[The e-cigarette - means of smoking cessation?] / Die E-Zigarette ­ Mittel zur Tabakentwöhnung?

After several years of declining tobacco consumption, the number of smokers in Germany is currently stagnating or rising again. The reasons seem to be manifold, e. g. stress caused by the pandemic with social isolation, rising cost of living and war in Europe.With tobacco use still widespread in the German population, evidence-based tobacco cessation is rarely implemented.According to recent studies, e-cigarettes are involved in the pathogenesis of lung disease, cardiac and vascular damage. In addition, their ingredients also have carcinogenic effects. However, clinical studies on long-term use are not yet available.E-cigarettes as a consumer product are not superior to nicotine replacement products and addiction-reducing medications recommended in guidelines. In the therapeutic setting, they are slightly more effective than nicotine replacement products. However, they are usually consumed continuously and thus perpetuate nicotine dependence. Their use increases the risk of relapse to tobacco smoking.Despite the various new approaches, such as Internet-based offerings, app, etc., talks and pharmacotherapy are the gold standard and more effective than any therapy on its own.

[Statement Paper on the Implementation of a National Organized Program in Germany for the Early Detection of Lung Cancer in Risk Populations Using Low-dose CT Screening Including Management of Screening Findings]. / Positionspapier zur Implementierung eines nationalen organisierten Programms in Deutschland zur Früherkennung von Lungenkrebs in Risikopopulationen mittels Low-Dose-CT-Screening inklusive Management von abklärungsbedürftigen Screening-Befunden.

The process of implementing early detection of lung cancer with low-dose CT (LDCT) in Germany has gained significant momentum in recent years. It is expected that the ordinance of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) on early detection of lung cancer, which has been commented on by the professional societies, will come into effect by the end of 2023. Based on this regulation, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) will set up a program for early lung cancer detection with LDCT in the near future. In this position paper, the specialist societies involved in lung cancer screening present concrete cornerstones for a uniform, structured and quality-assured early detection program for lung cancer in Germany to make a constructive contribution to this process.

[Statement paper on the implementation of a national organized program in Germany for the early detection of lung cancer in risk populations using low-dose CT screening including management of screening findings]. / Positionspapier zur Implementierung eines nationalen organisierten Programms in Deutschland zur Früherkennung von Lungenkrebs in Risikopopulationen mittels Low-dose-CT-Screening inklusive Management von abklärungsbedürftigen Screeningbefunden.

The process of implementing early detection of lung cancer with low-dose CT (LDCT) in Germany has gained significant momentum in recent years. It is expected that the ordinance of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) on early detection of lung cancer, which has been commented on by the professional societies, will come into effect by the end of 2023. Based on this regulation, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) will set up a program for early lung cancer detection with LDCT in the near future. In this position paper, the specialist societies involved in lung cancer screening present concrete cornerstones for a uniform, structured and quality-assured early detection program for lung cancer in Germany to make a constructive contribution to this process.

[Medical societies in Germany call for a ban on flavors in e-cigarettes - A Position Paper of the German Respiratory Society (DGP) in cooperation with other professional associations and organizations]. / Medizinische Fachgesellschaften fordern ein Verbot von Aromen in E-Zigaretten.

E-cigarettes are primarily used by teenagers and young adults. Flavors in e-cigarettes increase their attractiveness and encourage young people and adults to start using them. This exposes young people in particular to the risk of nicotine addiction and various toxic substances from the aerosol of e-cigarettes. There are indications that various flavors in e-cigarettes are harmful to health, although toxicological studies are still lacking for the majority of flavors. There is a need for independent scientific investigations in this area. The scientific societies involved are calling for a ban on flavors in e-cigarettes, a ban on disposable e-cigarettes, effective regulation of the sale of e-cigarettes and effective control and implementation of the provisions for the protection of minors.

[Smoking Cessation in Patients with COPD]. / Tabakentwöhnung bei COPD.

Tobacco dependence is a common comorbidity in patients with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) that negatively affects the course of the disease. However, clinically relevant improvement in COPD can only be achieved by complete and permanent abstinence. Therefore, abstinence from tobacco use is a central therapeutic concept in smoking patients with COPD and requires specific and targeted treatment.After detailed documentation of smoking behaviour and motivational counseling outlining the risks of smoking, all such patients shall be offered a structured therapy for tobacco cessation. There is high-quality evidence for the effectiveness of a combination therapy of behavioral therapy and medication (to treat the withdrawal syndrome). Due to insufficient data, there is currently no recommendation for the use of e-cigarettes as a primary option for a cessation attempt.Smoking is the most important cause of COPD. Smoking cessation is the most effective and cost-efficient single intervention to reduce the risk of developing and progressing COPD.

[Smoking cessation in hospitalised patients - Initiate among inpatients, continue when outpatients - A Position Paper by the German Respiratory Society (DGP) Taskforce for Smoking Cessation]. / Tabakentwöhnung bei hospitalisierten Patienten:innen ­ Stationär einleiten, ambulant fortführen.

Tobacco smoking is the greatest preventable health risk. The effects are serious, both individually and societal. Nevertheless, the current prevalence of tobacco smokers in Germany is still high at around 35 %. A recent strong increase in actively smoking adolescents (14- to 17-year-olds, current prevalence approx. 16 %) and young adults (18- to 24-year-olds, current prevalence approx. 41 %) is also a cause for concern. About a third of all inpatients continue smoking while being treated. The hospitalization of active smokers in acute and rehabilitation hospitals serves as a "teachable moment" for initiation of cessation offers. An intervention that begins in hospital and continues for at least a month after discharge results in about 40 % additional smokefree patients. It is scientifically well-researched, effective and cost-efficient. After initiation in hospital these measures can be continued via ambulatory cessation programs, rehabilitation facilities, an Internet or telephone service. In Germany, there are structured and quality-assured cessation offers, both for the inpatient and for the outpatient area. The biggest obstacle to broad establishment of such offers is the lack of reimbursement. Two feasible ways to change this would be the remuneration of the existing OPS 9-501 "Multimodal inpatient treatment for smoking cessation" and the establishment of quality contracts according to §â€Š110a SGB V. An expansion of tobacco cessation measures in healthcare facilities would reduce smoking prevalence, associated burden of disease and consecutive costs.

Symptom relief, prognostic factors, and outcome in patients receiving urgent radiation therapy for superior vena cava syndrome : A single-center retrospective analysis of 21 years' practice.

PURPOSE: Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) often results from external vessel compression due to tumor growth. Urgent symptom-guided radiotherapy (RT) remains a major treatment approach in histologically proven, rapidly progressive disease. Despite several publications, recent data concerning symptom relief and oncological outcome as well as potential confounders in treatment response are still scarce. METHODS: We performed a retrospective single-center analysis of patients receiving urgent RT between 2000 and 2021 at the University Medical Center Göttingen. Symptom relief was evaluated by CTCAE score during the RT course. Effects of variables on symptom relief were assessed by logistic regression. The impact of parameters on overall survival (OS) was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier plot along with the log-rank test and by Cox regression analyses. Statistically significant (p-value < 0.05) confounders were tested in multivariable analyses. RESULTS: A total of 79 patients were included. Symptom relief was achieved in 68.4%. Mean OS was 59 days, 7.6% (n = 6) of patients showed long-term survival (> 2 years). Applied RT dose > 39 Gy, clinical target volume (CTV) size < 387 ml, concomitant chemotherapy, and completion of the prescribed RT course were found to be statistically significant for OS; applied RT dose and completion of the prescribed RT course were found to be statistically significant for symptom relief. CONCLUSION: Symptom relief by urgent RT for SVCS was achieved in the majority of patients. RT dose and completion of the RT course were documented as predictors for OS and symptom relief, CTV < 387 ml and concomitant chemotherapy were predictive for OS.

CT in Patients With External Fixation for Complex Lower Extremity Fractures: Impact of Iterative Metal Artifact Reduction Techniques on Metal Artifact Burden and Subjective Quality.

BACKGROUND. Lower extremity external fixators have complex geometries that induce pronounced metal artifact on CT. Iterative metal artifact reduction (iMAR) algorithms help reduce such artifact, although no dedicated iMAR preset exists for external fixators. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of our study was to compare iMAR presets for CT examinations in terms of quantitative metal artifact burden and subjective image quality in patients with external fixators for complex lower extremity fractures. METHODS. This retrospective study included 72 CT examinations in 56 patients (20 women, 36 men; mean age, 56 ± 18 [SD] years) with lower extremity external fixators (regular, hybrid, or monotube). Examinations were reconstructed without iMAR (hereafter referred to as "noMAR") and with three iMAR presets (iMARspine, iMARhip, iMARextremity). A radiology resident quantified metal artifact burden using software. Two radiology residents independently assessed overall image quality and diagnostic confidence using 4-point scales (4 = excellent [highest quality or highest confidence]). Techniques were compared using Bonferroni-corrected post hoc tests. Interreader agreement was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). A post hoc multinomial regression model was used for predicting overall image quality. RESULTS. Mean quantitative metal artifact burden was 100,816 ± 45,558 for noMAR, 88,889 ± 44,028 for iMARspine, 82,295 ± 41,983 for iMARhip, and 81,956 ± 41,890 for iMARextremity. Overall image quality yielded an ICC of 0.94 or greater. Using pooled reader data, median overall image quality score for the regular fixator was 2 (noMAR), 3 (iMARspine and iMARhip), and 4 (iMARextremity); for the hybrid fixator, 1 (noMAR), 2 (iMARspine), and 3 (iMARhip and iMARextremity); and for the monotube fixator, 2 (noMAR), 3 (iMARspine and iMARhip), and 4 (iMARextremity). Metal artifact burden was lower and overall image quality was higher (p < .05) for iMARhip and iMARextremity than noMAR and iMARspine for all fixators (aside from image quality of iMARhip and iMARextremity vs iMARspine for regular fixators) but were not different (all, p > .05) between iMARhip and iMARextremity. Median diagnostic confidence was 4 for all fixators and reconstructions. Independent predictors of overall quality relative to noMAR were iMARspine (odds ratio [OR] = 1.92-5.51), iMARhip (OR = 5.56-31.10), and iMARextremity (OR = 7.07-38.21). All iMAR presets introduced new reconstruction artifacts for all examinations for both readers. CONCLUSION. For the three fixator types, iMARhip and iMARextremity achieved greatest metal artifact burden reduction and highest subjective image quality, although both introduced new reconstruction artifacts. CLINICAL IMPACT. CT using the two identified iMAR presets may facilitate perioperative management of external fixators.

Endoscopic Lung Volume Reduction with One-Way Valves in Patients with Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Hypercapnia.

BACKGROUND: Robust clinical evidence on the efficacy and safety of endoscopic lung volume reduction (ELVR) with one-way valves in patients with severe lung emphysema with chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure is lacking. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare patient characteristics, clinical outcome measures, and incidences of adverse events between patients with severe COPD undergoing ELVR with one-way valves and with either a partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) of ≤45 mm Hg or with pCO2 >45 mm Hg. METHODS: This was a multicentre prospective study of patients with severe lung disease who were evaluated based on lung function, exercise capacity (6-min walk test [6-MWT]), and quality-of-life tests. RESULTS: Patients with pCO2 ≤45 mm Hg (n = 157) and pCO2 >45 mm Hg (n = 40) showed similar baseline characteristics. Patients with pCO2 ≤45 mm Hg demonstrated a significant increase in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (p < 0.001), a significant decrease in residual volume (RV) (p < 0.001), and significant improvements in the quality of life and 6-MWT at the 3-month follow-up. Patients with pCO2 >45 mm Hg had significant improvements in RV only (p < 0.05). There was a significant decrease in pCO2 between baseline and follow-up in hypercapnic patients, relative to the decrease in patients with pCO2 ≤45 mm Hg (p = 0.008). Patients who were more hypercapnic at baseline showed a greater reduction in pCO2 after valve placement (r = -0.38, p < 0.001). Pneumothorax was the most common adverse event in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: ELVR with one-way valves seems clinically beneficial with a remarkably good safety profile for patients with chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure.

Smoking cessation by combined medication and counselling: a feasibility study in lung cancer patients.

PURPOSE: Smoking cessation in patients with diagnosed lung cancer has positive effects on cancer therapy and overall prognosis. Despite this, knowledge on smoking cessation in lung cancer patients is sparse. METHODS: This is an observational single centre, 12-week, prospective, single-arm trial at a tertiary lung cancer centre. Responsive patients were enrolled following confirmed lung cancer diagnosis. Smoking cessation intervention included counselling as well as pharmacotherapy. The primary endpoint was the point prevalence abstinence rate at week 12 based on biochemical verification. Secondary endpoints were the abstinence rate at week 26, quality of life and side effects. RESULTS: 80 patients were enrolled. Mean age was 62.6 ± 7.9 years. Most patients (63%) were treated with chemotherapy or radiochemotherapy. 39 patients used nicotine replacement therapy, 35 varenicline whereas six patients did not use pharmacotherapy. During the study period 13 patients died. Data were available in 72 patients after 12 weeks and 57 patients at week 24. Point prevalence abstinence rates were 37.5% (95% CI 26.4-49.7%) at week 12 and 32.8% (95% CI 21.8-45.4%) at week 26, respectively. Quality of life and side effects were not significantly affected by pharmacotherapy. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our results suggest that smoking cessation is feasible in patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer. The observed abstinence rate is comparable to other patient cohorts. Furthermore, pharmacotherapy in addition to cancer therapy was safe and did not show novel side effects in these seriously ill patients. Thus, smoking cessation should be an integral part of lung cancer treatment. Trial registration The study was conducted in accordance with good clinical practice standards (GCP) and approved by the local ethics committee (16/3/14), the European PAS registry (EUPAS8748) and the German BfArM (NIS-Studien-Nr. 5508). All patients provided written informed consent before study enrollment.

S3 Guideline "Smoking and Tobacco Dependence: Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment" - Short Version.

INTRODUCTION: In addition to the prevention of tobacco consumption, the establishment and assurance of high-quality treatment for harmful use and dependence on tobacco products remains an important health-related task in Germany. Regular updating of the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies (AWMF) S3 guideline "Smoking and Tobacco Dependence: Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment" (Tobacco Guideline) offers a sustainable and reputable source of knowledge on smoking cessation. METHODS: Under the auspices of the German Society for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics, and Neurology (DGPPN) and the German Society for Addiction Research and Addiction Therapy (DG-Sucht), the Tobacco Guideline was revised in 2019-2020 by 63 experts, who were involved in the development process of the text, in 11 working groups. Undue influence of conflicts of interest on the guideline could be minimized through careful conflict of interest management. Delegates from 50 professional societies discussed the 80 guideline recommendations and voted online. RESULTS: In addition to recommendations for screening and diagnostics, the Tobacco Guideline takes a positive stance towards the use of low-threshold counseling and support services. If, due to the severity of the tobacco-related disorder, brief counseling, telephone counseling, or internet- or smartphone-based methods are not sufficiently effective, individual or group behavioral therapy, possibly in combination with medication, is indicated. If nicotine replacement therapy is not effective, varenicline or bupropion should be offered. Alternative strategies with a lower level of recommendation are hypnotherapy, mindfulness-based treatments, or medication with cytisine. In adolescents and pregnant women, the use of medication should be limited to well-specified exceptions and nicotine replacement. The mean agreement with the recommendations reached a value of 98%. A general overview of the treatment recommendations of the Tobacco Guideline is provided by three clinical algorithms.

miR449 Protects Airway Regeneration by Controlling AURKA/HDAC6-Mediated Ciliary Disassembly.

Airway mucociliary regeneration and function are key players for airway defense and are impaired in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Using transcriptome analysis in COPD-derived bronchial biopsies, we observed a positive correlation between cilia-related genes and microRNA-449 (miR449). In vitro, miR449 was strongly increased during airway epithelial mucociliary differentiation. In vivo, miR449 was upregulated during recovery from chemical or infective insults. miR0449-/- mice (both alleles are deleted) showed impaired ciliated epithelial regeneration after naphthalene and Haemophilus influenzae exposure, accompanied by more intense inflammation and emphysematous manifestations of COPD. The latter occurred spontaneously in aged miR449-/- mice. We identified Aurora kinase A and its effector target HDAC6 as key mediators in miR449-regulated ciliary homeostasis and epithelial regeneration. Aurora kinase A is downregulated upon miR449 overexpression in vitro and upregulated in miR449-/- mouse lungs. Accordingly, imaging studies showed profoundly altered cilia length and morphology accompanied by reduced mucociliary clearance. Pharmacological inhibition of HDAC6 rescued cilia length and coverage in miR449-/- cells, consistent with its tubulin-deacetylating function. Altogether, our study establishes a link between miR449, ciliary dysfunction, and COPD pathogenesis.

[Tobacco Cessation - The Underused Potential in Clinical Routine]. / Tabakentwöhnung ­ die bisher wenig genutzte Chance im ärztlichen Alltag.

Tobacco control, psychosocial and medical assistance regarding tobacco cessation is still a hidden potential within the German health care system. So far doctors rarely talk to their patients about their smoking status and physical and psychological benefits of quitting.This paper focusses on recommended current diagnostic and treatment standards, as well as evidence-based methods to address the topic on how to stop smoking and its association with certain diseases such as COPD, lung cancer and COVID-19 infection. The role of e-cigarettes as a cessation tool and its health related risks are critically examined. Consequences and advice how to implement smoking cessation procedures into daily practice are presented.

[COVID-19 and Smoking - A Position Paper by the DGP Taskforce for Smoking Cessation]. / COVID-19 und Rauchen.

Tobacco smoking is associated with severe health risks. In 2020, the WHO estimated that 8 million people have died due to smoking. Furthermore, smoking tobacco is a well-known risk factor for various infectious pulmonary diseases. The question raised, whether smoking is facilitating SARS-CoV-2-infections and increases adverse outcomes of COVID-19. To answer these questions a narrative review was conducted, finally including 7 systematic reviews with meta-analyses published in January and February 2021. Tobacco smoking was associated with an increased COVID-19 disease severity (odds ratio range of active vs. never smokers 1.55-2.19 and former vs. never smokers 1.20-2.48) and an increased COVID-19 in-hospital mortality (odds ratio range of active vs. never smokers 1.35-1.51 and former vs. never smokers 1.26-2.58). Beside immediate pulmonary toxic effects through active smoking, the cumulative livelong tobacco exposition and subsequent tobacco-associated diseases seem to predominantly predict adverse outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Data regarding an increased risk of infection among smokers is conflicting. However, a large observational study from England with 2.4 million persons reported an association between tobacco smoking and typical symptoms of COVID-19. For e-cigarettes and vaping less data exist, but experimental and first clinical investigations also suggest an increased risk for adverse outcomes for their use and SARS-CoV-2 infections. Especially during the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic with limited therapeutic options it is particularly important to advise smokers of their increased risks for unfavourable COVID-19 outcomes. Evidence based support for smoking cessation should be offered. In Germany, the existing and well-established methods to support tobacco cessation need to be reimbursed by statutory health insurances.

Survival and course of lung function in the presence or absence of antifibrotic treatment in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: long-term results of the INSIGHTS-IPF registry.

OBJECTIVE: There is a paucity of observational data on antifibrotic therapy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We aimed to assess the course of disease of IPF patients with and without antifibrotic therapy under real-life conditions. METHODS: We analysed data from a non-interventional, prospective cohort study of consecutively enrolled IPF patients from 20 interstitial lung disease expert centres in Germany. Data quality was ensured by automated plausibility checks, on-site monitoring, and source data verification. Propensity scores were applied to account for known differences in baseline characteristics between patients with and without antifibrotic therapy. RESULTS: Among the 588 patients suitable for analysis, the mean±sd age was 69.8±9.1 years, and 81.0% were male. The mean±sd duration of disease since diagnosis was 1.8±3.4 years. The mean±sd value at baseline for forced vital capacity (FVC) and diffusion capacity (D LCO) were 68.6±18.8% predicted and 37.8±18.5% predicted, respectively. During a mean±sd follow-up of 1.2±0.7 years, 194 (33.0%) patients died. The 1-year and 2-year survival rates were 87% versus 46% and 62% versus 21%, respectively, for patients with versus without antifibrotic therapy. The risk of death was 37% lower in patients with antifibrotic therapy (hazard ratio 0.63, 95% CI 0.45; 0.87; p=0.005). The results were robust (and remained statistically significant) on multivariable analysis. Overall decline of FVC and D LCO was slow and did not differ significantly between patients with or without antifibrotic therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Survival was significantly higher in IPF patients with antifibrotic therapy, but the course of lung function parameters was similar in patients with and without antifibrotic therapy. This suggests that in clinical practice, premature mortality of IPF patients eventually occurs despite stable measurements for FVC and D LCO.

Decline of COPD exacerbations in clinical trials over two decades - a systematic review and meta-regression.

BACKGROUND: An important goal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treatment is to reduce the frequency of exacerbations. Some observations suggest a decline in exacerbation rates in clinical trials over time. A more systematic understanding would help to improve the design and interpretation of COPD trials. METHODS: We performed a systematic review and meta-regression of the placebo groups in published randomized controlled trials reporting exacerbations as an outcome. A Bayesian negative binomial model was developed to accommodate results that are reported in different formats; results are reported with credible intervals (CI) and posterior tail probabilities (pB). RESULTS: Of 1114 studies identified by our search, 55 were ultimately included. Exacerbation rates decreased by 6.7% (95% CI (4.4, 9.0); pB <  0.001) per year, or 50% (95% CI (36, 61)) per decade. Adjusting for available study and baseline characteristics such as forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) did not alter the observed trend considerably. Two subsets of studies, one using a true placebo group and the other allowing inhaled corticosteroids in the "placebo" group, also yielded consistent results. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this meta-regression indicates that the rate of COPD exacerbations decreased over the past two decades to a clinically relevant extent independent of important prognostic factors. This suggests that care is needed in the design of new trials or when comparing results from older trials with more recent ones. Also a considerable effect of adjunct therapy on COPD exacerbations can be assumed. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO 2018 CRD4218118823.

The clinical course of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and its association to quality of life over time: longitudinal data from the INSIGHTS-IPF registry.

BACKGROUND: Quality of life (QoL) is profoundly impaired in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, data is limited regarding the course of QoL. We therefore analysed longitudinal data from the German INSIGHTS-IPF registry. METHODS: Clinical status and QoL were assessed at enrollment and subsequently at 6- to 12-months intervals. A range of different QoL questionnaires including the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) were used. RESULTS: Data from 424 patients were included; 76.9% male; mean age 68.7 ± 9.1 years, mean FVC% predicted 75.9 ± 19.4, mean DLCO% predicted 36.1 ± 15.9. QoL worsened significantly during follow-up with higher total SGRQ scores (increased by 1.47 per year; 95% CI: 1.17 to 1.76; p < 0.001) and higher UCSD-SOBQ scores and lower EQ-5D VAS and WHO-5 scores. An absolute decline in FVC% predicted of > 10% was associated with a significant deterioration in SGRQ (increasing by 9.08 units; 95% CI: 2.48 to 15.67; p = 0.007), while patients with stable or improved FVC had no significantly change in SGRQ. Patients with a > 10% decrease of DLCO % predicted also had a significant increase in SGRQ (+ 7.79 units; 95% CI: 0.85 to 14.73; p = 0.028), while SQRQ was almost stable in patients with stable or improved DLCO. Patients who died had a significant greater increase in SGRQ total scores (mean 11.8 ± 18.6) at their last follow-up visit prior to death compared to survivors (mean 4.2 ± 18.9; HR = 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.04; p < 0.001). All QoL scores across the follow-up period were significantly worse in hospitalised patients compared to non-hospitalised patients, with the worst scores reported in those hospitalised for acute exacerbations. CONCLUSIONS: QoL assessments in the INSIGHTS-IPF registry demonstrate a close relationship between QoL and clinically meaningful changes in lung function, comorbidities, disease duration and clinical course of IPF, including hospitalisation and mortality.

Effect of long-acting ß2-agonists olodaterol and formoterol on heart rate and blood pressure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular comorbidities are common in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and elevated heart rate reflects increased cardiovascular risk over time, which is associated with unfavourable neurohumoral activation. Long-acting ß2-agonists (LABAs) are established treatments in COPD, but potentially increase heart rate. We report a post hoc pooled analysis of the effect of olodaterol (5 or 10 µg) or formoterol (12 µg) on heart rate and blood pressure (BP) in Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease Stage 2-4 COPD patients. METHODS: Four randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase III studies were analysed. Changes in heart rate and systolic/diastolic BP were measured before and after dosing with the study medication at each visit. RESULTS: At each study visit, the increase in pre-dose heart rate was numerically lower with both LABAs compared with placebo. Systolic and diastolic BP were decreased with all treatments. Short-term (pre-dose to 40 min post-dose) effects of drug administration on heart rate were small and similar for all treatment arms (between -3 and +1 beats per minute). CONCLUSION: Heart rate and BP were not adversely influenced in this study involving long-term administration of olodaterol or formoterol in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD. This supports the cardiovascular safety of LABAs in COPD maintenance treatment.

Definition, discrimination, diagnosis and treatment of central breathing disturbances during sleep.

The complexity of central breathing disturbances during sleep has become increasingly obvious. They present as central sleep apnoeas (CSAs) and hypopnoeas, periodic breathing with apnoeas, or irregular breathing in patients with cardiovascular, other internal or neurological disorders, and can emerge under positive airway pressure treatment or opioid use, or at high altitude. As yet, there is insufficient knowledge on the clinical features, pathophysiological background and consecutive algorithms for stepped-care treatment. Most recently, it has been discussed intensively if CSA in heart failure is a "marker" of disease severity or a "mediator" of disease progression, and if and which type of positive airway pressure therapy is indicated. In addition, disturbances of respiratory drive or the translation of central impulses may result in hypoventilation, associated with cerebral or neuromuscular diseases, or severe diseases of lung or thorax. These statements report the results of an European Respiratory Society Task Force addressing actual diagnostic and therapeutic standards. The statements are based on a systematic review of the literature and a systematic two-step decision process. Although the Task Force does not make recommendations, it describes its current practice of treatment of CSA in heart failure and hypoventilation.