Clinical evolution of a severe asthmatics group in the use of immunobiological therapy in a Brazilian Public Hospital

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: A small portion of the asthmatic population (3.6%) has severe asthma (SA), presenting high morbimortality rates and demanding more financial resources than other asthmatic populations. The use of immunobiological therapy is an effective tool in controlling symptoms, decreasing the number of exacerbations, and reducing the use of systemic corticosteroids in these patients. In Brazil, epidemiological data regarding this asthmatic population using immunobiologicals and their evolution are scarce. METHODS: This is an observational, analytical, cross-sectional, and retrospective study. The sample consisted of adult patients with SA in follow-up at the pulmonology service of the Complexo Hospital de Clínicas of the Federal University of Paraná, from January 2011 to August 2019. The analyzed variables were as follows: the number of exacerbations that required hospitalization in the previous year, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and asthma control test (ACT) scores before and after the start of immunobiological therapy. RESULTS: We studied 20 patients with SA using omalizumab or mepolizumab. We observed an increase in the mean ACT score of 4.8 points, a nonsignificant reduction in the number of exacerbations that required hospitalization, and a slight improvement in the FEV1. Regarding the patients using chronic systemic corticosteroid therapy, 14.2% (n=1) of patients had the medication discontinued and 57% (n=4) of patients had the dose reduced by half. CONCLUSION: The use of omalizumab and mepolizumab as additional therapy in SA provided a significant improvement in the ACT and allowed the dose reduction of systemic corticosteroids, without significant improvement in FEV1 and in the frequency of severe exacerbations.

Mindfulness-based treatment for smoking cessation: a randomized controlled trial / Tratamento baseado em atenção plena (mindfulness) para cessação do tabagismo: ensaio clínico controlado randomizado

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a mindfulness-based treatment (MBT) for smoking cessation or reduction and compare it with that of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Methods: This was a single-center randomized controlled clinical trial including 113 patients divided into two groups: MBT (n = 54) and CBT (n = 59). The interventions comprised eight 90-min sessions. The primary outcome was smoking cessation at 16 weeks after program initiation. Secondary outcomes included reduction in the mean number of cigarettes smoked/day at 16 weeks after treatment initiation, as well as smoking cessation and reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked/day at the last program session. Participants had to attend ≥ 50% of the sessions to be included in the primary outcome analysis. An intention-to-treat analysis was also performed. Results: There was no difference between the groups regarding the primary outcome (30.4% in the MBT group vs. 31.6% in the CBT group, p = 0.68) or immediate abstinence rates (47.8% in the MBT group vs. 36.8% in the CBT group, p = 0.47). Both treatments were equally effective in reducing the number of cigarettes smoked/day at the last program session (a reduction of 93.33% [0-100%] in the MBT group and of 70% [33.3-100%] in the CBT group, p = 0.92) and at 16 weeks after program initiation (a reduction of 57.1% [0-100%] in the MBT group and of 70% [25-100%] in the CBT group, p = 0.49). Conclusions: MBT appears to be as effective as CBT for smoking cessation or reduction and can be an option for the treatment of tobacco use disorders in Brazil (Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials identifier: RBR-3w2scz [http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br])

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a eficácia de um mindfulness treatment (MT, tratamento baseado em atenção plena) para a cessação ou redução do tabagismo e compará-la à da terapia cognitivo-comportamental (TCC). Métodos: Ensaio clínico controlado randomizado realizado em um único centro, com 113 pacientes divididos em dois grupos: MT (n = 54) e TCC (n = 59). As intervenções consistiram em oito sessões de 90 min cada. O desfecho primário foi a cessação do tabagismo 16 semanas após o início do programa. Os desfechos secundários foram a redução da média de cigarros fumados/dia em 16 semanas após o início do programa, bem como a cessação do tabagismo e redução do número de cigarros fumados/dia na última sessão do programa. Os participantes deveriam comparecer a ≥ 50% das sessões para que fossem incluídos na análise do desfecho primário. Foi também realizada uma análise por intenção de tratamento. Resultados: Não houve diferença entre os grupos quanto ao desfecho primário (30,4% no grupo MT vs. 31,6% no grupo TCC, p = 0,68) ou às taxas de abstinência imediata (47,8% no grupo MT vs. 36,8% no grupo TCC, p = 0,47). Ambos os tratamentos foram igualmente eficazes na redução do número de cigarros fumados/dia na última sessão do programa [redução de 93,33% (0-100%) no grupo MT e de 70% (33,3-100%) no grupo TCC, p = 0,92] e em 16 semanas após o início do programa [redução de 57,1% (0-100%) no grupo MT e de 70% (25-100%) no grupo TCC, p = 0,49]. Conclusões: A MT parece ser tão eficaz quanto a TCC para a cessação ou redução do tabagismo e pode ser uma opção para o tratamento do tabagismo no Brasil. [Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos - ReBEC; número de identificação: RBR-3w2scz (http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br)]

Sarcopenia in COPD: relationship with COPD severity and prognosis / Sarcopenia na DPOC: relação com a gravidade e o prognóstico da DPOC

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of sarcopenia in COPD patients, as well as to determine whether sarcopenia correlates with the severity and prognosis of COPD.Methods: A cross-sectional study with COPD patients followed at the pulmonary outpatient clinic of our institution. The patients underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The diagnosis of sarcopenia was made on the basis of the skeletal muscle index, defined as appendicular lean mass/height2 only for low-weight subjects and adjusted for fat mass in normal/overweight subjects. Disease severity (COPD stage) was evaluated with the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria. The degree of obstruction and prognosis were determined by the Body mass index, airflow Obstruction, Dyspnea, and Exercise capacity (BODE) index.Results: We recruited 91 patients (50 females), with a mean age of 67.4 ± 8.7 years and a mean BMI of 25.8 ± 6.1 kg/m2. Sarcopenia was observed in 36 (39.6%) of the patients, with no differences related to gender, age, or smoking status. Sarcopenia was not associated with the GOLD stage or with FEV1 (used as an indicator of the degree of obstruction). The BMI, percentage of body fat, and total lean mass were lower in the patients with sarcopenia than in those without (p < 0.001). Sarcopenia was more prevalent among the patients in BODE quartile 3 or 4 than among those in BODE quartile 1 or 2 (p = 0.009). The multivariate analysis showed that the BODE quartile was significantly associated with sarcopenia, regardless of age, gender, smoking status, and GOLD stage.Conclusions: In COPD patients, sarcopenia appears to be associated with unfavorable changes in body composition and with a poor prognosis.

Objetivo: Avaliar a prevalência de sarcopenia em pacientes com DPOC e determinar se sarcopenia está correlacionada com a gravidade e o prognóstico de DPOC.Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo em pacientes com DPOC atendidos no ambulatório de pneumologia de nossa instituição. Os pacientes realizaram absorciometria de dupla energia por raios X. O diagnóstico de sarcopenia foi baseado no índice de massa muscular esquelética, definido como massa magra apendicular/altura2 somente para indivíduos com baixo peso, sendo ajustado pela massa gorda para aqueles com peso normal/sobrepeso. A gravidade da doença (estádio da DPOC) foi avaliada com os critérios da Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). O grau de obstrução e o prognóstico foram determinados pelo índice Body mass index, airflow Obstruction, Dyspnea, and Exercise capacity (BODE).Resultados: Foram incluídos 91 pacientes (50 mulheres), com média de idade de 67,4 ± 8,7 anos e média de IMC de 25,8 ± 6,1 kg/m2. Sarcopenia foi diagnosticada em 36 (39,6%) dos pacientes, sem diferenças relacionadas a sexo, idade ou status tabágico. Não houve associação de sarcopenia com estádios GOLD ou VEF1 (utilizado como indicador do grau de obstrução). O IMC, a porcentagem de gordura corporal e a massa magra total foram menores nos pacientes com sarcopenia do que naqueles sem a doença (p < 0,001). A prevalência de sarcopenia foi maior nos pacientes com BODE nos quartis 3 ou 4 que naqueles com BODE nos quartis 1 ou 2 (p = 0,009). A análise multivariada mostrou que os quartis do BODE estavam significativamente associados à sarcopenia, independentemente de idade, gênero, status tabágico e estádio GOLD.Conclusões: Em pacientes com DPOC, sarcopenia parece estar associada a alterações desfavoráveis na composição corporal e pior prognóstico.