FACTORS AFFECTING THE FREQUENCY OF EXACERBATIONS IN ADULT PATIENTS WITH BRONCHIECTASIS.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: This study aims to determine specific predictive factors of bronchiectasis exacerbations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: 47 patients with bronchiectasis were prospectively recruited into the study in Dnipro, Ukraine. Following the number of exacerbations during the previous year, they were divided into two groups: frequent exacerbators - ≥ 3 cases per year (n = 24) and non-frequent exacerbators - < 3 cases per year (n = 23). Demographic and anthropometric data, medical history, smoking status, shortness of breath by Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale, sputum culture, respiratory function by computed spirometry, disease severity by Bronchiectasis Severity index and FACED scales were evaluated in both groups. RESULTS: Results: The factors found to be independently associated with frequent exacerbations were: overweight, airway obstruction, longer duration of the disease, more severe dyspnea, greater number of involved pulmonary lobes and presence of one or more comorbid conditions. Non-influencing factors were: underweight, age, sex, smoking status and, unexpectedly, presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa or other pathogens in sputum culture. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: Particular attention is required for patients with bronchiectasis who have overweight, airway obstruction, longer duration of the disease, more severe dyspnea, the greater number of involved pulmonary lobes and presence of one or more comorbid conditions in order to correct modifiable risk factors of future exacerbations.

Radiological Findings on Chest Computed Tomography in Patients With the Primary Diagnosed Chronic Lymphoproliferative Diseases.

Introduction The presence of concomitant respiratory pathology complicates the process of treatment and recovery of patients with chronic lymphoproliferative diseases (CLDs). Therefore, the diagnosis of lung injury is an important step in the management of such patients. Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, nature, extent, and location of changes diagnosed by high-resolution chest computed tomography (CT) in patients with CLDs at the initial examination. Methods Medical records of inpatients who were hospitalized in 2018-2019 to the City Hematology Center of the Public Non-Profit Enterprise "City Clinical Hospital #4" of Dnipro City Council with a confirmed clinical diagnosis of CLDs were included in the retrospective study. The results of initial high-resolution chest CT were studied and analyzed. Results Out of 1,004 hospitalized patients with confirmed CLDs, 119 patients were primarily diagnosed. Among them, 81 patients underwent chest CT examination (68.1%) before the beginning of specific therapy. The average age was 65 (56;68) years, 46 (56.8%) were men. 23 (28.4%) patients were diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, 28 (34.6%) patients with multiple myeloma, 24 (29.6%) patients with lymphoma, and six patients (7.4%) had other CLDs. It was found that both central and peripheral lymphadenopathy had about a third of the studied cohort of patients (33.3 and 29.6%, respectively), and these symptoms dominated in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (43.5 and 50%, respectively), lymphoma (50 and 52.2%, respectively), and other CLDs (45.8 and 16.7%, respectively), in contrast to patients with multiple myeloma (7.1 and 0%, respectively). Lesions of the lung parenchyma were found in 45.7% of the studied cohort and were met more often in patients with multiple myeloma (67.9%). However, when comparing the prevalence of their categories, no statistically significant differences were found. Predictable bone-destructive changes were statistically significantly more common in patients with multiple myeloma than in other groups of patients with CLDs (P=0.0003). Conclusions Signs of pulmonary diseases during initial chest CT were found almost in half of the patients with CLDs. It potentially may affect the frequency of treatment complications in such patients. Lymphadenopathy was the most common finding on chest CT, especially in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and lymphoma. And enlarged intrathoracic lymph nodes possibly could lead to pulmonary functions disorders. Among the types of lung parenchyma lesions, pneumofibrosis and foci of consolidation in the lower lung lobes were the most often diagnosed. Chest CT is informative at the stage of the initial examination of patients with CLDs not only for clinical diagnosis but also for the diagnosis of respiratory comorbidities and prediction of the disease outcome and treatment complications.

ERS International Congress 2020: highlights from the Respiratory Infections assembly.

In the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic year 2020, the 30th European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress took place for the first time in a fully virtual format. Despite the challenging nature of the task to create and deliver an online event of this size and scope, it turned out to be a great success, welcoming over 33 000 delegates to the specially designed online platform and offering more than 450 scientific and educational sessions. Somewhat predictably, this year's ERS International Congress dedicated a full day to the topic of COVID-19, highlighting that infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a respiratory disease that is particularly important this year. In this article, the Early Career Members of the Assembly 10 (Respiratory Infections and Tuberculosis) review some of the most interesting sessions including presentations and posters on respiratory infections and tuberculosis that were deemed as important.