Pulmonology最新文献

Background: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are susceptible to altitude-related adverse health effects (ARAHE).

Research question: Does structured self-monitoring (SSM) predict imminent ARAHE in COPD patients during altitude travel.

Methods: Patients with moderate to severe COPD without chronic respiratory failure, living below 800 m, ascended by bus within 5 h to a clinic at 3100 m and stayed there for 2 days. During the altitude sojourn, patients regularly monitored themselves for symptoms of acute mountain sickness (AMS) and/or drops of pulse oximetry (SpO₂) to ≤84%, events designated as positive SSM. Measures of diagnostic accuracy of SSM in predicting subsequent ARAHE (defined as AMS Lake Louise score >4 and/or SpO₂ <80% for >30 min or <75% for >15 min and/or any condition requiring medical intervention) were computed. www.ClinicalTrials.org NCT03957759.

Results: Among 153 COPD patients (79 women, mean ± SD age 57 ± 10y) travelling to 3100 m, SSM was positive in 55 (36%), ARAHE occurred in 116 (76%). Concordance statistics indicated a diagnostic accuracy of SSM in predicting ARAHE of 0.65 (95%CI 0.58 to 0.72). In SSM positive patients, the odds ratio for ARAHE was 4.9 (95%CI 1.8 to 12.9). Positive and negative predictive values of SSM for ARAHE were 91% (95%CI 80 to 97) and 33% (95%CI 24 to 43). In exploratory analyses, supplementing SSM by nocturnal pulse oximetry with alarm capability enhanced diagnostic accuracy considerably (sensitivity improved from 43% to 73% concordance statistic increased to 0.80).

Conclusions: Lowlanders with COPD ascending to 3100 m commonly experience ARAHE. Due to its high positive predictive value, performing SSM may allow patients to predict imminent ARAHE and take timely appropriate actions such as descend or use oxygen. Negative SSM does not reliably indicate a low risk of ARAHE.

Background: High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is superior to conventional oxygen therapy (COT) in preventing hypoxaemia during bronchoscopy. However, factors associated with HFNC effectiveness remain unclear. We performed an individual participant data meta-analysis (IPD-MA) to identify treatment modifiers for HFNC during bronchoscopy.

Methods: We systematically reviewed randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing HFNC and COT during bronchoscopy in adults (January 2000-September 2025) and requested IPD from corresponding investigators. The primary outcome was desaturation during bronchoscopy. Conventional meta-analysis was performed using random-effect model; one-stage regression model was used for IPD-MA. Results were reported as odds ratios (ORs) or mean difference and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results: Seventeen RCTs (3,116 patients: 1680 HFNC, 1436 COT) were included. Compared to COT, HFNC significantly reduced desaturation (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.15-0.34), procedure interruption (OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.20-0.67), respiratory support escalation (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.11-0.55), and airway intervention (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.10-0.36) during bronchoscopy. IPD was obtained from six RCTs (1,344 patients). Significant interactions were observed between treatment effect and body mass index, baseline respiratory and heart rates, with greater relative benefit at lower values. HFNC flows ≥45 L/min were associated with reduced desaturation risk (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.12-0.65).

Conclusions: HFNC is superior to COT in reducing desaturation and procedure-related interruptions during bronchoscopy. Exploratory analyses suggest greater relative benefits in patients with lower body mass index and lower baseline respiratory and heart rates. HFNC flows ≥45 L/min furtherreduce desaturation risk. Further studies are needed in higher-risk patients.

Trial registration: International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews; No.:CRD420251008924; URL: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/.

Background: Clinical guidelines recommend endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) as the initial diagnostic tool for lung cancer staging. However, despite the availability of mediastinal forceps biopsy and cryobiopsy, the optimal diagnostic approaches for other mediastinal conditions remain unclear.

Methods: We searched multiple databases and sources up to February 21, 2025, and employed single-arm, pairwise, and network meta-analytical approaches to comprehensively evaluate EBUS-based biopsies for mediastinal diseases in terms of efficacy and safety.

Results: Fifteen prospective studies including 1,316 participants evaluated five EBUS-based mediastinal biopsy strategies (EBUS-TBNA, forceps biopsy, cryobiopsy, and the combinations of EBUS-TBNA with forceps biopsy or cryobiopsy) were involved. Concomitant EBUS-TBNA enhanced the efficacy of both forceps biopsy and cryobiopsy. EBUS-TBNA plus cryobiopsy yielded the best diagnostic outcome, showing significant benefits over EBUS-TBNA (OR 4.01, 95% CrI 3.05-5.33), forceps biopsy (OR 2.75, 95% CrI 1.94-3.92), cryobiopsy (OR 1.80, 95% CrI 1.33-2.45), and EBUS-TBNA plus forceps biopsy (OR 1.81, 95% CrI 1.20-2.72). A similarly favourable safety profile was observed in all EBUS-based biopsy methods.

Conclusions: EBUS-TBNA is the diagnostic cornerstone for mediastinal lesions, with EBUS-TBNA plus cryobiopsy being most effective. All EBUS-guided biopsies demonstrated a favourable safety profile.

Objectives: This study aimed to demonstrate the prevalence of treatable traits (TTs) and investigate the relationship between specific TTs and future exacerbation-related readmission risk among patients with very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) across both STaging of Airflow obstruction by Ratio (STAR) and Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) grading system.

Methods: A total of 589 hospitalised patients were included. Participants underwent a multidimensional assessment to characterise the TTs and were then followed up for one year. Cox regression analyses were used to determine the association between the TTs and future exacerbation-related readmission risk.

Results: Hospitalised patients with very severe COPD exhibit a higher prevalence of TTs. In the STAR classification, TTs of bronchodilator reversibility, emphysema, frequent exacerbations, frequent hospital admission, O₂ desaturation, dyspnoea, exercise intolerance, pathogen colonisation, underweight, diabetes and not adherence were significantly related with 'STAR 4'. In the GOLD classification, TTs including bronchodilator reversibility, frequent exacerbations, frequent hospital admission, O2 desaturation, dyspnoea, exercise intolerance, pathogen colonisation, underweight, heart failure, dyslipidemia, not adherence and indoor use of biomass/coal were significantly linked with 'GOLD 4'. Furthermore, Cox regression analysis showed that patients with STAR 4 exhibited seven TTs associated with future exacerbation-related readmission risk, whereas two TTs were predictors in patients with GOLD 4.

Conclusion: Patients with very severe COPD exhibited more TTs that require intervention. Additionally, specific TTs were associated with future exacerbation-related readmissions in patients with very severe COPD across STAR and GOLD classification, indicating their clinical utility of evaluating them.

Background: Low-level pressure support ventilation (PSV) is the usual first spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) method. High-flow oxygen therapy (HFOT) via a dedicated connector through an endotracheal tube might be a credible alternative during SBT. This study aimed to compare the rate of SBT success between HFOT and low-level PSV.

Methods: We conducted a two-centre, open-label, non-inferiority randomised controlled trial. Adults mechanically ventilated patients for at least 24 hours and ready to wean were randomised to 30-minute SBTs with HFOT or low-level PSV. The primary outcome was SBT success rate (non-inferior margin of 10%). Extubation rate within 48 hours following successful SBT, reintubation rate within 48 hours after extubation, and hospital mortality were the exploratory outcomes.

Results: Among 162 enrolled patients, 81 received HFOT and 81 received low-level PSV. SBT succeeded in 77/81 patients (95.1%) in each arm (absolute difference 0.0%; 95% confidence interval [CI] -7.2 to 7.2; p = 1.000). No significant differences between HFOT and low-level PSV in extubation rates following successful SBT (88.3% vs 80.5%, respectively; p = 0.183) or reintubation rates within 48 hours after extubation (8.8% vs 17.7%, respectively; p = 0.140). Hospital mortality was lower with HFOT than with low-level PSV (11.1% vs 24.7%, respectively; difference -13.6%; 95% CI -25.2 to -2.0; p = 0.024).

Conclusion: Among mechanically ventilated patients meeting weaning criteria, HFOT demonstrated non-inferiority to low-level PSV for SBT success rates. Extubation and 48-hour reintubation rates were similar.

Clinical trial registration: Thai Clinical Trials Registry; registration number: TCTR20190703002; URL: www.thaiclinicaltrials.org.

Introduction and objectives: The human congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) is caused by mutations in the PHOX2B (paired-like homeobox 2B) gene. Genetically engineered PHOX2B rodents exhibit defective development of the brainstem retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN), a carbon dioxide sensitive structure that critically controls expiratory muscle recruitment. This has been linked to a blunted exercise ventilatory response. Whether this can be extrapolated to human CCHS is unknown and represents the objective of this study.

Materials and methods: Thirteen adult CCHS patients and 13 healthy participants performed an incremental symptom-limited cycle cardiopulmonary exercise test. Responses were analyzed using guideline approaches (ventilation V'_E, tidal volume V_T, breathing frequency, oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production) complemented by a breathing pattern analysis (i.e. expiratory and inspiratory reserve volume, ERV and IRV).

Results: A ventilatory response occurred in both study groups, as follows: V'_E and V_T increased in CCHS patients until 40 W and then decreased, which was not observed in the healthy participants (p<0.001). In the latter, exercise-related ERV and IRV decreases attested to concomitant expiratory and inspiratory recruitment. In the CCHS patients, inspiratory recruitment occurred but there was no evidence of expiratory recruitment (absence of any ERV decrease, p<0.001).

Conclusions: Assuming a similar organization of respiratory rhythmogenesis in humans and rodents, the lack of exercise-related expiratory recruitment observed in our CCHS patients is compatible with a PHOX2B-related defect of a neural structure that would be analogous to the rodents' RTN. Provided corroboration, ERV recruitment could serve as a physiological outcome in studies aiming at correcting breathing control in CCHS.

Background: Home-based pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) can enhance accessibility to PR, but no at-home field exercise test has been validated for individualized endurance training prescriptions.

Research question: What is the accuracy of the six-minute stepper test (6MST) in estimating endurance training intensity as determined during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET)?

Study design and method: This multicenter (N = 3) cross-sectional study included individuals with COPD. Participants performed CPET and two 6MSTs to evaluate the 6MST's ability to estimate endurance training intensity based on CPET-derived heart rate at the first ventilatory threshold (HRvt₁), the corresponding power output (Pvt₁), and peak power output (Ppeak). Predictive equations were tested for external validity using data from two prior studies.

Results: 105 patients were included (mean age 61 (SD 9) years; mean FEV1 61 (SD 21) %). Predictive equations moderately predicted HRvt₁ (r² = 0.38), strongly predicted Pvt₁ (r² = 0.63) and very strongly predicted Ppeak (r² = 0.75). External validity was small to moderate for HRvt₁ and Pvt₁ but was strong for 60% of Ppeak (mean absolute difference: 10W, 95% CI 5 to 10). Passing and Bablok regression confirmed interchangeability for Pvt₁ and 60% of Ppeak.

Interpretation: The 6MST offers a reliable method to set initial training intensity when CPET is unavailable.

Clinical trial registration: NCT02842463.

Introduction: Adherence to controller medication is a major problem in asthma management, being difficult to assess and tackle. mHealth apps can be used to assess adherence. We aimed to assess the adherence to inhaled corticosteroids+long-acting β2-agonists (ICS+LABA) in users of the MASK-air® app, comparing the adherence to ICS+formoterol (ICS+F) with that to ICS+other LABA.

Materials and methods: We analysed complete weeks of MASK-air® data (2015-2022; 27 countries) from patients with self-reported asthma and ICS+LABA use. We compared patients reporting ICS+F versus ICS+other LABA on adherence levels, symptoms and symptom-medication scores. We built regression models to assess whether adherence to ICS+LABA was associated with asthma control or short-acting beta-agonist (SABA) use. Sensitivity analyses were performed considering the weeks with no more than one missing day.

Results: In 2598 ICS+LABA users, 621 (23.9%) reported 4824 complete weeks and 866 (33.3%) reported weeks with at most one missing day. Higher adherence (use of medication ≥80% of weekly days) was observed for ICS+other LABA (75.1%) when compared to ICS+F (59.3%), despite both groups displaying similar asthma control and work productivity. The ICS+other LABA group was associated with more days of SABA use than the ICS+F group (median=71.4% versus 57.1% days). Each additional weekly day of ICS+F use was associated with a 4.1% less risk in weekly SABA use (95%CI=-6.5;-1.6%;p=0.001). For ICS+other LABA, the percentage was 8.2 (95%CI=-11.6;-5.0%;p<0.001).

Conclusions: In asthma patients adherent to the MASK-air app, adherence to ICS+LABA was high. ICS+F users reported lower adherence but also a lower SABA use and a similar level of control.

Air pollution is a major global environment and health concern. Recent studies have suggested an association between air pollution and COVID-19 mortality and morbidity. In this context, a close association between increased levels of air pollutants such as particulate matter ≤2.5 to 10 µM, ozone and nitrogen dioxide and SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospital admissions and mortality due to COVID 19 has been reported. Air pollutants can make individuals more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection by inducing the expression of proteins such as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)2 and transmembrane protease, serine 2 (TMPRSS2) that are required for viral entry into the host cell, while causing impairment in the host defence system by damaging the epithelial barrier, muco-ciliary clearance, inhibiting the antiviral response and causing immune dysregulation. The aim of this review is to report the epidemiological evidence on impact of air pollutants on COVID 19 in an up-to-date manner, as well as to provide insights on in vivo and in vitro mechanisms.