Retrospective analysis of epidemiologic features and clinical course of COVID-19 patients and comparison between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients.

At our Pneumology Department, we dealt with three waves of COVID-19 pandemics. The purpose of this study is to compare patients' epidemiological and clinical characteristics across waves and to assess the effect of vaccination on clinical presentation, course, and prognosis. From March 2020 to March 2022, a retrospective cohort study was conducted to compare patient characteristics. Based on the time of hospital admission, data from 456 patients were collected and divided into three groups (IW, IIW, and IIIW). In addition, we looked at the link between vaccination and clinical presentation and hospitalization outcome. The average age and comorbidities of patients increased, as did the worsening of respiratory conditions at admission (PaO2/FiO2 median 207 in IW, 95.5 in IIW, and 99 in IIIW). Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) was the primary respiratory support during the first wave, but an increase in the use of high flow nasal cannula and noninvasive ventilation was later observed, resulting in a higher hospital discharge rate and a lower intubation rate. Vaccinated patients had less severe COVID-19-related respiratory failure, a better clinical course, and a higher hospital discharge rate (71.4% in V-group vs 44.7% in NV-group, p<0.001). Patients' characteristics changed over the three waves, possibly due to virus mutations. The advancement of clinical and therapeutic management knowledge has contributed to a reduction in the severity of respiratory failure. The vaccination campaign improved the clinical course and reduced mortality.

Lung and diaphragm ultrasound in noninvasive respiratory support: A real tool or fashion?

Introduction: Over the past few years, there has been an increase in lung and diaphragm ultrasound applications as a tool to evaluate the outcomes and settings of noninvasive respiratory supports. However, actual clinical practices in this field are yet to be known. The aim of this study was to investigate the current clinical utilization of ultrasound for noninvasive respiratory supports on an international level. Materials and Methods: The study employed an online survey consisting of 32 items, which was sent via email to intensivists, pulmonologists, emergency medicine physicians, and other specialists with expertise in using ultrasound and/or noninvasive respiratory supports. Result: We collected 52 questionnaires. The ultrasound study of diaphragm dysfunction was well-known by the majority of respondents (57.7%). Diaphragm performance was used as a weaning failure predictor (48.5%), as a predictor of noninvasive ventilation failure (38.5%) and as a tool for the ventilator settings adjustment (30.8%). In patients with acute respiratory failure, 48.1% used ultrasound to assess the damaged lung area to set up ventilatory parameters, 34.6% to monitor it after noninvasive ventilation application, and 32.7% to match it with the ventilatory settings for adjustment purposes. When administering high flow nasal cannula - oxygen therapy, 42.3% of participants used ultrasound to evaluate lung involvement and assess flow parameters. Conclusions: Lung and diaphragm ultrasound is an established clinical practice to evaluate noninvasive respiratory supports outcomes and settings. Further studies are needed to evaluate the educational aspects to increase confidence and indications for its use.

Comment on "Usefulness of lung ultrasound in the early identification of severe COVID-19: results from a prospective study".

To EditorWe have read this article with great interest, where a pattern of correlation is established between lung ultrasound findings and the degree of respiratory failure and prognosis in patients with Coronavirus disease 2019. However, we think that some aspects of this study can be better analyzed.

Acute and Chronic Effects of Noninvasive Ventilation on Left and Right Myocardial Function in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: A Speckle Tracking Echocardiographic Study.

BACKGROUND: In patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), repetitive hypoxia due to sleep-induced apnea adversely affects the interaction between myocardial oxygen demand and supply, resulting in the development of subclinical cardiac dysfunction. The purpose of the study was to analyze the different involvement of left and right heart myocardial function in patients with OSAS treated with noninvasive ventilation (NIV). METHODS: Conventional Doppler echocardiography, Doppler myocardial imaging (DMI), and two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) of left (LV) and right ventricular (RV) longitudinal and right atrial (RA) deformation were performed in 55 patients with OSAS undergoing NIV (M/F 38/17; mean age 67.8 ± 11.2 years). LV and RV global longitudinal strain (GLS) was calculated by averaging local strain along the entire right and left ventricle, before and during NIV, and after 6 months of nocturnal NIV therapy. RESULTS: LV morphology was comparable before and during NIV, whereas LV ejection fraction and LV DMI early diastolic peak velocity were significantly improved in patients with OSAS during NIV, as was LV regional peak myocardial strain (P < 0.001). RV diameters were slightly increased in patients with OSAS during ventilation, whereas pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), RV GLS, and regional peak myocardial RV strain were significantly reduced during ventilation (P < 0.0001). RA transverse diameters and RA area were also slightly increased during NIV, whereas RA lateral wall strain was reduced (P < 0.001). Acute RV myocardial impairment completely reversed at follow-up, with a decrease in PASP and subsequent increase in both RV and RA myocardial performance. CONCLUSIONS: Conventional 2DSTE is a useful tool for assessing left and right heart morphology and myocardial deformation in patients with OSAS and for monitoring both acute and chronic effects of NIV.