[Assessment of inhalation technique in patients with bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

AIM: Investigate inhalation techniques using different inhalers types and their effect on the course of disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 110 patients with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease using the inhaler at least one month. Inhaler errors performed during demonstration were evaluated for each patient and entered in the check-lists. We also collected information about co-morbidities, education, mMRC dyspnea score, rate of exacerbations, and performed spirometry. RESULTS: 80.9% of patients used metered-dose inhaler, 20.9% - single-dose and 21.8% - multiple-dose dry powder inhaler, 22.7% - soft-mist inhaler. Inhaler errors were made by 80.9% patients. The mean number of mistakes in metered-dose inhaler use was 2±1.6, single-dose powder inhaler -1.5±1.3, multiple-dose dry powder inhaler - 1.25±1.4, soft-mist inhaler - 0.68±0.7 (р=0.003). Age, diagnosis, duration of disease, education level, inhalers usage by relatives have no influence on the inhalation technique. A number of errors was related to female gender (р=0.007) and usage of more than 2 inhalers (r=0.3, p=0.002), previous instruction about inhalation technique (r=0.3, p=0.001). On the other hand, there were correlations between the number of errors and degree of bronchial obstruction, asthma control, severity of dyspnea by mMRC score, exacerbation rate. CONCLUSION: Patients with bronchoobstructive diseases perform many inhaler errors, that substantially influences the severity and course of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

[Clinical efficacy of mechanical bacterial lysate in the prevention of infectious exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of mechanical bacterial lysate on the prevention of infectious exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients with frequent exacerbations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included patients (n=60) with frequent exacerbations of COPD (groups C and D according to the GOLD classification). All COPD patients were divided into two groups by blind method. The first group (n=30) received conventional therapy for COPD plus MBL (the course included 3 cycles of 10 days therapy with 20-day intervals between them). The second group of patients (control, n=30) received conventional therapy for COPD without MBL.We evaluated the severity of symptoms, frequency of recurrence of COPD exacerbations, readmissions, need for emergency care and changes in basic therapy of COPD. Evaluations were done on 10 days, 1, 3 and 6 months from the start of the study. RESULTS: Adding of MBL to the therapy list of COPD resulted in a significant decrease of biomarkers of systemic inflammation and sputum purulence during compared to the control group. After 6 months of observation MBL group demonstrated statistically significant improvement of respiratory function, decrease in frequency of COPD exacerbations, needs for emergency medical service, reduced changes in basic therapy and hospitalization for exacerbation of COPD. Therapy with MBL showed a high degree of safety and low incidence of adverse events. CONCLUSION: The results of the study indicate that MBL may be used for the prevention of severe infectious exacerbations of COPD.

[Exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis].

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is usually characterized by a chronic and slowly progressive course. According to several studies, a small number of patients with IPF (about 515%) develops an acute deterioration of deasese exacerbation of IPF. Exacerbations of IPF can occur at any time of the disease and sometimes becomes the first manifestation of IPF. Pulmonary hypertension in IPF is a fairly frequent complication, which leads to severe violations of gas exchange and reduced tolerance to physical stress. Currently, proven effective treatments for exacerbations of IPF do not exist, the management of this condition is based on supportive therapy (oxygen, respiratory support) and interventions with inadequate evidences (corticosteroids, immunosuppressant). During exacerbation of IPF a careful search of all the possible triggers is justified. In the presented clinical case of exacerbation of IPF there was demonstrated the efficacy of complex therapy including antifibrotic therapy, PAH-specific medicines and enhanced oxygen therapy.

[Risk factors for the early development of septic shock in patients with severe COVID-19].

AIM: In a retrospective study, we evaluated factors associated with the early development of septic shock in patients with severe COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected medical records of the intensive care unit patients submitted by the local COVID-19 hospitals across Russia to the Federal Center for the Critical Care at the Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University). Septic shock in crticially ill patients requiring mechanical ventilation was defined as a need in vasopressors to maintain blood pressure. RESULTS: We studied 1078 patients with severe COVID-19 who were admitted to the intensive care units for respiratory support. There were 611 males and 467 females. The mean age was 61.013.7 years. Five hundred twenty five medical records (48.7%) were received from the Moscow hospitals, 159 (14.7%) from the Moscow region, and 394 (36.5%) from the hospitals located in 58 regions of the Russian Federation. In 613 (56.9%) patients, diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed by PCR, and in the other cases it was established on the basis of the clinical picture and the results of the chest CT scan. Septic shock developed in 214 (19.9%) of 1078 patients. In the logistic regression model, the risk of septic shock in patients older than 50 years was higher than in patients of a younger age (OR 2.34; 95% CI 1.533.67; p0.0001). In patients with more severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, there was an increase in the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, including coronary heart disease and atrial fibrillation, type 2 diabetes and malignant tumors. The risk of septic shock in patients with three or more concomitant diseases was higher than in patients without any concomitant chronic diseases (OR 1.76; 95% CI 1.762.70). CONCLUSION: The risk of septic shock in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome induced by SARS-CoV-2 is higher in patients older than 50 years with concomitant diseases, although a severe course of the disease is also possible in younger patients without any concomitant disorders.

Treatment of exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

AIM: To assess the quality of medical care provided in large Russian hospitals to patients with COPD exacerbation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included patients with acute exacerbations of COPD hospitalized into three large clinical hospitals in Moscow. The diagnosis of "COPD exacerbation" was established in accordance with current clinical recommendations. We collected the data about patients' demography, clinical signs and symptoms, blood gas analysis, chest radiography, drug therapy, oxygen therapy and respiratory support. The follow-up period was 90 days. The obtained data were compared with the data of patients from the multicenter study "European COPD Audit". RESULTS: The leading clinical symptoms in COPD exacerbation were dyspnea (95.4%) and sputum production (60.7%). The majority of patients with COPD received short-acting ß2-agonists (77.4%), systemic steroids (85.1%), antibiotics (79.0%) and theophyllines (48.1%). Noninvasive ventilation was performed in 8.6% of patients, oxygen therapy - in 23,8% of patients, pulmonary rehabilitation - in only 6,2% of patients. Chest radiography was performed in 97.9% of patients, pulmonary function tests - in 79.8%, blood gases analysis - in 19.3% of patients. The mean duration of hospitalization was 18.2±3.9 days, repeated hospitalization within 90 days occurs in 36.2% of patients. In-hospital mortality was 3.3%. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of the study practical recommendations for improving the quality of medical care in acute exacerbations of COPD are proposed.