Vitamin D deficiency among patients with pulmonary hypertension.

BACKGROUND: There is little information about vitamin D (Vit D) deficiency in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). The objective of this study was: 1) compare Vit D levels between patients with PH, left ventricular failure (LVF) and healthy subjects (HS); 2) correlate, in patients with PH, Vit D levels with prognosis-related variables, such as the 6-min walk test (6MWT). METHODS: Vitamin D levels were measured in a cross-sectional study in 126 patients from one of three groups: patients with PH (n = 53), patients with LVF (n = 42) and healthy subjects (n = 31). In all groups, 8-h fasting blood samples were obtained in the morning. In the PH and the LVF group, functional class (WHO criteria), metres covered in the 6MWT and echocardiographic parameters were analysed. In the PH group, plasma N terminal pro B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level was analysed and a complete haemodynamic evaluation by right heart catheterisation was made. RESULTS: Mean Vit D levels were lower in PH than in both other groups (ng/ml, mean ± SD): PH 19.25 ± 10, LVF 25.68 ± 12, HS 28.8 ± 12 (PH vs LVF p = 0.017, PH vs HS p = 0.001 and HS vs LVF p = 0.46). Vit D deficiency prevalence was higher in PH as compared to the other groups (PH 53.8%, LVF 45.2%, HS 25%, p = 0.01). Patients with PH in functional class (FC; WHO criteria) III-IV had higher Vit D deficiency prevalence than those in FC I-II (86.7% vs 40.5%, p = 0.003). There was a significant linear correlation between the 6MWT and Vit D levels in PH (p < 0.01), but not in LVF (p = 0.69). CONCLUSIONS: Vit D levels were lower in patients with PH as compared to patients with LVF and HS and correlated directly with 6-min walk distance.

Association between Increased Risk of Pneumonia with ICS in COPD: A Continuous Variable Analysis of Patient Factors from the IMPACT Study.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the proven benefits of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)-containing triple therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), clinicians limit patient exposure to ICS due to the risk of pneumonia. However, there are multiple factors associated with the risk of pneumonia in patients with COPD. This post hoc analysis of IMPACT trial data aims to set the risks associated with ICS into a context of specific patient-related factors that contribute to the risk of pneumonia. METHODS: The 52-week, double-blind IMPACT trial randomized patients with symptomatic COPD and ≥1 exacerbation in the prior year 2:2:1 to once-daily fluticasone furoate (FF)/umeclidinium (UMEC)/vilanterol (VI), FF/VI or UMEC/VI. Annual rate of on-treatment pneumonias in the intent-to-treat population associated with age, body mass index (BMI), percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and blood eosinophil count (BEC) was evaluated. RESULTS: This analysis revealed that the annual rate of pneumonia showed the lowest risk at the age of 50 years. The 95% confidence intervals (CI) between ICS-containing and non-ICS containing treatments diverged in ages > 63 years, suggesting a significantly increased ICS-related risk in older patients. In contrast, the annual rate of pneumonia rose in both groups below BMI of 22.5 kg/m2, but above that, there was no relationship to pneumonia rate and no differential effect between the two groups. The relationship between BEC and pneumonia was flat up to > 300/µL cells with ICS-containing treatment and then rose. In contrast, the rate of pneumonia with non-ICS containing treatment appeared to increase at a lower level of BEC (~ 200/µL). CONCLUSIONS: There was little evidence of a differential effect of older age, lower BMI, lower FEV1 and BEC on the pneumonia rate between ICS-containing and non-ICS containing treatments. This analysis points to the need for a balanced approach to risk versus benefit in the use of ICS-containing treatments in COPD. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: IMPACT ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02164513.

DElaying Disease Progression In COPD with Early Initiation of Dual Bronchodilator or Triple Inhaled PharmacoTherapy (DEPICT): A Predictive Modelling Approach.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical studies demonstrate an accelerated decline in lung function in patients with moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease [GOLD] grade 2) versus severe and very severe COPD (GOLD grades 3 and 4). This predictive modelling study assessed the impact of initiating pharmacotherapy earlier versus later on long-term disease progression in COPD. METHODS: The modelling approach used data on decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) extracted from published studies to develop a longitudinal non-parametric superposition model of lung function decline with progressive impact of exacerbations from 0 per year to 3 per year and no ongoing pharmacotherapy. The model simulated decline in FEV1 and annual exacerbation rates from age 40 to 75 years in COPD with initiation of long-acting anti-muscarinic antagonist (LAMA)/long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) (umeclidinium (UMEC)/vilanterol (VI)) or triple (inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)/LAMA/LABA; fluticasone furoate (FF)/UMEC/VI) therapy at 40, 55 or 65 years of age. RESULTS: Model-predicted decline in FEV1 showed that, compared with 'no ongoing' therapy, initiation of triple or LAMA/LABA therapy at age 40, 55 or 65 years preserved an additional 469.7 mL or 236.0 mL, 327.5 mL or 203.3 mL, or 213.5 mL or 137.5 mL of lung function, respectively, by the age of 75. The corresponding average annual exacerbation rates were reduced from 1.57 to 0.91, 1.06 or 1.23 with triple therapy or to 1.2, 1.26 and 1.4 with LAMA/LABA therapy when initiated at 40, 55 or 65 years of age, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This modelling study suggests that earlier initiation of LAMA/LABA or triple therapy may have positive benefits in slowing disease progression in patients with COPD. Greater benefits were demonstrated with early initiation therapy with triple versus LAMA/LABA.

Rehabilitación cardiorrespiratoria en hipertensión pulmonar: experiencia en un centro de referencia / Cardiorespiratory rehabilitation in pulmonary hypertension: experience in a reference center

RESUMEN Introducción: La hipertensión pulmonar (HP) abarca un grupo heterogéneo de enfermedades que genera discapacidad y aumento de la morbimortalidad. La rehabilitación cardiorrespiratoria (RC) es un recurso terapéutico subutilizado en esta condición. Objetivo: Estimar los efectos de un programa de RC en una prueba de caminata de campo y en la calidad de vida de pacientes con diagnóstico de HP de los grupos I y IV. Materiales y Métodos: Los pacientes fueron evaluados antes y después de la intervención mediante la prueba de caminata de 6 minutos (PC6M) y el Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). El programa de RC consistió en 8 semanas de ejercicios supervisados con modalidad institucional. Resultados: Se incluyeron 19 pacientes con diagnóstico de HP precapilar por cateterismo cardíaco derecho, 18 mujeres (94,7%) con una media de edad de 45,5 ± 14,3 años. Trece (68,4%) presentaron HP del grupo I, y 6 (31,6%) HP del grupo IV. Se observaron cambios estadísticamente significativos en la PC6M (diferencia de medias -DM- 31 ± 27,3 metros; p <0,001), y en el SGRQ (DM 8,2 ± 10,2; p<0,01). No se reportaron eventos adversos graves durante el programa. Conclusiones: Nuestro estudio sugiere que un programa de RC supervisado en pacientes con HP podría mejorar la distancia caminada y la calidad de vida.

ABSTRACT Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) comprises a heterogeneous group of diseases resulting in disability and increased morbidity and mortality. Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation (CR) is a therapeutic resource not widely used in this condition. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a CR program on a walking test and on the quality of life in patients with group 1 and group 4 PH Methods: Patients were evaluated before and after the intervention with the six-minute walk test (6MWT) and Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). The program consisted of 8 weeks of supervised exercises within the institution. Results: Nineteen patients with precapillary PH diagnosed by right heart catheterization were included; 18 were women (94.7%) with a mean age of 45.5±14.3 years. Thirteen (68.4%) patients had group 1 PH and 6 (31.6%) had group 4 PH. There were statistically significant changes in the 6MWT [mean difference (MD) 31±27.3 m; p<0.001], and in the SGRQ (MD 8.2±10.2; p<0.01). No adverse events were reported during the program. Conclusions: Our study suggests that a supervised CR program in patients with PH could improve the distance walked and the quality of life.

El déficit de hierro en pacientes con hipertensión arterial pulmonar es altamente prevalente / Iron Deficiency is Highly Prevalent in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

RESUMEN Objetivos: Evaluar la prevalencia del déficit de hierro en hipertensión pulmonar y compararlo con otras poblaciones de pacientes. Establecer su valor pronóstico. Material y métodos: Estudio prospectivo, observacional. Se midieron parámetros de hierro sérico en pacientes consecutivos con diagnóstico de hipertensión pulmonar. Se compararon con pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca y con controles sanos. Se buscó correlación entre los valores séricos de hierro y la clase funcional, la distancia recorrida en TC6M y el NT-proBNP. Resultados: Participaron 107 pacientes: 60 con hipertensión pulmonar, 26 con insuficiencia cardíaca y 21 controles sanos. El déficit de hierro fue del 78,3% en los pacientes con hipertensión pulmonar; del 45,8%, en aquellos que presentaban insuficiencia cardíaca; y del 23,8% (p < 0,001) en los controles sanos. La prevalencia de anemia resultó del 25% en los pacientes con hipertensión pulmonar; del 26,9% en los que padecían insuficiencia cardíaca; y del 19% (p < 0,8) en los controles sanos. En el subgrupo de pacientes en clase funcional I-II, la prevalencia de DFe fue del 78% en los pacientes con hipertensión pulmonar vs. el 43,5% (p < 0,005) en los que tenían insuficiencia cardíaca, y la anemia resultó del 17,1%% vs. el 28%% (p < 0,2). Se halló correlación significativa entre ferremia y saturación de transferrina con distancia caminada en TC6M (r: 0,35; p < 0,01 y r: 0,34; p < 0,01) y no hubo correlación para ferritina y transferrina. No se encontró significancia estadística entre déficit de hierro y clase funcional o NT-proBNP. Conclusiones: El déficit de hierro en la hipertensión arterial es altamente prevalente y superior al observado en la insuficiencia cardíaca y en los sujetos control, y no se establece relación con prevalencia de anemia, la cual fue similar en los tres grupos. El hierro sérico tiene una clara relación con la distancia caminada, no así con clase funcional, lo que, tal vez, obedezca al bajo número de pacientes.

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of iron deficiency in pulmonary hypertension, to compare it with other patient populations and to establish its prognostic value. Methods: This was a prospective, observational study. Serum iron parameters were measured in consecutive patients diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension and compared with heart failure patients and healthy controls. A correlation was sought between serum iron levels and functional class, distance walked in the 6-minute walk test and NT-proBNP. Results: A total of 107 patients were included in the study: 60 with pulmonary hypertension, 26 with heart failure and 21 healthy controls. Iron deficiency was 78.3% in patients with pulmonary hypertension, 45.8% in those with heart failure and 23.8% in healthy controls (p<0.001). The prevalence of anemia was 25% in pulmonary hypertension, 26.9% in heart failure and 19% in healthy controls (p<0.8). In patients with functional class I-II, iron deficiency was: 78% in pulmonary hypertension vs. 43.5% in heart failure (p<0.005), and anemia was 17.1% vs. 28%, respectively (p<0.2). A significant correlation was found between serum iron and transferrin saturation with the distance walked in the 6-minute walk test (r: 0.35; p<0.01 and r: 0.34; p<0.01, respectively) and no correlation was found for transferrin and ferritin. Also, no significant correlation was found between iron deficiency and functional class or NT-proBNP. Conclusions: Iron deficiency is highly prevalent in pulmonary hypertension, and superior to that found in heart failure patients and healthy controls. No relationship was established with anemia, which was similar in the three groups. Serum iron is clearly related with the distance walked, but not with functional class, a result which may be attributed to the limited number of patients.