What pulmonologists think about the asthma-COPD overlap syndrome

Some patients with COPD may share characteristics of asthma; this is the so-called asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS). There are no universally accepted criteria for ACOS, and most treatments for asthma and COPD have not been adequately tested in this population. We performed a survey among pulmonology specialists in asthma and COPD aimed at collecting their opinions about ACOS and their attitudes in regard to some case scenarios of ACOS patients. The participants answered a structured questionnaire and attended a face-to-face meeting with the Metaplan methodology to discuss different aspects of ACOS. A total of 26 pulmonologists with a mean age of 49.7 years participated in the survey (13 specialists in asthma and 13 in COPD). Among these, 84.6% recognized the existence of ACOS and stated that a mean of 12.6% of their patients might have this syndrome. In addition, 80.8% agreed that the diagnostic criteria for ACOS are not yet well defined. The most frequently mentioned characteristics of ACOS were a history of asthma (88.5%), significant smoking exposure (73.1%), and postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity <0.7 (69.2%). The most accepted diagnostic criteria were eosinophilia in sputum (80.8%), a very positive bronchodilator test (69.2%), and a history of asthma before 40 years of age (65.4%). Up to 96.2% agreed that first-line treatment for ACOS was the combination of a long-acting β-agonist and inhaled steroid, with a long-acting antimuscarinic agent (triple therapy) for severe ACOS. Most Spanish specialists in asthma and COPD agree that ACOS exists, but the diagnostic criteria are not yet well defined. A previous history of asthma, smoking, and not fully reversible airflow limitation are considered the main characteristics of ACOS, with the most accepted first-line treatment being long-acting β-agonist/inhaled corticosteroids

What pulmonologists think about the asthma–COPD overlap syndrome

Background: Some patients with COPD may share characteristics of asthma; this is the so-called asthma–COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS). There are no universally accepted criteria for ACOS, and most treatments for asthma and COPD have not been adequately tested in this population. Materials and methods: We performed a survey among pulmonology specialists in asthma and COPD aimed at collecting their opinions about ACOS and their attitudes in regard to some case scenarios of ACOS patients. The participants answered a structured questionnaire and attended a face-to-face meeting with the Metaplan methodology to discuss different aspects of ACOS. Results: A total of 26 pulmonologists with a mean age of 49.7 years participated in the survey (13 specialists in asthma and 13 in COPD). Among these, 84.6% recognized the existence of ACOS and stated that a mean of 12.6% of their patients might have this syndrome. In addition, 80.8% agreed that the diagnostic criteria for ACOS are not yet well defined. The most frequently mentioned characteristics of ACOS were a history of asthma (88.5%), significant smoking exposure (73.1%), and postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity ,0.7 (69.2%). The most accepted diagnostic criteria were eosinophilia in sputum (80.8%), a very positive bronchodilator test (69.2%), and a history of asthma before 40 years of age (65.4%). Up to 96.2% agreed that first-line treatment for ACOS was the combination of a long-acting β2-agonist and inhaled steroid, with a long-acting antimuscarinic agent (triple therapy) for severe ACOS. Conclusion: Most Spanish specialists in asthma and COPD agree that ACOS exists, but the diagnostic criteria are not yet well defined. A previous history of asthma, smoking, and not fully reversible airflow limitation are considered the main characteristics of ACOS, with the most accepted first-line treatment being long-acting β2-agonist/inhaled corticosteroids

Hemoptisis de repetición secundarias a un angiosarcoma epitelioide generalizado

Una causa excepcional de hemorragia pulmonar difusa es la presencia de un angiosarcoma pulmonar. Éste es un tumor vascular maligno que representa del 1-2% del total de sarcomas. Los angiosarcomas se han descrito en casi todos los órganos, siendo la afección pulmonar rara, de alrededor del 7%. En la bibliografía se describen aproximadamente 10 casos aislados de tumores primarios y es más frecuente la afección metastásica pulmonar. Desde el punto de vista clinicopatológico son superponibles las formas primarias y las metastásicas, por lo cual, ante la presencia de un angiosarcoma pulmonar primario, hay que descartar la existencia de un posible tumor primario a distancia. El diagnóstico anatomopatológico se caracteriza por células poligonales u ovoides de núcleos atípicos irregulares, y espacios vasculares tapizados por dichas células tumorales con fenómenos hemorrágicos alrededor. Las técnicas de inmunohistoquímica que demuestran la naturaleza endotelial del tumor son la positividad del CD-31 y factor antiproteína VIII, así como la positividad de la queratina, coexpresión frecuente del angiosarcoma epitelioide

High‐flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy for the treatment of acute respiratory failure secondary to SARS‐CoV‐2 pneumonia out of ICU

Abstract Introduction and objectives High‐flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) has been successfully used for the treatment of acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure (AHRF) secondary to SARS‐CoV‐2 pneumonia and being effective in reducing progression to invasive mechanical ventilation. The objective of this study was to assess the usefulness of HFNC on a hospital ward for the treatment of AHRF secondary to SARS‐CoV‐2 pneumonia and its impact on the need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission and endotracheal intubation. Other objectives include identifying potential physiological parameters and/or biomarkers for predicting treatment failure and assessing the clinical course and survival. Methods Observational study based on data collected prospectively between March 2020 and February 2021 in a single hospital on patients diagnosed with AHRF secondary to SARS‐CoV‐2 pneumonia who received HFNC outside an ICU. Results One hundred and seventy‐one patients out of 1090 patients hospitalised for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. HFNC was set as the ceiling of treatment in 44 cases; 12 survived (27.3%). Among the other 127 patients, intubation was performed in 25.9% of cases with a mortality of 11.8%. Higher creatinine levels (OR 1.942, 95% CI 1.04; 3.732; p = 0.036) and Comorbidity‐Age‐Lymphocyte‐LDH (CALL) score (OR 1.273, 95% CI 1.033; 1.617; p = 0.033) were associated with a higher risk of intubation. High platelet count at HFNC initiation was predictive of good treatment response (OR 0.935, 95% CI 0.884; 0.983; p = 0.012). Conclusions HFNC outside an ICU is a treatment with high success rate in patients with AHRF secondary to SARS‐CoV‐2 pneumonia, including in patients in whom this therapy was deemed to be the ceiling of treatment

Short- and long-term prognosis of patients with community-acquired Legionella or pneumococcal pneumonia diagnosed by urinary antigen testing

Objectives: To analyze the differences in short- and long-term prognosis and the predictors of survival between patients with community-acquired Legionella and Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia, diagnosed early by urinary antigen testing (UAT). Methods: Prospective multicenter study conducted in immunocompetent patients hospitalized with community-acquired Legionella or pneumococcal pneumonia (L-CAP or P-CAP) between 2002-2020. All cases were diagnosed based on positive UAT. Results: We included 1452 patients, 260 with community-acquired Legionella pneumonia (L-CAP) and 1192 with community-acquired pneumococcal pneumonia (P-CAP). The 30-day mortality was higher for L-CAP (6.2%) than for P-CAP (5%). After discharge and during the median follow-up durations of 11.4 and 8.43 years, 32.4% and 47.9% of patients with L-CAP and P-CAP died, and 82.3% and 97.4% died earlier than expected, respectively. The independent risk factors for shorter long-term survival were age >65 years, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiac arrhythmia, and congestive heart failure in L-CAP and the same first three factors plus nursing home residence, cancer, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular disease, altered mental status, blood urea nitrogen ≥30 mg/dl, and congestive heart failure as a cardiac complication during hospitalization in P-CAP. Conclusion: In patients diagnosed early by UAT, the long-term survival after L-CAP or P-CAP was shorter (particularly after P-CAP) than expected, and this shorter survival was mainly associated with age and comorbidities

Consensus on the Management of the COPD Patient in the COVID-19 Setting COPD Forum Working Group

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, numerous papers have been published on strategic planning and the positioning of different medical societies in the prevention and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 However, the reality is far from perfect. Although much was learned during the darkest hours of the pandemic, many aspects of the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of these patients remain controversial and raise concerns among health professionals.7 Therefore, in order to determine the opinion of COPD experts, we drew up a Delphi-based consensus statement8 on certain issues surrounding disease management during the COVID-19 pandemic. (extract

Factores de riesgo y mortalidad de los derrames pleurales que precisan de una toracocentesis diagnóstica

Resumen: Introducción: El derrame pleural (DP) maligno se asocia a un mal pronóstico, pero la mortalidad de los pacientes con derrames no malignos no ha sido suficientemente estudiada. Nuestro objetivo fue describir la evolución clínica y explorar los factores asociados con la mortalidad por todas las causas a 1, 5 y 10 años de los pacientes que desarrollan un DP. Métodos: Estudio observacional retrospectivo de los pacientes intervenidos mediante toracocentesis diagnóstica durante el decenio 2008-2017 en un servicio de neumología. Se evaluaron variables demográficas, bioquímicas, anatomopatológicas y evolutivas. La etiología de los derrames se determinó mediante criterios estandarizados. Resultados: Se estudió a 358 pacientes con líquido pleural analizado; el 69,2% de los cuales eran varones con una edad media de 68,9 años (DE 15,1). Predominaron los derrames malignos (29,4%), paraneumónicos (19,8%) y secundarios a insuficiencia cardiaca (18,9%). Los pacientes con derrame maligno y por insuficiencia cardiaca tuvieron tasas de mortalidad a un año del 60,0% y 30,8%, respectivamente y del 85% y 64,7% a 5 años. El sexo masculino (hazard ratio [HR] 1,46; IC 95%: 1,03-2,07), la citología positiva para malignidad (HR 1,66; IC 95%: 1,03-2,68) y la recidiva del derrame (HR 1,61; IC 95%: 1,17-2,21) se asociaron a un peor pronóstico y a mortalidad a 5 años. Conclusiones: Los pacientes intervenidos mediante toracentesis por derrame tienen una alta mortalidad a corto y largo plazo. En nuestros pacientes hospitalizados con DP, los factores asociados con mayor mortalidad a 1 y 5 años fueron la edad, el sexo masculino, la recidiva del DP y la coexistencia de neoplasia maligna. Abstract: Introduction: Occurrence of malignant pleural effusion (PE) is known to be associated with a poor prognosis, but the mortality of patients with non-malignant effusions has not been sufficiently studied. Our objective was to describe the clinical course and explore risk factors associated with all-cause mortality at 1, 5 and 10 years in patients who develop a PE. Methods: Retrospective observational study of patients undergoing diagnostic thoracentesis during the decade 2008-2017 in a pulmonology service. Demographic, biochemical, pathological and evolutionary variables were evaluated. The etiology of the effusions was determined using standardized criteria. Results: Pleural fluid samples from 358 patients with a mean age of 68.9 years (SD 15.1 years), 69.2% males, were analyzed. Malignant (29.4%), parapneumonic (19.8%) and secondary to heart failure (18.9%) effusions predominated. Patients with malignant and heart failure related PE had 1-year mortality rates of 60.0% and 30.8%, respectively, and 85% and 64.7% at 5 years. Male gender (hazard ratio [HR] 1.46; 95% CI: 1.03-2.07), positive cytology for malignancy (HR 1.66; 95% CI: 1.03-2.68) and effusion recurrence (HR 1.61; 95% CI: 1.17-2.21) were associated with a worse prognosis and 5-year mortality. Conclusions: Patients undergoing thoracentesis for effusion have a high short and long-term mortality. In our series of hospitalized patients with PE, the factors associated with higher mortality at 1 and 5 years were age, male sex, recurrence of PE, and coexistence of malignancy