[Review of reimbursement for instrumental techniques used for assisted coughing and thoracic expansion. A French National Health Authority assessment (HAS)]. / Avis sur le remboursement de techniques instrumentales d'aide à la toux et à la mobilisation thoracique. Une évaluation de la Haute Autorité de santé (HAS).

INTRODUCTION: In France, children with neuromuscular diseases and patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries receive reimbursement for home use of intermittent positive-pressure breathing and mechanical in-exsufflators devices. The aim of the study was to update the indications for reimbursement for these both devices. METHODS: A literature review was conducted with several bibliographic databases using the main keywords: intermittent positive-pressure breathing, mechanical insufflation, mechanically-assisted cough, airway clearance. Nine health professionals were interviewed during two meetings. One health professional was interviewed via a questionnaire. An estimation of the population treated with in-exsufflators or intermittent positive-pressure breathing was undertaken from consumer data available for all beneficiaries of the health insurance system. STATE OF THE ART: The review identified 111 references which included 14 clinical practice guidelines, two systematic reviews and one randomized controlled trial. Some clinical data were available. Clinical practice guidelines were in favor of using intermittent positive-pressure breathing and in-exsufflators in patients with neuromuscular disease and spinal cord injuries. The healthcare professionals emphasized the need to reimburse the patient for home use of intermittent positive-pressure breathing and in-exsufflators. The patient population treated in the identified clinical situations was estimated at 3100 per year. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the low level of evidence and after interviewing healthcare professionals, the Haute Autorité de santé (HAS) recommended reimbursement of the costs of in-exsufflators (assisted coughing) and intermittent positive-pressure breathing (thoracic expansion) devices in adults and children with neurological and neuromuscular disease, including spinal cord injury.

[Theoretical basis and clinical benefits of dry salt inhalation therapy]. / A szárazsó-belégzéssel történo kezelés elméleti alapjai és gyakorlati haszna.

Dry salt inhalation (halotherapy) reproduces the microclimate of salt caves, with beneficial effect on health. Sodium chloride crystals are disrupted into very small particles (with a diameter less than 3 µm), and this powder is artificially exhaled into the air of a comfortable room (its temperature is between 20-22 °C, and the relative humidity is low). The end-concentration of the salt in the air of the room will be between 10-30 mg/m(3). The sick (or healthy) persons spend 30-60 minutes in this room, usually 10-20 times. Due to the greater osmotic pressure the inhaled salt diminishes the oedema of the bronchial mucosa, decreases its inflammation, dissolves the mucus, and makes expectoration easier and faster (expectoration of air pollution and allergens will be faster, too). It inhibits the growth of bacteria and, in some case, kills them. Phagocyte activity is also increased. It has beneficial effect on the well being of the patients, and a relaxation effect on the central nervous system. It can prevent, or at least decrease the frequency of the respiratory tract inflammations. It produces better lung function parameters, diminishes bronchial hyperreactivity, which is the sign of decreasing inflammation. Its beneficial effect is true not only in inflammation of the lower respiratory tract, but also in acute or chronic upper airways inflammations. According to the international literature it has beneficial effect for some chronic dermatological disease, too, such as psoriasis, pyoderma and atopic dermatitis. This treatment (called as Indisó) is available under medical control in Hungary, too.

Evaluation of a high-dose continuous albuterol protocol for treatment of pediatric asthma in the emergency department.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of a high-dose continuous nebulized albuterol (CNA) protocol for treatment of asthma in the pediatric emergency department (ED). A secondary objective included a cost-benefit analysis of protocol use. METHODS: In this retrospective chart review, we compared cohorts of patients treated in our ED for acute asthma exacerbation before and after implementation of a CNA protocol. Patients between the ages of 2 and 21 years seen between March 1 and May 31, 2008 (preprotocol, n = 393), and March 1 to May 31, 2009 (postprotocol, n = 373), were included. Safety data included medication-related adverse effects as well as serum potassium and glucose levels. Efficacy data included ED length of stay, disposition, return visits, time to first albuterol treatment, and corticosteroid administration. Cost analysis included the cost of medications and respiratory therapy time. RESULTS: Postprotocol patients more often received CNA (57.9% vs 25.2%, P < 0.01). No significant adverse effects, including tachyarrhythmia and symptomatic hypokalemia, were found in either group. Serum potassium levels were higher in the postprotocol group (3.9 mEq/L [n = 34] vs 3.5 mEq/L [n = 28], P < 0.01). Emergency department stay was longer in the postprotocol group (217.8 minutes vs 187.2 minutes, P < 0.01). Emergency department disposition was similar in both groups. The mean cost per patient was higher in the postprotocol group ($327.21 vs $277.95, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We found the CNA protocol to be safe. Superior efficacy to a traditional treatment approach was not demonstrated. The mean cost of treatment was higher in the postprotocol group. Further prospective studies should be conducted to confirm the findings of this retrospective, observational study.

Findings from the MATREX study: a treatment protocol for the delivery of manual chest therapy in respiratory care.

BACKGROUND: One of the difficulties in comparing the numerous studies on manual chest therapy (MCT) is the wide variety of techniques used and terms employed to describe the intervention. This lack of consistency in therapeutic approach and the absence of defined tools for evaluation have led to a continued air of skepticism about its true value. This paper presents a treatment protocol used in a large randomized controlled trial examining the efficacy and cost effectiveness of MCT for patients hospitalized with exacerbations of COPD. METHODS: Consensus development meetings with key physical therapists were held to identify the essential elements of MCT, address potential areas of ambiguity, and provide a set of clear parameters within which treatment would be based and recorded. This iterative approach resulted in a treatment protocol that combined best clinical practice with the research evidence available to date. RESULTS: In the Management of Exacerbations of COPD (MATREX) trial, 658 sessions of MCT were delivered by physical therapists over a 3 year period. A high level of adherence to the treatment protocol was seen for all but one of the protocol elements. CONCLUSIONS: With respect to the essential elements of MCT, the treatment protocol used in the MATREX trial offers sufficient flexibility to the therapist, while being robust enough to maintain clinical trial integrity. The level of adherence by therapists indicates its professional acceptability with respect to delivering and evaluating this therapy.

Spinal muscular atrophy type 1: are proactive respiratory interventions associated with longer survival?

CONTEXT: Spinal muscular atrophy type 1, an autosomal recessive motor neuron disease, is a leading genetic cause of death in infancy and early childhood. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the early initiation of noninvasive respiratory interventions is associated with longer survival. DESIGN: Single-institution retrospective cohort study identified children with spinal muscular atrophy type 1 from January 1, 2002 to May 1, 2009 who were followed for 2.3 mean yrs. SETTING: Tertiary care children's hospital and outpatient clinics in a vertically integrated healthcare system. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Forty-nine children with spinal muscular atrophy type 1 were grouped according to the level of respiratory support their caregivers chose within the first 3 months after diagnosis: proactive respiratory care (n = 26) and supportive care (n = 23). INTERVENTIONS: Proactive respiratory care included bilevel noninvasive ventilation during sleep and twice a day cough assist while supportive respiratory care included suctioning, with or without supplemental oxygen. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Kaplan-Meier survival curves were assessed based on intention to treat. Children treated with early proactive respiratory support had statistically longer survival compared to supportive care (log rank 0.047); however, the adjusted hazard ratio for survival was not statistically different (2.44 [95% confidence interval 0.84-7.1]). Children in the proactive group were more likely to be hospitalized for respiratory insufficiency (83% vs. 46%) and had shortened time after diagnosis until first hospital admission for respiratory insufficiency (median 118 vs. 979 days). CONCLUSION: Longer survival time with spinal muscular atrophy type 1 is associated with early, noninvasive respiratory care interventions after diagnosis.

Comparison of resource use by COPD patients on inhaled therapies with long-acting bronchodilators: a database study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this analysis was to compare health care costs and utilization among COPD patients who had long-acting beta-2 agonist (LABA) OR long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA); LABA AND LAMA; or LABA, LAMA, AND inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) prescription claims. METHODS: This was a 12 month pre-post, retrospective analysis using COPD patients in a national administrative insurance database. Propensity score and exact matching were used to match patients 1:1:1 between the LABA or LAMA (formoterol, salmeterol, or tiotropium), LABA and LAMA (tiotropium/formoterol or tiotropium/salmeterol), and LABA, LAMA and ICS (bronchodilators plus steroid) groups. Post-period comparisons were evaluated with analysis of covariance. Costs were evaluated from a commercial payer perspective. RESULTS: A total of 523 patients were matched using 29 pre-period variables (e.g., demographics, medication exposure). Post-match assessments indicated balance among the cohorts. COPD-related costs differed among groups (LABA or LAMA $2,051 SE = 91; LABA and LAMA $2,823 SE = 62; LABA, LAMA and ICS $3,546 SE = 89; all p < .0001) with the differences driven by study medication costs. However, non-study COPD medication costs were higher for the LABA or LAMA therapy group ($911 SE = 91) compared to the LABA and LAMA therapy group ($668 SE = 58; p = 0.0238) and non-study respiratory medications were approximately $100 greater for the LABA or LAMA therapy group relative to both LABA and LAMA (p = .0018) and LABA, LAMA, and ICS (p = .0071) therapy groups. While there was no observed difference in outpatient costs, there was a slightly higher number of outpatient visits per patient in the LABA and LAMA (25.5 SE = 0.9, p = 0.0070) relative to the LABA or LAMA therapy group (22.3 SE = 0.8) and higher utilization (89.7% of patients) with COPD visits in the LABA and LAMA therapy group relative to both the LABA or LAMA (73.8%; p < .0001) and LABA, LAMA and ICS therapy groups (85.3; p = 0.0305). CONCLUSIONS: Significant cost differences driven mainly by pharmaceuticals were observed among LABA or LAMA, LABA and LAMA and LABA, LAMA and ICS therapies. A COPD-related cost offset was observed from single bronchodilator to two bronchodilators. Addition of an ICS with two bronchodilators resulted in higher treatment costs without reduction in other COPD-related costs compared with two bronchodilators.