Chronic Respiratory Disease

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative condition noteworthy for upper and lower motor neuron death. Involvement of respiratory motor neuron pools leads to progressive pathology. These impairments include decreases in neural activation and muscle coordination, progressive airway obstruction, weakened airway defenses, restrictive lung disease, increased risk of pulmonary infections, and weakness and atrophy of respiratory muscles. These neural, airway, pulmonary, and neuromuscular changes deteriorate integrated respiratory-related functions including sleep, cough, swallowing, and breathing...

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The role of palliative care in the support of patients with neuromuscular disorders (NMDs) is generally recognised in spite of the scarcity of condition-specific evidence in the literature. METHODS: We have focussed specifically on palliative and end-of-life care for patients whose neuromuscular disease has an impact on their respiratory function. Reviewing the literature, we have examined where existing palliative care knowledge can be applied to the specific challenges faced by patients with NMDs, identifying where lessons learnt during the management of one condition may need to be judiciously applied to others...

BACKGROUND: After COVID-19 infection, individuals can experience a variety of symptoms that might require further treatment. Early data showed the value of adapted pulmonary rehabilitation programmes and technology-based interventions. To develop appropriate services, it is important to understand the symptom burden and the preferred mode of rehabilitation delivery. METHODS: Post-hospital discharge (H) and post-community-managed (C) individuals received a follow-up call...

Patients' perspectives on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their access to asthma and COPD healthcare could inform better, more equitable care delivery. We demonstrate this topic using British Columbia (BC), Canada, where the impact of the pandemic has not been described. We co-designed a cross-sectional survey with patient partners and administered it to a convenience sample of people living with asthma and COPD in BC between September 2020 and March 2021. We aimed to understand how access to healthcare for these conditions was affected during the pandemic...

OBJECTIVES: Individuals dependent on long-term mechanical ventilation (LTMV) for their day-to-day living are a heterogenous population who go through several transitions over their lifetime. This paper describes three transitions: 1) institution/hospital to community/home, 2) pediatric to adult care, and 3) active treatment to end-of-life for ventilator-assisted individuals (VAIs). METHODS: A narrative review based on literature and the author's collective practical and research experience...

INTRODUCTION: Glycated hemoglobin can interfere with oxygen delivery and CO2 removal during exercise. Additionally, pancreatic insufficiency increases oxidative stress and exacerbates exercise intolerance in people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF). This investigation sought to test the hypotheses that elevated Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c ) can negatively affect exercise parameters in PwCF and that reductions in oxidative stress can improve tissue oxygenation in individuals with elevated HbA1c . METHODS: Twenty four PwCF were divided into two groups; normal HbA1c <5...

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an inflammatory and irreversible lung disease. For next of kin caregiver burden can be a consequence of the situation of being close to a person affected by a chronic disease and in need of help. When there is an imbalance between stressors and resources to cope with the situation, caregiver burden emerges. Knowledge is sparse about how the caregiver burden is experienced by the next of kin. Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify and describe the caregiver burden experienced by next of kin of persons with severe COPD...

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is often accompanied by impaired cognitive and physical function. However, the role of cognitive function on motor control and purposeful movement is not well studied. The aim of the review was to determine the impact of cognition on physical performance in COPD. Methods: Scoping review methods were performed including searches of the databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Systematic Reviews, Cochrane (CENTRAL), APA PsycINFO, and CINAHL. Two reviewers independently assessed articles for inclusion, data abstraction, and quality assessment...

BACKGROUND: Rehabilitation is prescribed to optimize fitness before lung transplantation (LTx) and facilitate post-transplant recovery. Individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) may experience unique health issues that impact participation. METHODS: Patient and healthcare provider semi-structured interviews were administered to explore perceptions and experiences of rehabilitation before and after LTx in adults with CF. Interviews were analyzed via inductive thematic analysis...

BACKGROUND: The rationale for additional treatment with short-acting bronchodilators combined with long-acting bronchodilators for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is not adequately studied. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a short-acting muscarinic antagonist (SAMA) therapy combined with a long-acting beta-2 agonist (LABA) in patients with stable COPD. Pulmonary function, dyspnea, health-related quality of life, exercise tolerance, physical activity, exacerbations of COPD, and adverse events during regular use were set as outcomes of interest...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to identify the sources of illness-related emotional distress from the perspective of individuals living with mild to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: A qualitative study design with purposive sampling was applied at a Swiss University Hospital. Eleven interviews were conducted with individuals who suffered from COPD. To analyze data, framework analysis was used, guided by the recently presented model of illness-related emotional distress...

These studies were conducted before clinical trial registration was required; therefore, clinical trial registration numbers are not available.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with lung disease commonly use the internet as a source of health information on pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). The objective of this study was to characterize internet resources on PR, and to assess the content, readability, and quality of patient-directed PR resources. METHODS: The first 200 websites for the search term 'pulmonary rehabilitation resources and exercise' were analyzed on Google, Yahoo, and Bing. Website content was assessed based on 30 key components of PR from the 2013 and 2021 international consensus statements...

INTRODUCTION: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often experience severe physical limitations and psychological distress, which can lead to a deterioration in quality of life (QoL). Telemonitoring (TM) may improve QoL and reduce the number of hospitalizations and readmissions, but results from previous studies have been conflicting. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of TM on QoL in patients with moderate to severe COPD recruited during hospitalization for acute exacerbation (AECOPD)...

BACKGROUND: Physiotherapy-led airway clearance interventions are indicated for some people with chronic lung conditions. This study describes Australian clinical models for the provision of adult airway clearance services. METHODS: This cross-sectional national study recruited public and private health care providers (excluding cystic fibrosis-specific services) identified by a review of websites. Providers were invited to complete an electronic 61-item survey with questions about airway clearance service context, referral demographics, service provision and program metrics...

OBJECTIVE: To determine availability and characteristics of pulmonary rehabilitation programs performed in 2019 in family health centers and hospitals from Chile. METHODOLOGY: A descriptive and retrospective study was designed, considering PR programs operated in 2019. A non-probability and convenience sample was obtained. Availability and characteristics of centers and PR were measured using a questionnaire translated, modified, validated, and sent by email. RESULTS: Out of 80 responses (22...

OBJECTIVES: There is an observed paucity of data regarding the predictors of asthma mortality in Nigeria. This study aimed to ascertain the clinical presentations and predictors of acute severe asthma mortality in rural Southwestern Nigeria. METHODS: A retrospective observational study using a data form and a standardized questionnaire was used to review the 124 patients admitted at Emergency Department between January 2015 and December 2019. The data were analyzed using SPSS Version 22...

Objectives: Ground-based walking is a simple training modality which would suit pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) settings with limited access to specialist equipment. Patients with COPD are, however, unable to walk uninterruptedly at a relatively fast walking pace to optimise training benefits. We compared an intermittent (IntSW) to a continuous (CSW) shuttle walking protocol. Methods: In 14 COPD patients (mean ± SD. FEV1 : 45 ± 21% predicted) we measured walking distance, cardiac output (CO), arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2 ), and symptoms during (a) an IntSW protocol, consisting of 1-min walking alternating with 1-min rest, and (b) a CSW protocol, both sustained at 85% of predicted VO2 peak to the limit of tolerance (Tlim)...