Respiratory function in patients with stable anorexia nervosa

BACKGROUND: The impact of undernutrition on lung physiology and respiratory muscle performance is still incompletely investigated. The purpose of this study was to assess the functional consequences of malnutrition on the respiratory system in stable patients with anorexia nervosa (AN). METHODS: Pulmonary function tests, maximal inspiratory pressure (Pimax), maximal expiratory pressure (Pemax), and the parameters of control of breathing were obtained in 27 patients with AN (mean [+/- SD] age, 24 +/- 7 years; BMI, 16 +/- 1 kg/m(2); duration of disease, 6 +/- 6 years) and in a group of matched healthy subjects. RESULTS: Compared with control subjects, significant reductions in the diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (Dlco) and lung diffusion capacity corrected for alveolar ventilation (p < 0.001), which progressively worsened with the duration of disease, were found in the AN group. Only the membrane diffusing capacity was reduced in patients with AN (p < 0.05), while pulmonary capillary blood volume was similar to that of control subjects. Lung density measurements based on CT scan analysis were normal in a subgroup of eight patients with AN with low Dlco. Both Pimax and Pemax were decreased in patients with AN (p <0.001), but the mild-to-moderate impairment to generate force of the respiratory muscles did not progress with time. In these patients with AN, the parameters of control of breathing were in the normal range and were comparable to those of control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The functional alterations found in patients with AN indicate the presence of the progressive enlargement of peripheral lung units without relevant alveolar septa destruction. In the first 3 years of disease, appreciable weakness of respiratory muscles develops in patients with stable AN without further impairment over time

Comorbidities, Cardiovascular Therapies, and COVID-19 Mortality: A Nationwide, Italian Observational Study (ItaliCO)

Background: Italy has one of the world\u2019s oldest populations, and suffered one the highest death tolls from Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide. Older people with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and in particular hypertension, are at higher risk of hospitalization and death for COVID-19. Whether hypertensionmedicationsmay increase the risk for death in older COVID 19 inpatients at the highest risk for the disease is currently unknown. Methods: Data from 5,625 COVID-19 inpatients were manually extracted from medical charts from 61 hospitals across Italy. From the initial 5,625 patients, 3,179 were included in the study as they were either discharged or deceased at the time of the data analysis. Primary outcome was inpatient death or recovery. Mixed effects logistic regression models were adjusted for sex, age, and number of comorbidities, with a random effect for site. Results: A large proportion of participating inpatients were 65 years old (58%), male (68%), non-smokers (93%) with comorbidities (66%). Each additional comorbidity increased the risk of death by 35% [adjOR = 1.35 (1.2, 1.5) p < 0.001]. Use of ACE inhibitors, ARBs, beta-blockers or Ca-antagonists was not associated with significantly increased risk of death. There was a marginal negative association between ARB use and death, and a marginal positive association between diuretic use and death. Conclusions: This Italian nationwide observational study of COVID-19 inpatients, the majority of which 65 years old, indicates that there is a linear direct relationship between the number of comorbidities and the risk of death. Among CVDs, hypertension and pre-existing cardiomyopathy were significantly associated with risk of death. The use of hypertension medications reported to be safe in younger cohorts, do not contribute significantly to increased COVID-19 related deaths in an older population that suffered one of the highest death tolls worldwide