RESUMO
There is an unmet need for new therapies in severe persistent asthma. Bronchial thermoplasty is a bronchoscopic procedure which employs radiofrequency energy to reduce airway smooth muscle and has been demonstrated to improve symptomatic control in severe persistent asthma in other populations. Seven patients have completed bronchial thermoplasty at a tertiary referral centre in Ireland. Asthma Control Test scores and data on hospitalisations, exacerbations, maintenance corticosteroid requirements, rescue bronchodilator use and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) were compared one year before and one year post treatment. Significant improvements were demonstrated in mean Asthma Control Test scores, from 8.9 to 14.7 (p = 0.036). Trends towards improvement were seen in mean hospitalisations (respective values for total in 12 month period 5.0, 0.9; p = 0.059) and PEFR (181.4 l/min, 280 l/min respectively; p = 0.059). These data support the use of bronchial thermoplasty in severe persistent asthma in the Irish population.
RESUMO
COPD exacerbations results in prolonged hospitalisation, re-admissions, reduces health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and increases mortality. The study aimed to assess the efficacy of a COPD Outreach service in reducing average length of stay (ALOS), reducing readmissions within 90 days of admission, improving HRQoL and reducing mortality among COPD patients with acute exacerbations (AECOPD). AECOPD data for a 2 year period commencing September 2011 was analysed. The COPD Assessment test (CAT) quantified HRQoL at enrolment and 6 weeks post Outreach. COPD Outreach had an ALOS of 2.47 days compared to ALOS 8.59 days and 8.5 days for all AECOPD before and during an operational COPD Outreach. Re-admission rates among patients enrolled in COPD Outreach were 36.3%. CAT improved from mean 19.3 to 13.5. Mortality was 4.9% among Outreach patients and 2.5% for overall AECOPD in 2012-2013. COPD Outreach reduced ALOS and improved HRQoL for selected patients with AECOPD. It did not reduce re-admissions or mortality.