Bronchiectasis in Türkiye: Data from a Multicenter Registry (Turkish Adult Bronchiectasis Database).

Background: Bronchiectasis is a chronic lung disease characterized by permanent bronchial wall dilatation. Although it has been known as an orphan disease, it has recently gained attention because of registry-based studies and drug research. Aims: We aimed to use a multicenter database to analyze and compare data regarding the etiology, associated comorbidities, microbiological characteristics, and preventive strategies of bronchiectasis in Türkiye to those of other countries. Study Design: A multicenter prospective cohort study. Methods: The multicenter, prospective cohort study was conducted between March 2019 and January 2022 using the Turkish Adult Bronchiectasis Database, in which 25 centers in Türkiye participated. Patients aged > 18 years who presented with respiratory symptoms such as cough, sputum, and dyspnea and were diagnosed with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis using computed tomography were included in the study. Demographic information, etiologies, comorbidities, pulmonary functions, and microbiological, radiological, and clinical data were collected from the patients. Results: Of the 1,035 study participants, 518 (50%) were females. The mean age of the patients was 56.1 ± 16.1 years. The underlying etiology was detected in 565 (54.6%) patients. While postinfectious origin was the most common cause of bronchiectasis (39.5%), tuberculosis was identified in 11.3% of the patients. An additional comorbidity was detected in 688 (66.5%) patients. The most common comorbidity was cardiovascular disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis was identified in 19.5% of the patients. The most commonly detected microbiological agent was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (29.4%). Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) were used in 70.1% of the patients, and the frequency of exacerbations in the last year was significantly higher in patients using ICS than in nonusers (p < 0.0001). Age [odds ratio (OR): 1.028; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.005-1.051], cachexia (OR: 4.774; 95% CI: 2,054-11,097), high modified medical research council dyspnea scale score (OR: 1,952; 95% CI: 1,459-2,611), presence of chronic renal failure (OR: 4,172; 95% CI: 1,249-13,938) and use of inhaled steroids (OR: 2,587; 95% CI: 1,098-6,098) were significant risk factors for mortality. Mortality rates were higher in patients with COPD than in those with no COPD (21.7-9.1%, p = 0.016). Patients with bronchiectasis and COPD exhibited more frequent exacerbations, exacerbation-related hospitalizations, and hospitalization in the intensive care unit in the previous year than patients without COPD. Conclusion: This is the first multicenter study of bronchiectasis in Türkiye. The study results will provide important data that can guide the development of health policies in Türkiye on issues such as infection control, vaccination, and the unnecessary use of antibiotics and steroids.

A valuable endobronchial ultrasound scoring system predicting malignant lymph nodes.

Background: This study aims to determine the sonographic criteria of lymph nodes to predict malignancy with endobronchial ultrasound. Methods: A total of 1,987 lymph nodes of 967 patients (666 males, 301 females; mean age: 62.1±11.9 years; range, 21 to 90 years) between May 2016 and July 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The endobronchial ultrasound images of lymph nodes were evaluated according to the following criteria: size (short axis >1 cm), shape (round or oval), margin (distinct or indistinct), coagulation necrosis sign (present or absent), central hilar structure (present or absent) and echogenicity (homogeneous or heterogeneous). A scoring system was developed for predicting malignancy. Results: A total of 765 (38.5%) of the lymph nodes were malignant. In the univariate analysis, size >1 cm, round shape, distinct margin, absence of central hilar structure, presence of coagulation necrosis sign, and heterogeneity were significant predictors of malignancy (p<0.001 for all). In the multivariate analysis, the main independent predictors were heterogeneity and presence of coagulation necrosis sign (odds ratio=5.9, 95% confidence interval: 4.2-8.2 vs. odds ratio=3.1 95% confidence interval: 2.2-4.5, respectively). A cut-off value for endobronchial ultrasound score of ≥4 increased the malignancy risk 30 times with a sensitivity of 84.7%, and specificity of 84.5%. Conclusion: Our study results show that endobronchial ultrasound scoring system with six criteria has a high sensitivity and specificity for predicting malignant lymph nodes.

Transbronchial lung cr onchial lung cryobiopsy for the diagnosis of diffuse obiopsy for the diagnosis of diffuse parenchymal lung disease: Pitfalls and challenges, a single center experience.

BACKGROUND: : Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) is a minimally invasive technique of the diagnosis of diffuse parenchymal lung diseases (DPLD). The aim of this study is to determine the clinical-radiological and histopathological characteristics of patients in whom cryobiopsy contributes to the diagnosis. METHODS: : In this retrospective study, we searched for the medical records of patients who underwent TBLC from July 2015 to March 2020 at the pulmonology department of our university hospital clinic. Radiological images were evaluated by a chest radiologist experienced in DPLD. Prediagnosis was indicated by clinical-radiological findings. The final diagnosis was determined by the contribution of histopathological diagnosis. The agreement of pretest/posttest diagnosis and the diagnostic yield of TBLC were calculated. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients with female predominance (59.0%) and current or ex-smoker (49.2%) made up the study population. We found the diagnostic yield of TBLC 88.5%. The most common radiological and clinical-radiological diagnosis was idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) (n = 12, 19.6%) while the most common multidisciplinary final diagnosis was cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) (n = 14, %22.9). The concordance of pre/posttests was significant (p < 0.001) with a kappa agreement = 0.485. The usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) diagnosis was detected in six patients among 12 who were prediagnosed as IPF having also a suspicion of other DPLD by clinical-radiological evaluation (p < 0.001). After the contribution of TBLC, the multidisciplinary final diagnosis of 22(36.1) patients changed. The histopathological diagnosis in which the clinical-radiological diagnosis changed the most was nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP). DISCUSSION: We found the overall diagnostic yield of TBLC high. The pretest clinical-radiological diagnosis was often compatible with the multidisciplinary final diagnosis. However, TBLC is useful for the confirmation of clinical radiological diagnosis as well as clinical entities such as NSIP which is difficult to diagnose clinical-radiological. We also suggest that TBLC should be considered in patients whose clinicopathological IPF diagnosis is not precise.

F-18 FDG PET/CT findings of intrathoracic lymphadenopathy in EBUS-TBNA-proven anthracosis.

Introduction: Anthracosis is a kind of pneumoconiosis that may cause parenchymal and bronchiolar injury and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. In this study, we aimed to investigate F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computerized tomography (PET/CT) findings of patients who had anthracosis diagnosis with endobronchial ultrasonography (EBUS). Materials and Methods: The patients who underwent EBUS-transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) and were diagnosed with anthracosis in a five year period were included in the study. The diagnosis was confirmed by surgery/ radiological stability. Demographic characteristics such as age, sex, smoking status, and occupational and environmental exposures were recorded. The characteristics: diameter (short axis), shape, central hilar structure, necrosis sign, echogenicity, and margins measured by EBUS, and maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max value) by PET/CT of the lymph node stations were evaluated. Result: One hundred thirty-three patients with 239 lymph node stations were investigated. Biomass exposure was detected in nearly half of the patients (n= 55, 41.4%) and occupational exposure was detected in 32 (24.1%) patients. Eighty-six (64.7%) patients had more than 20 packs/years of smoking history. Most of the lymph nodes (80.8%) have a higher PET/CT SUV max value than 2.5. The mean diameter of the lymph nodes measured by thorax CT (16.2 ± 6.5 mm) and EBUS (12.7 ± 5.6 mm) did not show any difference according to PET/CT SUV max value of ≥2.5 or not (p> 0.05). Subcarinal lymph nodes were significantly larger than the other lymph node stations. The lymph nodes with necrosis sign (p= 0.028), absence of central hilar structure (p= 0.013), and heterogeneous echogenicity (p= 0.008) were statistically significantly related to higher SUV max value. Conclusions: Anthracosis should be considered as a cause of false-positive PET/CT results for mediastinal lymph nodes, especially in patients with a history of occupational and environmental exposure including biomass and smoking.

How were Non-COVID pulmonary patients and diseases affected from COVID-19 pandemic period?

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to focus on non-COVID-19 patients during the process when all physicians focused on COVID-19 patients. Patients with pulmonary diseases in the COVID-19 pandemic period were analyzed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Non-COVID-19 cases who were hospitalized in the pulmonology clinic, outpatients, and patients who applied to the non-COVID-19 emergency service and requested a pulmonology consultation in the period from March 16, 2020 to May 15, 2020 and in the same period of the previous year (i.e., from March 16, 2019 to May 15, 2019) were included in this study. RESULTS: In the pandemic period, it was found that there was an 84% decrease in outpatient admissions, a 43% decrease in inpatients, and a 75% decrease in emergency services. During the pandemic period, in outpatient setting, male and younger case admissions increased, admissions with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and interstitial lung diseases decreased, whereas the frequency of admission to asthma, pneumonia, and pulmonary thromboembolism increased. In the period of the pandemic, patients with asthma, COPD, and lung cancer were less hospitalized, whereas patients with pulmonary thromboembolism, pneumonia, and pleural effusion were hospitalized more. In non-COVID-19 patient treatments during the pandemic period, usage of a metered dose inhaler increased. CONCLUSION: During the COVID-19 pandemic, non-COVID pulmonary pathologies decreased significantly, and there was a change in the profile of the patients. From now on, to be prepared for pandemic and similar extraordinary situations, to organize hospitals for the epidemic, to determine health institutions to which nonepidemic patients can apply, to make necessary plans in order not to neglect the nonepidemic patients, and to develop digital health service methods, especially telemedicine, would be appropriate.

Self-Management Training in Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease Improves the Quality of Life.

OBJECTIVES: Management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) includes interventions such as improving skills in coping with the disease. We aimed to examine the effect of self-management training on the quality of life and functional parameters in patients with moderate to severe COPD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-one consecutive patients with COPD were recruited in the study prospectively. The patients were randomized into two groups: self-management training (n=31) and standard care (n=30). Each patient was evaluated by spirometry, COPD assessment test (CAT), St George's respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ), hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), modified British Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, and short form-36 (SF-36). A team of physiotherapists, psychologists, pulmonary disease specialists, and dietitians provided self-management training and biweekly counseling via phone. At the end of three months, both the groups were re-evaluated using the same assessment parameters. RESULTS: We found no significant difference between the baseline demographic characteristics of the self-management training and standard care groups. We observed a reduction in CAT (p<0.001), SGRQ impact (p=0.013), activity subscales (p<0.001) and the total scores (p=0.020), and HADS anxiety (p=0.012) and depression (p=0.014) scores in the self-management training group after the education session. A significant increase in SF-36 physical function score was also observed (p=0.008). No significant improvement in the functional parameters was observed in either group; however, the change in FEV1 was more pronounced in the self-management training group than in the control group (p=0.017). The hospital readmissions and 1-year survival rates were similar for both the groups after receiving education (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the self-management training of the patients with COPD improves the quality of life and reduces the symptoms of depression and anxiety. Therefore, at the least, self-management training should be done as the first step of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with COPD who cannot access pulmonary rehabilitation facilities.