22 was used for analyzing of the collected data. P value less than 0.05 was marked as statistically significant.