Adecuación de guías GOLD/gesEPOC en pacientes EPOC del ámbito Neumosur / Adapting the GOLD/GesEPOC guidelines in patients with COPD within the scope of Neumosur

INTRODUCCIÓN: El objetivo de nuestro estudio es conocer la implantación de las guías GOLD y GesEPOC en pacientes EPOC en las consultas de Neumología de Andalucía y Extremadura, para evaluar su variabilidad y los posibles factores determinantes. MÉTODOS: EPOCONSUL es un estudio en el que se realiza una auditoría de historias clínicas de pacientes con diagnóstico de EPOC. Se hace un estudio observacional en 62 centros de España. Se han extraído los datos de los centros del ámbito de NEUMOSUR para su análisis. Se analiza el grado de implantación de las guías GOLD y GesEPOC, así como la variabilidad en los distintos grados de enfermedad y fenotipos clínicos. RESULTADOS: Se ha analizado la historia clínica de 926 pacientes. El 32,8% estaban clasificados siguiendo la guía GOLD. De estos pacientes, el 36,2% estaban clasificados como grado A, 9,9% grado B, 22,3% grado C y el 31,6% como grado D. El 49,5% estaban clasificados siguiendo los criterios de GesEPOC. El 44,5% eran clasificados como fenotipo no agudizador, 14,9% fenotipo mixto EPOC-asma, 15,7% fenotipo agudizador con predomino de enfisema y 24,9% fenotipo agudizador con predominio de bronquitis crónica. CONCLUSIONES: En las consultas de neumología del ámbito de NEUMOSUR hay un mayor uso de los criterios de la guía GesEPOC que de la guía GOLD. Los grados más frecuentes son los de bajo riesgo y poco sintomáticos (A) seguidos de los de alto riesgo y muy sintomáticos (D). El fenotipo que con mayor frecuencia se atiende en la consulta es el no agudizado

INTRODUCTION: The objective of our study is to learn the implementation of the GOLD and Ges EPOC guidelines among patients with COPD at Pneumology departments in the regions of Andalusia and Extremadura (Spain) to assess variability and possible determining factors. METHOD: EPOCONSUL is a study that audits the clinical histories of patients who have been diagnosed with COPD. An observational study in 62 centers in Spain is carried out. Data has been extracted from centers within the scope of NEUMOSUR (Pneumology Departments in Andalusia and Extremadura) for analysis. The degree to which the GOLD and GesEPOC guidelines are implemented were analyzed, as well as variability in the various degrees of the disease and clinical phenotypes. RESULTS: The clinical histories of 926 patients were analyzed. 32.8% were classified according to GOLD guidelines. Of these patients, 36.2% were classified as grade A, 9.9% as grade B, 22.3% as grade C and 31.6% as grade D. 49.5% of the cases were classified following GesEPOC criteria. 44.5% were classified as non-acute phenotype, 14.9% as mixed phenotype COPD-asthma, 15.7% as acute phenotype with a predominance of emphysema and 24.9% as acute phenotype with a predominance of chronic bronchitis. CONCLUSIONS: Within the scope of NEUMOSUR medical practices, there is a majority use of GesEPOC guidelines over GOLD guidelines. The most frequent degrees are those of low risk and barely symptomatic (A) followed by high risk and very symptomatic (D). The phenotype seen most frequently at practices is the non-acute type

Tubercoulosis en el área sanitaria de Cádiz: Evolución de la resistencia durante los úlitmos 15 años / Tuberculosis in Area Health of Cádiz, Spain: Evolution of Resistance during the Last 15 Years

Introducción: La tuberculosis sigue siendo frecuente en el mundo y la Resistencia constituye un problema importante. Este trabajo presenta los casos diagnosticados por cultivo con (..) (AU)

Introduction: Tuberculosis remains prevalent worldwide, and drug resistance is an important problem. This report presents the results of the study (..) (AU)

Factors related to variability in long-term oxygen therapy prevalence.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the variability of long term oxygen therapy (LTOT) prevalence according to several organisational and population factors. METHODS: Prospective multicentre survey in 29 public hospitals (population 6,796,964) recording data on the organisational structure of the participating centres and factors related to LTOT prevalence. Official figures were also obtained from local health authorities on the prevalence and cost of LTOT. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of LTOT was 184 per 100000 population (range 71-473). There was a specific unit or staff member for LTOT supervision in 17 (58.6%) centres, giving a lower prevalence (169 vs. 237/ 100000; P = 0.03). The altitude of the participating centres (median 92 m, mean 275 m; range 4-848 m) was found to influence LTOT prevalence (r = 0.73; P = 0.005). In the linear regression analysis, the coefficient of determination for altitude was 0.504. Other factors, such as percentage of population aged over 65 years, the attitude of prescribers towards patients with low adherence, current smokers or those with a PaO2 = 61 mmHg, were not related to LTOT prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: Altitude and the existence of a specific unit or staff member for LTOT supervision significantly influence LTOT prevalence.

Staff training influence on non-invasive ventilation outcome for acute hypercapnic respiratory failure.

BACKGROUND: Although non-invasive ventilation (NIV) efficacy in the treatment of acute hypercapnic respiratory failure (AHRF) have been previously demonstrated, not all the studies reveal this fact in the same degree, with some variability in the results. This study aimed to analyse variables related to NIV outcome for AHRF. METHODS: A group of consecutive patients requiring NIV due to AHRF were included in a prospective observational cohort study performed in conventional wards. Variables considered included those reported in the literature, as well as staff problems during the management of the ventilators. The study aimed to include all patients during one year, but after the initial results, it had to be suspended. RESULTS: Fifteen patients were included in the study: 10 males, mean age 68+/-12. APACHE-II score was 17.6+/-6.5. pH and pCO2 before NIV were 7.22+/-0.11 and 110+/-72 mmHg respectively. pH, corticosteroids use, APACHE score, and EPAP were found to influence outcome. Besides, an inadequate use of NIV due to lack of personnel training was detected in all patients with NIV failure (RR 3.5; 95% CI: 1.08-11.2; p = 0.007). In the light of these results, the study had to be suspended and patients were transferred to the respiratory ward. CONCLUSIONS: NIV is a life-saving respiratory treatment influenced by several factors, of which staff training is a key one. Centres attending acute respiratory patients should have an area in which this requirement is fulfilled.

Long-term effects of a maintenance program after supervised or self-monitored training programs in patients with COPD.

The evaluation of a 13-month maintenance program (MP) for 39 severe COPD patients with FEV(1)%pred 44(7)% who, as result of two different 8-week leg exercise training (LET) programs, one supervised at the hospital (group S; n = 20) and the other self-monitored (SM; n = 19), had achieved different levels of exercise tolerance. After LET, patients in group S had a higher maximal oxygen uptake and endurance time than patients in the SM group [ O(2)max 1.43(0.30) l. min(-1)] vs l.25(0.27) l. min(-1) and endurance-time 16(4) min vs 12 (5) min, respectively). During the MP patients were advised to walk vigorously at least 4 km/day, 4 times/wk. After the MP, while endurance time remained higher than at baseline, it had decreased ( p < 0.01) immediately after LET in both groups and no differences were evident between groups (11(4) min and 10(4), respectively). In contrast, Chronic Respiratory Diseases Questionnaire scores, which had improved significantly after LET in both groups, remained high. Long-term effects of MP were independent of the training strategy or whether physiological improvements had been obtained with the initial LET. SM exercise programs do not seem capable of maintaining physiological improvements in exercise tolerance, though "quality of life" can be maintained.

[Congenital pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas]. / Fístulas arteriovenosas pulmonares congénitas.

Pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas are a very infrequent illness. The majority of these cases are associated with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia, therefore their isolated presentation is exceptional. We present a patient that was diagnosed of two arteriovenous fistulas non associated with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia. His main symptom was progressive dyspnea on exertion, with cyanosis and clubbing. His evolution after surgery was satisfactory. Theirs clinical, diagnosis and therapeutic peculiarities ware discussed.

[Bronchial atresia and bronchogenic cyst in an adult]. / Atresia bronquial y quiste broncogénico en un adulto.

We present the case of an asymptomatic patient, with a right paracardiac mass discovered in a preoperative radiologic study. The bronchoscopy showed the intermedius bronchus atresia, finished in bottom of sack, with absence of middle and lower right lobes. With the chest computed tomographic scan, two lobulated contour mediastinal masses were seen. The patient was submitted to surgery, being the pathological findings consistent with bronchogenic cysts with atresia of the intermediarius bronchus. The patient evolved favourably after surgery.

[Comparative study of 2 diagnostic tests of aspecific bronchial hyperreactivity]. / Estudio comparativo de dos pruebas de diagnóstico de la hiperreactividad bronquial inespecífica.

Bronchial challenge test are useful in diagnosis of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BH). To assess the sensitivity of histamine test (HT) and exercise test (ET), 45 asthmatic patients (31 men, 14 women, ages 9-34) with normal resting pulmonary function test were studied. HT and ET were performed in two different days. HT was positive in 40 (6 severe, 23 moderate and 11 mild) and ET was positive in 13 (88.8% vr 28.8%, p < 0.001). All patients with positive ET had positive HT. There is a relationship between the degree of BH severity and the response to ET (chi 2 = 5.995; p < 0.05). The HT has a high profitability the diagnosis of BH. The ET has a low sensitivity.