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BACKGROUND: We investigated dyspnea, its associated risk factors, and its impact on healthcare utilization, quality of life, and work productivity in adults with undiagnosed respiratory symptoms. RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the impact of dyspnea in adults with undiagnosed respiratory symptoms? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This population-based study included 2857 adults who were experiencing respiratory symptoms. These individuals had not been previously diagnosed with any lung conditions and were recruited from 17 Canadian centers using random digit-dialing...

BACKGROUND: Post pulmonary embolism (PE) dyspnea is common. Existing non-invasive studies have demonstrated that post PE dyspnea is associated with elevations in right ventricular afterload, dead space ventilation, and deconditioning. We aimed to use invasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing (iCPET) parameters in patients with post PE dyspnea to identify unique physiologic phenotypes. RESEARCH QUESTION: Are there distinct post pulmonary embolism dyspnea physiologic phenotypes described with iCPET? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Patients were enrolled at the time of acute PE and through our pulmonary hypertension and dyspnea clinic...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

BACKGROUND: The diagnostic performance of the available risk assessment models for venous thromboembolism in critically ill patients receiving pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis is unclear. RESEARCH QUESTION: For critically ill patients receiving pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis, do risk assessment models predict who would develop venous thromboembolism or who could benefit from adjunctive pneumatic compression for thromboprophylaxis? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In this post hoc analysis of the PREVENT trial, we evaluated different risk assessment models for venous thromboembolism (ICU-VTE, Kucher, Intermountain, Caprini, Padua, and IMPROVE models)...

BACKGROUND: Relatives of deceased critically ill patients are at high risk for symptoms of complicated grief (CG) with potential individual and social burdens. The prevalence and predictors of CG, and in particular the involvement of individual facets of relatives' coping strategies, are not well understood. RESEARCH QUESTION: How high is the prevalence and what are the predictors of CG, and how are coping strategies associated with CG symptoms? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In this observational single-center cohort study, relatives of deceased critically ill patients were surveyed 6 months later, using the Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG) and the Brief-COPE questionnaire to assess CG symptoms and coping strategies, respectively...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

BACKGROUND: The terminology of a do-not-resuscitate order (DNR) can be confusing and controversial for patients at the end of life. We examined whether changing the name to "Beneficial Care Only" (BCO) would increase patient acceptance. RESEARCH QUESTION: Would individuals be more willing to forgo full code status and accept a no-CPR order if the order title was "Beneficial Care Only"? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 599 adults residing in the United States, presenting participants with a hypothetical scenario of a terminal patient...

BACKGROUND: Preserved Ratio Impaired Spirometry (PRISm) and Restrictive Spirometric Pattern (RSP) are often considered interchangeable in identifying restrictive impairment in spirometry. RESEARCH QUESTION: Do PRISm and RSP have different individual associations with risk factors, morbidity, and mortality? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional and longitudinal study, including 26,091 30-46-year-old Norwegian general population men, we explored the association of PRISm and RSP with smoking habits, BMI, education, respiratory symptoms, self-reported cardiopulmonary disease, and mortality after 26 years of follow-up...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

BACKGROUND: Breathlessness shares aging mechanisms of frailty and sarcopenia. RESEARCH QUESTION: Are frailty and sarcopenia associated with breathlessness itself? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed data from a population-based, prospective cohort study of 780 community-dwelling older adults. Breathlessness was defined using the modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (≥2 points) and the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test (≥10 points)...

INTRODUCTION: Sarcoidosis is an idiopathic systemic granulomatosis whose evolution is self-limiting in the majority of cases. However, it can progress to organ damage that menaces the vital or functional prognosis of patients. Sarcoidosis itself, but also its comorbidities, can pose a threat to the patient, require rapid initiation of treatment and justify emergency hospitalization. RESEARCH QUESTION: What are the reasons and prognosis of sarcoidosis patients hospitalized in emergency ? METHODS: The objectives of our study were to describe the causes of admission, and to identify predictors of mortality in sarcoidosis patients hospitalized in emergency...

BACKGROUND: The latest meta-analysis indicated potential survival benefits from ultra-short-acting β-blockers in septic patients with persistent tachycardia. However, subsequent multicenter randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have reported conflicting findings, prompting the need for an updated meta-analysis to incorporate these newly published RCTs. RESEARCH QUESTION: Does the use of ultra-short-acting β-blockers (esmolol or landiolol) in septic patients with persistent tachycardia improve mortality? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted an updated systematic search till April 2nd , 2024 exploring MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Embase for RCTs reporting mortality in adult septic patients treated with esmolol or landiolol as compared to none or placebo, and published in English...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

BACKGROUND: A metaphor conceptualizes one, typically abstract, experience in terms of another, more concrete, experience with the goal of making it easier to understand. Even though combat metaphors have been well-described in some health contexts, they have not been well-characterized in the setting of critical illness. RESEARCH QUESTION: How do clinicians use combat metaphors when describing critically ill patients and families in the electronic health record? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We included notes written about patients >=18 years admitted to ICUs within a large hospital system from 2012-2020...

BACKGROUND: Mechanical insufflation-exsufflation (MI-E) uses positive and negative pressures to assist weak cough and help clear airway secretions. Laryngeal visualization during MI-E has revealed that inappropriate upper airway responses can impede its efficacy. However, the dynamics of pressure transmission in the upper airways during MI-E is unclear, as are the relationships between anatomical structure, pressure and airflow. RESEARCH QUESTION: Can airflow resistance through the upper airway and the larynx feasibly be calculated during MI-E, and if so, how are the pressures transmitted to the trachea? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study of ten healthy adults, where MI-E was provided with and without active cough, employing pressure settings +20/-40 and ±40 cmH2 O...

INTRODUCTION: Exacerbations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be life-threatening and lead to irreversible declines in lung function and quality of life. Medications that reduce exacerbation burden are an unmet need, as exacerbations put patients at risk for more exacerbations and decrease quality of life. Ensifentrine is a novel, first-in-class, selective, dual inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 3/4 with demonstrated nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory activity and bronchodilatory effects...

BACKGROUND: Patients with lung cancer, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have high symptom burden, poor quality of life, and high healthcare utilization at the end of life. While proactive integration of palliative care in lung cancer can improve outcomes, it is unclear whether similar practices have been adopted in COPD and IPF care. RESEARCH QUESTION: Do patients with COPD and IPF have different patterns of healthcare and palliative care use at the end of life compared to lung cancer? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We retrospectively identified deceased patients with lung cancer, COPD, or IPF with ≥1 outpatient visit at [removed] in the last six months of life...

BACKGROUND: Patients with COPD frequently develop pulmonary hypertension (PH-COPD). Severe PH-COPD, identified by a pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) >5 Wood Units (WU), is closely linked to impaired transplant-free survival. The impact of PH-targeting pharmacotherapy in this context remains unclear. RESEARCH QUESTION: Is PH-targeted therapy associated with improved transplant-free survival in PH-COPD? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This study included PVRI GoDeep meta-registry patients with PH-COPD and available right heart catheterization at diagnosis...

The promise of artificial intelligence (AI) has generated enthusiasm among patients, healthcare professionals, and technology developers who seek to leverage its potential to enhance the diagnosis and management of an increasing number of chronic and acute conditions. Point-of-care testing (POCT) increases access to care because it enables care outside of traditional medical settings. Collaboration among developers, clinicians, and end users is an effective best practice for solving clinical problems. A common set of clearly defined terms that are easily understood by research teams is a valuable tool that fosters these collaborations...

BACKGROUND: No large observational study has compared the incidence and risk factors for extubation failure within 48 hours and during intensive care unit (ICU) stay in the same cohort of unselected critically ill patients with and without obesity. RESEARCH QUESTION: Which are the incidence and risk factors of extubation failure in patients with and without obesity? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In this prospective multicenter observational FREE-REA study in 26 intensive care units, the primary objective was to compare the incidence of extubation failure within 48 hours in patients with and without obesity...