Collaboration between explainable artificial intelligence and pulmonologists improves the accuracy of pulmonary function test interpretation.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated the collaborative potential between artificial intelligence (AI) and pulmonologists for diagnosing pulmonary disease. We hypothesised that the collaboration between a pulmonologist and AI with explanations (explainable AI (XAI)) is superior in diagnostic interpretation of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) than the pulmonologist without support. METHODS: The study was conducted in two phases, a monocentre study (phase 1) and a multicentre intervention study (phase 2). Each phase utilised two different sets of 24 PFT reports of patients with a clinically validated gold standard diagnosis. Each PFT was interpreted without (control) and with XAI's suggestions (intervention). Pulmonologists provided a differential diagnosis consisting of a preferential diagnosis and optionally up to three additional diagnoses. The primary end-point compared accuracy of preferential and additional diagnoses between control and intervention. Secondary end-points were the number of diagnoses in differential diagnosis, diagnostic confidence and inter-rater agreement. We also analysed how XAI influenced pulmonologists' decisions. RESULTS: In phase 1 (n=16 pulmonologists), mean preferential and differential diagnostic accuracy significantly increased by 10.4% and 9.4%, respectively, between control and intervention (p<0.001). Improvements were somewhat lower but highly significant (p<0.0001) in phase 2 (5.4% and 8.7%, respectively; n=62 pulmonologists). In both phases, the number of diagnoses in the differential diagnosis did not reduce, but diagnostic confidence and inter-rater agreement significantly increased during intervention. Pulmonologists updated their decisions with XAI's feedback and consistently improved their baseline performance if AI provided correct predictions. CONCLUSION: A collaboration between a pulmonologist and XAI is better at interpreting PFTs than individual pulmonologists reading without XAI support or XAI alone.

Home Monitoring of Asthma Exacerbations in Children and Adults With Use of an AI-Aided Stethoscope.

PURPOSE: The advent of new medical devices allows patients with asthma to self-monitor at home, providing a more complete picture of their disease than occasional in-person clinic visits. This raises a pertinent question: which devices and parameters perform best in exacerbation detection? METHODS: A total of 149 patients with asthma (90 children, 59 adults) participated in a 6-month observational study. Participants (or parents) regularly (daily for the first 2 weeks and weekly for the next 5.5 months, with increased frequency during exacerbations) performed self-examinations using 3 devices: an artificial intelligence (AI)-aided home stethoscope (providing wheezes, rhonchi, and coarse and fine crackles intensity; respiratory and heart rate; and inspiration-to-expiration ratio), a peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (SpO2) meter, and a peak expiratory flow (PEF) meter and filled out a health state survey. The resulting 6,029 examinations were evaluated by physicians for the presence of exacerbations. For each registered parameter, a machine learning model was trained, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was calculated to assess its utility in exacerbation detection. RESULTS: The best single-parameter discriminators of exacerbations were wheezes intensity for young children (AUC 84% [95% CI, 82%-85%]), rhonchi intensity for older children (AUC 81% [95% CI, 79%-84%]), and survey answers for adults (AUC 92% [95% CI, 89%-95%]). The greatest efficacy (in terms of AUC) was observed for a combination of several parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The AI-aided home stethoscope provides reliable information on asthma exacerbations. The parameters provided are effective for children, especially those younger than 5 years of age. The introduction of this tool to the health care system might enhance asthma exacerbation detection substantially and make remote monitoring of patients easier.

ERS/ATS technical standard on interpretive strategies for routine lung function tests.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate interpretation of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) involves the classification of observed values as within/outside the normal range based on a reference population of healthy individuals, integrating knowledge of physiological determinants of test results into functional classifications and integrating patterns with other clinical data to estimate prognosis. In 2005, the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and European Respiratory Society (ERS) jointly adopted technical standards for the interpretation of PFTs. We aimed to update the 2005 recommendations and incorporate evidence from recent literature to establish new standards for PFT interpretation. METHODS: This technical standards document was developed by an international joint Task Force, appointed by the ERS/ATS with multidisciplinary expertise in conducting and interpreting PFTs and developing international standards. A comprehensive literature review was conducted and published evidence was reviewed. RESULTS: Recommendations for the choice of reference equations and limits of normal of the healthy population to identify individuals with unusually low or high results are discussed. Interpretation strategies for bronchodilator responsiveness testing, limits of natural changes over time and severity are also updated. Interpretation of measurements made by spirometry, lung volumes and gas transfer are described as they relate to underlying pathophysiology with updated classification protocols of common impairments. CONCLUSIONS: Interpretation of PFTs must be complemented with clinical expertise and consideration of the inherent biological variability of the test and the uncertainty of the test result to ensure appropriate interpretation of an individual's lung function measurements.

An On-Demand Oxygen Flow Meter for Enhanced Patient Comfort and Reduced Oxygen Cost in Hospitals.

Background: Hypoxemia is currently treated in hospital wards with oxygen, released continuously by "conventional" flow meters. A new type of hybrid flow meter allows to switch between on-demand and continuous mode. The aim of this observational study was to assess whether this new device reduces oxygen expenditure, is well accepted in a hospital setting and improves patient comfort during oxygen therapy. Methods: Oxygen was administered in hypoxemic patients with conventional or hybrid flow meters to maintain an oxygen saturation of ≥ 92% over a 12-week period. Every two weeks conventional and hybrid flow meters were switched. The overall oxygen delivery to the ward was continuously measured with a data logging device installed in the main oxygen pipeline and corrected for multiple confounding factors. Humidity measurements, for which a sensor placed in front of one of the nostrils, and patient questionnaires, were used to assess patient comfort during continuous and on-demand flow. Results: Overall oxygen delivery decreased by 39% when switching from continuous flow to on-demand therapy after correction for confounding factors. Continuous flows significantly decreased relative humidity more than equivalent on-demand settings and the latter tended to increase comfort. Conclusions: Hybrid flow meters cause a significant reduction in oxygen delivery in a hospital ward, which may lead to financial savings. Using the on-demand technology also lowers the dryness of the upper airways (and may increase patient comfort), while maintaining an adequate oxygenation.

Conceptions of the pathophysiology of happy hypoxemia in COVID-19.

In their letter-to-the-editor entitled "Misconceptions of pathophysiology of happy hypoxemia and implications for management of COVID-19", Tobin et al. (Respir Res 21:249, 2020) debated our views on happy hypoxemia in COVID-19 (Respir Res 21:198, 2020). We thank the authors for their interesting comments and alternative viewpoints, and we would like to clarify several important aspects raised.

Earlier palliative home care is associated with patient-centred medical resource utilisation and lower costs in the last 30†days before death in COPD: a population-level decedent cohort study.

COPD patients often use many medical resources, such as hospital admissions and medical imaging, inappropriately close to death. Palliative home care (PHC) could beneficially affect this. The aim was to study the effect of use and timing of PHC on medical resource use and costs in the last 30 days before death (DBD) for COPD.We performed a retrospective study of all Belgian decedents in 2010-2015 with COPD and a primary cause of death being COPD or cardiovascular diseases. Odds ratios for medical resources were calculated between using and four PHC timing categories (>360, 360-181, 180-91 and 90-31 DBD) versus not using. Confounders were socio-demographic, care intensity and disease severity variables.Of the 58 527 decedents with COPD, 644 (1.1%) patients received PHC earlier than 30 DBD. Using PHC (versus not using) decreased the odds ratio for hospitalisation (0.35), intensive care unit admission (0.16), specialist contacts (0.58), invasive ventilation (0.13), medical imaging including chest radiograph (0.34), sedatives (0.48) and hospital death (0.14). It increased the odds ratio for home care (3.27), general practitioner contact (4.65), palliative care unit admission (2.61), noninvasive ventilation (2.65), gastric tube (2.15), oxygen (2.22) and opioids (4.04) (p<0.001). Mean total healthcare costs were €1569 lower for using PHC. All PHC timing categories showed a benefit in medical resource use and costs. However, we observed the largest benefit in the category PHC 90-31 DBD.Health policy and services should focus on increasing PHC access, while research should further explore early PHC initiation for COPD.

The pathophysiology of 'happy' hypoxemia in COVID-19.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a global crisis, challenging healthcare systems worldwide. Many patients present with a remarkable disconnect in rest between profound hypoxemia yet without proportional signs of respiratory distress (i.e. happy hypoxemia) and rapid deterioration can occur. This particular clinical presentation in COVID-19 patients contrasts with the experience of physicians usually treating critically ill patients in respiratory failure and ensuring timely referral to the intensive care unit can, therefore, be challenging. A thorough understanding of the pathophysiological determinants of respiratory drive and hypoxemia may promote a more complete comprehension of a patient's clinical presentation and management. Preserved oxygen saturation despite low partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood samples occur, due to leftward shift of the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve induced by hypoxemia-driven hyperventilation as well as possible direct viral interactions with hemoglobin. Ventilation-perfusion mismatch, ranging from shunts to alveolar dead space ventilation, is the central hallmark and offers various therapeutic targets.

Percutaneous Closure of PFO in Patients with Reduced Oxygen Saturation at Rest and during Exercise: Short- and Long-Term Results.

BACKGROUND: A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a rare cause of hypoxemia and clinical symptoms of dyspnea. Due to a right-to-left shunt, desaturated blood enters the systemic circulation in a subset of patients resulting in dyspnea and a subsequent reduction in quality of life (QoL). Percutaneous closure of PFO is the treatment of choice. OBJECTIVES: This retrospective multicentre study evaluates short- and long-term results of percutaneous closure of PFO in patients with dyspnea and/or reduced oxygen saturation. METHODS: Patients with respiratory symptoms were selected from databases containing all patients percutaneously closed between January 2000 and September 2018. Improvement in dyspnea, oxygenation, and QoL was investigated using pre- and postprocedural lung function parameters and two postprocedural questionnaires (SF-36 and PFSDQ-M). RESULTS: The average follow-up period was 36 [12-43] months, ranging from 0 months to 14 years. Percutaneous closure was successful in 15 of the 16 patients. All patients reported subjective improvement in dyspnea immediately after device deployment, consistent with their improvement in oxygen saturation (from 90 ± 6% to 94 [92-97%] on room air and in upright position) (p < 0.05). Both questionnaires also indicated an improvement of dyspnea and QoL after closure. The two early and two late deaths were unrelated to the procedure. CONCLUSION: PFO-related dyspnea and/or hypoxemia can be treated successfully with a percutaneous intervention with long-lasting benefits on oxygen saturation, dyspnea, and QoL.

Artificial intelligence outperforms pulmonologists in the interpretation of pulmonary function tests.

The interpretation of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) to diagnose respiratory diseases is built on expert opinion that relies on the recognition of patterns and the clinical context for detection of specific diseases. In this study, we aimed to explore the accuracy and interrater variability of pulmonologists when interpreting PFTs compared with artificial intelligence (AI)-based software that was developed and validated in more than 1500 historical patient cases.120 pulmonologists from 16 European hospitals evaluated 50 cases with PFT and clinical information, resulting in 6000 independent interpretations. The AI software examined the same data. American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society guidelines were used as the gold standard for PFT pattern interpretation. The gold standard for diagnosis was derived from clinical history, PFT and all additional tests.The pattern recognition of PFTs by pulmonologists (senior 73%, junior 27%) matched the guidelines in 74.4±5.9% of the cases (range 56-88%). The interrater variability of κ=0.67 pointed to a common agreement. Pulmonologists made correct diagnoses in 44.6±8.7% of the cases (range 24-62%) with a large interrater variability (κ=0.35). The AI-based software perfectly matched the PFT pattern interpretations (100%) and assigned a correct diagnosis in 82% of all cases (p<0.0001 for both measures).The interpretation of PFTs by pulmonologists leads to marked variations and errors. AI-based software provides more accurate interpretations and may serve as a powerful decision support tool to improve clinical practice.

How resources determine pulmonary rehabilitation programs: A survey among Belgian chest physicians.

Despite overwhelming evidence of its benefits, a widespread implementation of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is lacking and the landscape of multidisciplinary programs remains very scattered. The objective of this study is to assess how PR is organized in specialized care centres in Belgium and to identify which barriers may exist according to respiratory physicians. A telephone and online survey was developed by a Belgian expert panel and distributed among all active Belgian chest physicians ( n = 492). Data were obtained from 200 respondents (40%). Seventy-five percentage of the chest physicians had direct access to an ambulatory rehabilitation program in their hospital. Most of these programs are organized bi or triweekly for an average period of 3-6 months. Programs focus strongly on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients from secondary care, have a multidisciplinary approach and provide exercise capacity and quality of life measures as main outcomes. Yet large differences were observed in process and outcome indicators between the programs of centres with standard funding and those of specialized centres with a larger allocated budget. We conclude that multidisciplinary PR programs are available in the majority of Belgian hospitals. Differences in funding determine the quality of the team, the diversity of the interventions and the monitoring of outcomes. More resources for rehabilitation will directly improve the utilization and quality of this essential treatment option in respiratory diseases.

Randomised controlled trial of adjunctive inspiratory muscle training for patients with COPD.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate whether adjunctive inspiratory muscle training (IMT) can enhance the well-established benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in patients with COPD. METHODS: 219 patients with COPD (FEV1: 42%±16% predicted) with inspiratory muscle weakness (PImax: 51±15 cm H2O) were randomised into an intervention group (IMT+PR; n=110) or a control group (Sham-IMT+PR; n=109) in this double-blind, multicentre randomised controlled trial between February 2012 and October 2016 (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01397396). Improvement in 6 min walking distance (6MWD) was a priori defined as the primary outcome. Prespecified secondary outcomes included respiratory muscle function and endurance cycling time. FINDINGS: No significant differences between the intervention group (n=89) and the control group (n=85) in improvements in 6MWD were observed (0.3 m, 95% CI -13 to 14, p=0.967). Patients who completed assessments in the intervention group achieved larger gains in inspiratory muscle strength (effect size: 1.07, p<0.001) and endurance (effect size: 0.79, p<0.001) than patients in the control group. 75 s additional improvement in endurance cycling time (95% CI 1 to 149, p=0.048) and significant reductions in Borg dyspnoea score at isotime during the cycling test (95% CI -1.5 to -0.01, p=0.049) were observed in the intervention group. INTERPRETATION: Improvements in respiratory muscle function after adjunctive IMT did not translate into additional improvements in 6MWD (primary outcome). Additional gains in endurance time and reductions in symptoms of dyspnoea were observed during an endurance cycling test (secondary outcome) TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01397396; Results.

A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial of Zephyr Endobronchial Valve Treatment in Heterogeneous Emphysema (TRANSFORM).

RATIONALE: Single-center randomized controlled trials of the Zephyr endobronchial valve (EBV) treatment have demonstrated benefit in severe heterogeneous emphysema. This is the first multicenter study evaluating this treatment approach. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Zephyr EBVs in patients with heterogeneous emphysema and absence of collateral ventilation. METHODS: This was a prospective, multicenter 2:1 randomized controlled trial of EBVs plus standard of care or standard of care alone (SoC). Primary outcome at 3 months post-procedure was the percentage of subjects with FEV1 improvement from baseline of 12% or greater. Changes in FEV1, residual volume, 6-minute-walk distance, St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire score, and modified Medical Research Council score were assessed at 3 and 6 months, and target lobe volume reduction on chest computed tomography at 3 months. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Ninety seven subjects were randomized to EBV (n = 65) or SoC (n = 32). At 3 months, 55.4% of EBV and 6.5% of SoC subjects had an FEV1 improvement of 12% or more (P < 0.001). Improvements were maintained at 6 months: EBV 56.3% versus SoC 3.2% (P < 0.001), with a mean ± SD change in FEV1 at 6 months of 20.7 ± 29.6% and -8.6 ± 13.0%, respectively. A total of 89.8% of EBV subjects had target lobe volume reduction greater than or equal to 350 ml, mean 1.09 ± 0.62 L (P < 0.001). Between-group differences for changes at 6 months were statistically and clinically significant: ΔEBV-SoC for residual volume, -700 ml; 6-minute-walk distance, +78.7 m; St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire score, -6.5 points; modified Medical Research Council dyspnea score, -0.6 points; and BODE (body mass index, airflow obstruction, dyspnea, and exercise capacity) index, -1.8 points (all P < 0.05). Pneumothorax was the most common adverse event, occurring in 19 of 65 (29.2%) of EBV subjects. CONCLUSIONS: EBV treatment in hyperinflated patients with heterogeneous emphysema without collateral ventilation resulted in clinically meaningful benefits in lung function, dyspnea, exercise tolerance, and quality of life, with an acceptable safety profile. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02022683).

Cardiac Autonomic Function and Reactivity Tests in Physically Active Subjects with Moderately Severe COPD.

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) show impairments in the autonomic nervous systems (ANS) function, which is responsible for cardiac autonomic regulation. This study assessed the autonomic function and cardio-vagal reactivity in conveniently sampled subjects with COPD participating in a pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program. Twenty-six subjects with COPD and 22 age and gender matched control subjects were evaluated. R-R intervals were collected at rest in supine position. Thereafter, resting autonomic function parameters comprising linear and nonlinear analyses of heart rate variability (HRV) and baroreceptor sensitivity (BRS) were calculated. Autonomic reactivity tests comprising deep breathing (DB), Valsalva maneuver (VM), and head up tilt (HUT) were also performed. The results of this study indicated that resting autonomic function variables were generally reduced in COPD compared to controls. However, this difference was only statistically significant for a few HRV parameters: mean RR intervals, low frequency (LF), standard deviation of dispersion of points perpendicular to the line-of-identity (SD1), and approximate entropy (ApEn) (p < 0.05). The results also indicated that all cardio-vagal indices following the autonomic reactivity tests were comparable between COPD and controls (p > 0.05). It was concluded that subtle autonomic impairments exists in physically active COPD patients, and these autonomic function deficits were mainly recognized by resting HRV indices and not autonomic reactivity tests.

Tiotropium and olodaterol fixed-dose combination versus mono-components in COPD (GOLD 2-4).

Efficacy and safety of tiotropium+olodaterol fixed-dose combination (FDC) compared with the mono-components was evaluated in patients with moderate to very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in two replicate, randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, multicentre, phase III trials. Patients received tiotropium+olodaterol FDC 2.5/5 µg or 5/5 µg, tiotropium 2.5 µg or 5 µg, or olodaterol 5 µg delivered once-daily via Respimat inhaler over 52 weeks. Primary end points were forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) area under the curve from 0 to 3 h (AUC0-3) response, trough FEV1 response and St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) total score at 24 weeks. In total, 5162 patients (2624 in Study 1237.5 and 2538 in Study 1237.6) received treatment. Both FDCs significantly improved FEV1 AUC0-3 and trough FEV1 response versus the mono-components in both studies. Statistically significant improvements in SGRQ total score versus the mono-components were only seen for tiotropium+olodaterol FDC 5/5 µg. Incidence of adverse events was comparable between the FDCs and the mono-components. These studies demonstrated significant improvements in lung function and health-related quality of life with once-daily tiotropium+olodaterol FDC versus mono-components over 1 year in patients with moderate to very severe COPD.

Airways resistance and specific conductance for the diagnosis of obstructive airways diseases.

BACKGROUND: Airway resistance (RAW) and specific airway conductance (sGAW) are measures that reflect the patency of airways. Little is known of the variability of these measures between different lung diseases. This study investigated the contribution of RAW and sGAW to a diagnosis of obstructive airways disease and their role in differentiating asthma from COPD. METHODS: 976 subjects admitted for the first time to a pulmonary practice in Belgium were included. Clinical diagnoses were based on complete pulmonary function tests and supported by investigations of physicians' discretion. 651 subjects had a final diagnosis of obstructive diseases, 168 had another respiratory disease and 157 subjects had no respiratory disease (healthy controls). RESULTS: RAW and sGAW were significantly different (p < 0.0001) between obstructive and other groups. Abnormal RAW and sGAW were found in 39 % and 18 % of the population, respectively, in which 81 % and 90 % had diagnosed airway obstruction. Multiple regression revealed sGAW to be a significant and independent predictor of an obstructive disorder. To differentiate asthma from COPD, RAW was found to be more relevant and statistically significant. In asthma patients with normal FEV1/FVC ratio, both RAW and sGAW were more specific than sensitive diagnostic tests in differentiating asthma from healthy subjects. CONCLUSIONS: RAW and sGAW are significant factors that contribute to the diagnosis and differentiation of obstructive airways diseases.

The 24-h lung-function profile of once-daily tiotropium and olodaterol fixed-dose combination in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the effects on 24-h lung function and lung volume of a once-daily fixed-dose combination (FDC) of the long-acting muscarinic antagonist tiotropium and the long-acting ß2-agonist olodaterol in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. METHODS: This was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase III trial with an incomplete crossover design. Patients received four of the following six treatment options for 6 weeks each: placebo, olodaterol 5 µg, tiotropium 2.5 µg, tiotropium 5 µg, tiotropium + olodaterol FDC 2.5/5 µg and tiotropium + olodaterol FDC 5/5 µg, all delivered via the Respimat(®) inhaler. The primary end point was forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) area under the curve from 0 to 24 h (AUC0-24) response after 6 weeks of treatment; key secondary end points were FEV1 AUC from 0 to 12 h and AUC from 12 to 24 h, and further end points included lung-volume parameters measured using body plethysmography (subset of patients), measures of peak and trough FEV1, and incidence of adverse events. RESULTS: A significant improvement in FEV1 AUC0-24 response was observed with tiotropium + olodaterol 5/5 µg and 2.5/5 µg versus placebo and monotherapies after 6 weeks of treatment; mean response with tiotropium + olodaterol 5/5 µg versus placebo was 0.280 L (p < 0.0001). Differences to monotherapies with tiotropium + olodaterol 5/5 µg were 0.115 L versus olodaterol 5 µg, 0.127 L versus tiotropium 2.5 µg and 0.110 L versus tiotropium 5 µg (p < 0.0001 for all comparisons). Secondary end points supported these data. No safety concerns were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this study demonstrated improvements in lung function over 24 h with an FDC of tiotropium + olodaterol over tiotropium or olodaterol alone, with no observed difference in tolerability. ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT01559116.

Effects of Whole Body Vibration in Patients With COPD.

BACKGROUND: Whole body vibration training (WBVT) improves muscle force in healthy subjects. Resistance training (RT) is an important component of a pulmonary program. AIM: To investigate the effects of either 12 weeks WBVT or RT, both provided after 15 min of aerobic training as warming up. METHODS: COPD patients, referred for pulmonary rehabilitation, were randomized to either a WBVT or a conventional RT group. Primary outcome was the change in 6 Minute Walking Distance (6MWD) after 12 weeks. Maximum exercise capacity (Wmax), quadriceps force (QF), quality of life (QoL) and number of responders, defined as the percentage of patients reaching the minimally clinically important difference (MCID) for the aforementioned outcome measurements were the secondary outcomes. Data are expressed as medians (interquartile range). RESULTS: 62 patients with COPD were included. After WBVT, 6MWD improved by 35 (-14-76) m (p = 0.003), Wmax by 7 (2-23) Watt (p = 0.001), QoL by 13 (4-25) points (p = 0.002) and QF by 9 (-16-29) Nm (NS). In the RT-group, 6MWD, Wmax, QoL and QF increased significantly, with 60 (-13-96) m (p < 0.001), 12 (8-18) Watt (p < 0.001), 11 (3-16) points (p = 0.002) and 12 (-3-44) Nm (p = 0.009), respectively. The MCID for 6MWD (54 m) was reached by 8/26 patients in the WBVT-group and by 16/25 patients in RT-group (p = 0.05). No significant differences between groups were observed for the primary and secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: WBVT after 15 min aerobic training enhances 6MWD, Wmax and QoL in COPD patients; however only 30% of patients reached the MCID for 6MWD.

Activity of the alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency registry in Belgium.

A Belgian alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency registry has been established in 2003. Currently 55 patients are included. At the same time, a working group has been set up for publishing national guidelines. In 2014, several Belgian patients founded Alpha-1 Global. We hope that the integrated activities of all the stakeholders involved in AAT deficiency will permit a high quality care for all patients suffering from this disabling disease.

Oxygen as an abortive therapy in cluster headache: a narrative review and clinical practice aspects.

Cluster headache (International Classification of Headache Disorders third edition, ICHD-3 3.1) is a primary headache disorder affecting around 0.12% of individuals. It is characterized by severe headache attacks causing significant negative impact on the lives of patients. While administration of 100% oxygen is considered to be the first-choice acute treatment, undertreatment also exists. Reasons for undertreatment may entail problems with the correct prescription of oxygen, reimbursement issues or the practical implementation of home oxygen therapy. The aim of this manuscript is to review the scientific evidence on oxygen therapy for cluster headache and provide a practical guidance for both physicians and patients to optimize its use in an acute setting. The current evidence of the administration of 100% oxygen as a safe and effective treatment for cluster headache is strong. Based on several clinical trials and surveys, the recommended flow rates range between 12 and 15 L/min via a non-rebreathing mask, for at least fifteen minutes. The frequency of cluster headache attacks and thus the need for acute treatment can be very high. Fortunately, the Belgian social security system provides a full and lifetime reimbursement of oxygen therapy for cluster headache if the diagnosis and the need for this therapy has been certified by a neurologist, neurosurgeon or neuropsychiatrist.

Development and feasibility of an exercise training program in primary care for patients with COPD experiencing an acute exacerbation.

BACKGROUND: Starting rehabilitation soon after an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is crucial to diminish the detrimental effects of this acute event on muscle function. However, uptake in outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation is low. OBJECTIVES: To design and test a feasible, acceptable and accessible exercise training program (ETP) in primary care for patients experiencing an AECOPD. DESIGN: (1) A literature review and qualitative study to develop an ETP and (2) A feasibility study of the ETP implemented in primary care. METHODS: (1) The development of the ETP proceeded in several phases with input from different stakeholders through focus group discussions. (2) Patients experiencing a moderate or severe AECOPD were included and followed the ETP for two weeks with a physiotherapist in primary care. Interviews with the participants took place and patients were given the choice to complete the eight-week program. RESULTS: (1) Six discussion sessions took place. The ETP contained a flexible set of progressively more difficult exercises applicable in a primary care practice. (2) Eight patients experiencing a moderate (n = 1) or severe (n = 7) AECOPD were included. Patients started the first physiotherapy session 5 (2-6) days after the start of their symptoms or hospital discharge. Seven patients wanted to complete the ETP. CONCLUSIONS: An ETP in primary care is feasible, acceptable and accessible for patients experiencing a moderate or severe AECOPD, and for physiotherapists. The effectiveness of this ETP on muscle function and physical activity is currently under investigation in a RCT. CONTRIBUTION OF THE PAPER.