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.
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 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.
Objective To investigate the impact of nutritional risk on unplanned readmissions in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), to provide evidence for clinical nutrition support intervention. Methods Elderly patients with COPD meeting the inclusive criteria and admitted between June 2014 and May 2015 were recruited and investigated with nutritional risk screening 2002 (NRS 2002) and unplanned readmission scale. Meanwhile, the patients’ body height and body weight were measured for calculating body mass index (BMI). Results The average score of nutritional risk screening of the elderly COPD patients was 4.65±1.33. There were 456 (40.07%) patients who had no nutritional risk and 682 (59.93%) patients who had nutritional risk. There were 47 (4.13%) patients with unplanned readmissions within 15 days, 155 (13.62%) patients within 30 days, 265 (23.28%) patients within 60 days, 336 (29.53%) patients within 180 days, and 705 (61.95%) patients within one year. The patients with nutritional risk had significantly higher possibilities of unplanned readmissions within 60 days, 180 days and one year than the patients with no nutritional risk (all P<0.05). The nutritional risk, age and severity of disease influenced unplanned readmissions of the elderly patients with COPD (all P<0.05). Conclusions There is a close correlation between nutritional risk and unplanned readmissions in elderly patients with COPD. Doctors and nurses should take some measures to reduce the nutritional risk so as to decrease the unplanned readmissions to some degree.
Objective To investigate the changes of pulmonary diffusing capacity and pulmonary capillary blood volume in stable COPD patients with mixed ventilation dysfunction, and explore the possible pathophysiological factors. Methods 159 stable COPD patients with mixed ventilation dysfunction were recruited in the study and 36 normal subjects were recruited as control. The Belgium medisoft box5500 was used to determine the pulmonary ventilation function, lung capacity, and pulmonary diffusing capacity. The measured parameters included forced vital capacity ( FVC) , forced expiratory volume in one second ( FEV1 ) ,maximal voluntary ventilation ( MVV) , vital capacity ( VC) , total lung capacity( TLC) , residual volume ( RV) , minute volume of alveolar ventilation ( VA ) , lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide ( DLCO) , pulmonary membrane diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide ( DMCO) , and pulmonary capillary blood volume ( Vc) . The above parameters were compared between the COPD patients and the normal subjects. The relationship was analyzed between DLCO% pred, DMCO% pred, Vc% pred and all the ventilation parameters. Results In stable COPD patients with mixed ventilation dysfunction, all parameters of pulmonary ventilation function, lung capacity, and pulmonary diffusing capacity were significantly different from the normal subjects ( Plt;0. 05 or Plt;0.01) . FVC, VC, VA, and DMCO of the COPD patients were about 66% of the calculated value or more. The average TLC%pred was a little higher than the normal. FEV1 , MVV, DLCO and Vc were abnormally lower which were between 36% ～44% . The average RV%pred was 188% of the predicted value. Obvious correlation could be detected between DLCO% pred, DMCO% pred, Vc%pred and FEV1%pred, FEV1/FVC, TLC% pred, RV%pred, RV/TLC and VA% pred etc.Conclusions In COPD patients with mixed ventilation dysfunction, the pulmonary blood capillary is damaged seriously which lead to a significant decrease of the capacity of pulmonary blood capillary, as well as seriously air distribution disturbance and ventilation/bloodstream mismatch. The Vc decline may develope before the impairment of pulmonary diffusing capacity which may contribute to the damaged of DLCO and DMCO.
Objective To investigate the risk factors of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) combined with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and its relationship with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Methods Clinical data of 216 COPD patients with OSA were retrospectively chosen in the period from January 2016 to December 2019 in our hospital. All patients were divided into different groups according to with or without OSA and the clinical features of patients with and without OSA were compared. Multivariate analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors of COPD with OSA and the correlation between AHI and COPD with OSA was also evaluated. Results ① The age, body mass index (BMI), neck circumference, smoking index, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), FEV1% predicted (FEV1pred), the ratio of FEV1 to the forced vital capacity of the lungs (FEV1/FVC), COPD assessment test (CAT) score, Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) score, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) score, sleep apnea clinical score (SACS) score and proportion of patients with essential hypertension in OSA group were significantly higher than non-OSA group (P<0.05). The course of disease and the proportion of severe COPD and GOLD grade 4 in OSA group were significantly less than non-OSA group (P<0.05). ② AHI was positively correlated with age, BMI, neck circumference, smoking index, FEV1%pred, FEV1%pred<50%, CAT score, ESS score, CCI score and SACS score (P<0.05); and negatively correlated with FEV1%pred<50% (P<0.05). ③ Multivariate analysis showed that BMI, FEV1%pred<50%, CAT score and ESS score were the independent factors of COPD patients with OSA (P<0.05). ④ The proportion of AHI<5 times/h in GOLD grade 4 was significantly higher than GOLD grade 1-3 (P<0.05). The proportion of AHI> 30 times/h in GOLD grade 4 was significantly lower than GOLD grade 1-3 (P<0.05). Conclusion The incidence of COPD with OSA was independently correlated with BMI, FEV1%pred, CAT score and ESS score; patients with severe COPD possess lower OSA risk.