Recently, many researchers paid more attentions to the association between air pollution and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Haze, a severe form of outdoor air pollution, affected most parts of northern and eastern China in the past winter. In China, studies have been performed to evaluate the impact of outdoor air pollution and biomass smoke exposure on COPD; and most studies have focused on the role of air pollution in acutely triggering symptoms and exacerbations. Few studies have examined the role of air pollution in inducing pathophysiological changes that characterise COPD. Evidence showed that outdoor air pollution affects lung function in both children and adults and triggers exacerbations of COPD symptoms. Hence outdoor air pollution may be considered a risk factor for COPD mortality. However, evidence to date has been suggestive (not conclusive) that chronic exposure to outdoor air pollution increases the prevalence and incidence of COPD. Cross-sectional studies showed biomass smoke exposure is a risk factor for COPD. A long-term retrospective study and a long-term prospective cohort study showed that biomass smoke exposure reductions were associated with a reduced decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and with a decreased risk of COPD. To fully understand the effect of air pollution on COPD, we recommend future studies with longer follow-up periods, more standardized definitions of COPD and more refined and source-specific exposure assessments.
Objective The purpose of this study was to explore the correlation between peripheral blood eosinophil (EOS) count and smoking history, some inflammatory indicators, lung function, efficacy of ICS, risk of respiratory failure and chronic pulmonary heart disease, risk of acute exacerbation within 1 year, readmission rate and mortality in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD. Methods Retrospective analysis of the baseline clinical data of 816 patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University from January 1,2019 to December 31,2021. The patients were divided into EOS ≥ 200 cells / μL (High Eosinophi, HE) group and EOS<200 cells / μL (low Eosinophi, LE) group according to whether the peripheral blood EOS was greater than 200 cells / μL at admission. Peripheral venous blood data (including blood eosinophil count, white blood cell count, lymphocyte percentage, neutrophil percentage), blood gas analysis value, lung function index and medication regimen of all patients were collected, and the efficacy of ICS was recorded. The patients were followed up for 1 year to observe the acute exacerbation and readmission rate, and the mortality rate was followed up for 1 year and 2 years. Results Neutrophil count, lymphocyte count and peak expiratory flow (PEF) in HE group were positively correlated with EOS value (P<0.05), and smoking was more likely to increase EOS value. HE group was more sensitive to ICS. The risk of acute exacerbation in HEA group was higher than that in LE group. ICS could reduce the rate of acute exacerbation in HE group. EOS value in LE group was inversely proportional to FEV1 / FVC and MMEF values (P<0.05). The risk of chronic pulmonary heart disease in LE group was higher than that in HE group. The 2-year mortality rate in HE group was higher than that in LE group. Conclusions Peripheral blood EOS count is correlated with some inflammatory indicators, acute exacerbation risk, and lung function. ICS can improve the clinical symptoms and prognosis of patients with higher EOS count.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics of non-tuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) pulmonary disease and pulmonary tuberculosis, as well as the bacterial distribution of NTM pulmonary disease. Methods The bacterial distribution and clinical characteristics of 104 patients with NTM lung disease hospitalized in Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital from May 2017 to May 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, as well as the clinicplal characteristics of 155 patients with tuberculosis hospitalized during the same period. Results The age of NTM lung disease group [(60±15) years] was higher than that of tuberculosis group [(55±19) years]. There were statistically significant differences in basic diseases (such as malignant tumor, type 2 diabetes, old tuberculosis, bronchiectasis), laboratory examination (such as blood routine examination, albumin) and chest imaging characteristics between the two groups (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in clinical symptoms (such as cough, sputum or fever) (P>0.05). The common underlying diseases of NTM lung disease were malignant tumor (29%), bronchiectasis (21%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (19%), etc. The common clinical symptoms of NTM lung disease included cough, sputum, fever, hemoptysis, chest tightness and shortness of breath, and other non-specific respiratory symptoms. The common manifestations of NTM lung disease on chest high-resolution CT (HRCT) included patchy images (82%), mediastinal lymph node enalargement (35%), pleural thickening (31%), pleural effusion (26%) and other signs. The isolates of NTM included Mycobacterium avium (50%), Mycobacterium intracellulare (21%), Mycobacterium chelonae/abscessus (14%), Mycobacterium fortuitum (5%), Mycobacterium gordonae (4%), Mycobacterium gilvum (3%), and Mycobacterium smegmatis (3%). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that advanced age (OR=1.027) was a risk factor for NTM lung disease. Conclusions The clinical manifestations of NTM lung disease and tuberculosis are similar and difficult to distinguish. For male patients over 60 years old with malignant tumor, old tuberculosis, bronchiectasis and other basic diseases, and the chest HRCT findings are mainly bronchiectasis, NTM lung disease should be actively excluded. There is little difference in clinical manifestations between different strains of NTM lung disease, and the treatment cycle of NTM lung disease is long and easy to be interrupted, requiring enhanced follow-up.
Objective To analyse the content and structure of the health management policy text for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in China, and to provide a reference for the optimization and improvement of subsequent relevant policies. Methods We searched for relevant policy documents on COPD health management at the national level from January 2017 to December 2023, constructed a two-dimensional analysis framework for policy tools and chronic disease health management processes, coded and classified policy texts, and used content analysis method to analyze policy texts. Results Twenty-four policy texts were included. There were 183 codes for policy tool dimension, with supply based, environmental based, and demand based tools accounting for 43.72%, 47.54%, and 8.74%, respectively. There were 124 codes for the dimension of health management processes, with health information collection and management accounting for 12.10%, risk prediction accounting for 14.52%, intervention and treatment accounting for 66.13%, and follow-up and effectiveness evaluation accounting for 7.26%. Conclusions At present, the proportion of policy tools related to the management of COPD in China needs to be dynamically adjusted. Environmental tools should be appropriately reduced, the internal structure of supply tools should be optimized, the driving effect of demand tools should be comprehensively enhanced, the coupling of COPD health management processes should be strengthened, and the relevant policy system and overall quality should be continuously improved.
Objective To compare outcomes after single versus bilateral lung transplantation in patients with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with retrospective cohort study, and to provide a reference for surgical selection. Methods One hundred and two patients with end-stage COPD who received lung transplantation in Wuxi People's Hospital affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from January 2010 to May 2019 were evaluated, including 97 males and 5 females, aged from 42 to 82 years, with an average age of (59.8±8.0) years. Recipients were divided into single lung transplantation (SLT) group (31 cases) and bilateral lung transplantation (BLT) group (71 cases). Preoperative characteristics, postoperative outcomes, postoperative complications, functional improvement and survival between the two groups were analyzed retrospectively. Results The SLT group were significantly older than the BLT group [(62.6±8.8) years vs. (58.6±7.4) years, P<0.05], which was consistent with the practice mode of single lung transplantation in the elderly patients in this center. The FEV1% predicted and the six‐minute walk distance (6-MWD) in the BLT group were better than those in the SLT group (P<0.05). The cumulative survival rate in 1, 3 and 5 years after operation in the BLT group was higher than that in the SLT group (70.4%, 63.2%, 61.5%, respectively vs. 67.7%, 58.1%, 54.6%, respectively), but there was no statistical difference (P=0.388). The two groups were comparable in other preoperative clinical data (P>0.05). The cold ischemia time and total operation time were shorter in the SLT group than in the BLT group, and the intraoperative blood loss was less than that in the BLT group, but more patients required intraoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support than the BLT group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in postoperative ventilator support, reoperation, length of intensive care unit stay, postoperative hospital stay, and perioperative mortality (P>0.05). In terms of postoperative complications, the incidence of primary graft dysfunction grades 3 was higher in the SLT group than in the BLT group (35% vs. 8%, P=0.001). There were no significant differences between the two groups in chest complications, airway complications, acute rejection, infection, and bronchial occlusion syndrome (P>0.05). Nine patients (29%) developed acute native lung hyperinflation in the SLT group. ConclusionsBilateral lung transplantation is superior to single lung transplantation in the treatment of end-stage COPD. The advantage is mainly reflected in the simple perioperative management, better functional improvement after operation. Single lung transplantation as a beneficial supplement to double lung transplantation should still be considered in selected patients.
Objective To investigate the phenotyping of COPD by cluster analysis and evaluate the value of this method.Methods 168 COPD patients were enrolled from Beijing Tongren Hospital. Demographic and clinical data, such as, sex, age, body mass index ( BMI) , smoking index, course of disease,exacerbation rate, and comorbidities were collected. Pulmonary function test, emphysema scoring by HRCT,dyspnea by MMRC score, COPD assessment test ( CAT) score, six-minute walk test were performed for each patient during the stable stage. Cluster analysis was conducted using SPSS 13. 0. Results According to the GOLD criteria,5, 75, 75, and 13 patients were classified into GOLD stage 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. There was no difference among different stages in sex distribution, BMI, smoking index, hypertension, and cerebral infarction incidence( P gt; 0. 05) , but the differences in age, disease course, dyspnea score, six-minute walk distance, BODE score, CAT score, coronary heart disease, exacerbation rate, and HRCT emphysema visual score were significant( P lt;0. 05) . By cluster analysis,168 patients were finally classified into three groups:younger/mild, older/ severe, and older/moderate. The patients with the same GOLD stage appeared indifferent clusters and the patients belonging to different GOLD stages could be in the same cluster. There were significant differences among three groups in age, BMI, exacerbation rate, dyspnea score, CAT score, and comorbidities. The result showed that HRCT emphysema visual score was also an important index todifferentiate clusters, suggesting that emphysema was an important phenotype of COPD. Conclusions Cluster analysis can classify homogeneous subjects into the same cluster, and heterogeneous subjects into different clusters. The results suggest that COPD phenotyping by cluster analysis is clinically useful and significant.
Abstract: Objective To investigate the role of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in treatment of benign pulmonary disease, in order to promo te the mini-invasive way of operation. Methods From May 2001 to M ay 2006, 128 patients with benign pulmonary diseases were treated by VATS. The diseases included 17 kinds of different lesions, such as tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, inflammatory pseudotumor, giant bullae of lung, hamartoma,lymphangiomyomatosis, etc. 53 cases had definite diagnosis before operation, the others had final diagnosis by pathology. Limited resection were performed in 66 cases, single lobectomy in 56 cases, bilobectomy in 2 cases, and concomitant bilateral lobectomy in 4 cases. Limited resections were carried out by pure thoracoscopic procedure with three ports, lobectomies were carried out by video-assisted minithoracotomy with 7-10cm incision. Results For lim ited resect ion, the average operat ive durat ion w as 110m in (30-180m in) , blood loss was 60m l (10-300m l) , none had intraoperative blood transfusion needed. Conversion to minithoracotomy occurred in 2 patients. Postoperative bleeding happened in one case, which was controlled by medicine. Average length of stay was 6. 5 days. For lobectomy, the average operation time was 145 min (80-260min) , blood loss was 190ml (50-500m l) , no intraoperative blood tansfusion needed. Conversion to tranditional thoracotomy occurred in 3 patients, pneumonia occurred in 2 patients, delayed healing of mini-incision occurred in 2 patients. One diaphragmat ic hernia and one active bleeding after operat ion underwent second thoracotomy. Average length of postoperative stay was 7. 4 days (4-13d). For bilateral lobectomies, the average operative duration was 330min (270-415m in) , postoperative length of hospital stay was 10.7days (8-16d). No perioperative death occurred. Conclusion VATS for benign pulmonary disease is miniinvasive and safe, the pat ients recover quickly. It could be the choice of operation for selected patients in equipped center.
Objective The purpose of the current research was to analyze the relevant risk factors for short-term death in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure (HF), and to build a predictive nomogram. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data from 1 323 COPD and HF comorbidity patients who were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from January 2018 to January 2022. Samples were divided into survival and death groups based on whether they died during the follow-up. General data and tested index of both groups were analyzed, and the discrepant index was analyzed by single factor and multiple factor Logistic regression analysis. R software was applied to create the nomogram by visualizing the results of the regression analysis. The accuracy of the results was verified by C index, calibration curve, and ROC curve. Results The results from the multiple factor Logistic regression analysis indicated that age (OR=1.085, 95%CI 1.048 to 1.125), duration of smoking (OR=1.247, 95%CI 1.114 to 1.400), duration of COPD (OR=1.078, 95%CI 1.042 to 1.116), comorbidity with respiratory failure (OR=5.564, 95%CI 3.372 to 9.329), level of NT-proBNP (OR=1.000, 95%CI 1.000 to 1.000), level of PCT (OR=1.153, 95%CI 1.083 to 1.237), and level of D-dimer (OR=1.205, 95%CI 1.099 to 1.336) were risk factors for short-term death of COPD and HF comorbidity patients. The level of ALB (OR=0.892, 95%CI 0.843 to 0.942) was a protective factor that was used to build the predictive nomogram with the C index of 0.874, the square under the working characteristics curve of the samples of 0.874, the specify of 82.5%, and the sensitivity of 75.0%. The calibration curve indicated good predictive ability of the model. Conclusion The nomogram diagram built by the current research indicated good predictability of short-term death in COPD and HF comorbidity patients.
Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of thyroid hormone replacement on critically ill COPD patients with low serum thyroid hormone. Methods Sixty-seven critically ill patients with acute exacerbation of COPD ( AECOPD) , and complicated with respiratory and/ or heart failure and low serum thyroid hormone, admitted from July 2008 to June 2011, were recruited for the study. They were randomly divided into an intervention group ( n = 34) and a control group ( n = 33) . The control group received conventional treatment and the intervention group received conventional treatment plus additional thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Results Compared with the control group, the overall efficacy of the intervention group was not significantly different ( 88. 2% vs. 81. 8% , P gt; 0. 05) , while average effective time was significantly shorter [ ( 9. 6 ±2. 5) d vs. ( 12. 3 ±2. 8) d, P lt; 0. 05] . The post-treatment serum FT3 , FT4 , TT4 , and h-TSH levels were significantly higher in the intervention group than those in the control group, and significantly higher than baseline ( P lt;0. 05) . Conclusions For AECOPD patients complicated with respiratory and/or heart failure and low serum thyroid hormone, thyroid hormone supplement at low dosage will help to improve serumthyroid hormone level, and promote early recovery.
ObjectiveTo analyze the causes of death of patients with asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap syndrome (ACOS). MethodsA total of 493 patients admitted between January 2006 and Octomber 2015 were respectively analyzed, including 348 asthma patients and 145 ACOS patients. The patients was divided into a survival group and a death group based on the outcome. The ACOS patients were divided into three subgroups based on FEV1% pred level (≥80%, 50%-80%, and < 50%, respectively). The basic characteristics and causes of death were analyzed using χ2-test, t-test and Fish-test based on data type. ResultsThe age (t=3.457, P < 0.001), male proportion (χ2=15.394, P < 0.001) and smoking history (χ2=12.418, P=0.002) had significant differences between the survival group and the death group. The proportion of ACOS patients was higher in the death group (42% vs. 27%, χ2=7.033, P=0.008), and the mortality was also higher in the ACOS patients (21% vs. 12%). The proportion of male patients was higher in the ACOS patients than that in the asthma patients (86% vs. 38%, P < 0.001). The leading three causes of death in the ACOS patients were malignant diseases (45%), pneumonia (26%), and cardiovascular diseases (16%). Malignant diseases were the main cause of death in the ACOS patients with FEV1% pred≥50%, while pneumonia was the main cause of death in those with FEV1% pred≥50%. There was no significant difference in cause of death distribution between three subgroups with different FEV1% pred (P=0.318). ConclusionThe main cause of death of ACOS patients is malignant diseases, the followed are pneumonia and cardiovascular diseases.