The Use of Inhaled Epoprostenol for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Secondary Due To COVID-19: a Case Series.

Introduction: Inhaled epoprostenol (iEpo) is a pulmonary vasodilator used to treat refractory respiratory failure, including that caused by Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. Aim of Study: To describe the experience at three teaching hospitals using iEpo for severe respiratory failure due to COVID-19 and evaluate its efficacy in improving oxygenation. Methods: Fifteen patients were included who received iEpo, had confirmed COVID-19 and had an arterial blood gas measurement in the 12 hours before and 24 hours after iEpo initiation. Results: Eleven patients received prone ventilation before iEpo (73.3%), and six (40%) were paralyzed. The partial pressure of arterial oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen (P/F ratio) improved from 95.7 mmHg to 118.9 mmHg (p=0.279) following iEpo initiation. In the nine patients with severe ARDS, the mean P/F ratio improved from 66.1 mmHg to 95.7 mmHg (p=0.317). Ultimately, four patients (26.7%) were extubated after an average of 9.9 days post-initiation. Conclusions: The findings demonstrated a trend towards improvement in oxygenation in critically ill COVID-19 patients. Although limited by the small sample size, the results of this case series portend further investigation into the role of iEpo for severe respiratory failure associated with COVID-19.

Training and Deployment of Medical Students as Respiratory Therapist Extenders during COVID-19.

Background: Early experience during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and predictive modeling indicate that the need for respiratory therapists (RTs) will exceed the current supply. Objective: We present an implemented model to train and deploy medical students in the novel role of "respiratory therapist extender" (RTE) to address respiratory therapist shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The RTE role was formulated through discussions with respiratory therapists. A three-part training, with both online and in-person components, was developed and delivered to 25 University of Michigan Medical Students. RTEs were trained in basic respiratory care, documentation, equipment preparation, and equipment processing for clinically stable patients. They operate in a tiered staffing model in which RTEs report to a single RT, thereby extending his/her initial capacity. Results: The first cohort of safely trained RTEs was deployed to provide patient care within 1 week of volunteer recruitment. Conclusion: Our experience has demonstrated that healthcare professionals, including medical students, can be quickly trained and deployed in the novel RTE role as a surge strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because we urgently developed and implemented the RTE role, we recognize the need for ongoing monitoring and adaptation to ensure patient and volunteer safety. We are sharing the RTE concept and training openly to help address RT shortages as the pandemic evolves.

Different Harm and Mortality in Critically Ill Medical vs Surgical Patients: Retrospective Analysis of Variation in Adverse Events in Different Intensive Care Units.

BACKGROUND: Institutional harm reduction campaigns are essential in improving safe practice in critical care. Our institution embarked on an aggressive project to measure harm. We hypothesized that critically ill surgical patients were at increased risk of harm compared with medical intensive care patients. METHODS: Three years of administrative data for patients with at least 1 Intensive Care Unit day at an urban tertiary care center were assembled. Data were accessed from the Henry Ford Health System No Harm Campaign in Detroit, MI. Harm was defined as any unintended physical injury resulting from medical care. Patients were deemed surgical if they had at least 1 procedure in the operating room. Univariate analysis was used to compare surgical patients with nonsurgical. Logistic regression was used for risk adjustment in predicting harm and death. RESULTS: The study included 19,844 patients, of whom 7483 (37.7%) were surgical. The overall mortality was 7.8% (n = 1554). More surgical patients experienced harm than did nonsurgical patients (2923 [39.1%] vs 2798 [22.6%], odds ratio [OR] = 2.2, p < 0.001). Surgical patients were less likely to die (6.2% vs 8.8%, p < 0.001). Surgical patients were more likely to experience harm (OR = 2.1) but had lower mortalities (OR = 0.45) vs other harmed patients (OR = 3.8; all p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Most harm in surgically critically ill patients is procedure related. Preliminary data show that harm is associated with death, yet both surgical and African American patients experience more harm with a lower mortality rate.

Anaerobic antibiotic usage for pneumonia in the medical intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Pneumonia is a common admitting diagnosis in the intensive care unit (ICU). When aspiration is suspected, antibiotics to cover anaerobes are frequently used, but in the absence of clear risk factors, current guidelines have questioned their role. It is unknown how frequently these guidelines are followed. METHODS: We conducted a single-centre observational study on practice patterns of anaerobic antibiotic use in consecutive patients admitted to the ICU with aspiration pneumonia (Asp), community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP). RESULTS: A total of 192 patients were studied (Asp: 20, HCAP: 107, CAP: 65). Overall, 59 patients received anaerobic antibiotics (Asp: 90%, HCAP: 28%, CAP 17%) but a significant proportion of these patients did not meet criteria to receive them. Inappropriate anaerobic antibiotic use was 12/20 for Asp, 27/107 for HCAP and 9/65 for CAP. Mortality probability model III at zero hours (MPM0) score and a diagnosis of Asp were predictors of receiving inappropriate anaerobic antibiotics. Receiving inappropriate anaerobic antibiotics was associated with a longer ICU length of stay (LOS; 7 days (interquartile range (IQR): 7-21) vs 4 days (IQR:2-9), P = 0.017). CONCLUSION: For patients in the ICU admitted with pneumonia, there is a high occurrence of inappropriately prescribed anaerobic antibiotics, the use of which was associated with a longer ICU LOS.

A Feasibility Assessment of Behavioral-based Interviewing to Improve Candidate Selection for a Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Program.

Traditional interviews for residency and fellowship training programs are an important component in the selection process, but can be of variable value due to a nonstandardized approach. We redesigned the candidate interview process for our large pulmonary and critical care medicine fellowship program in the United States using a behavioral-based interview (BBI) structure. The primary goal of this approach was to standardize the assessment of candidates within noncognitive domains with the goal of selecting those with the best fit for our institution's fellowship program. Eight faculty members attended two BBI workshops. The first workshop identified our program's "best fit" criteria using the framework of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education's six core competencies and additional behaviors that fit within our programs. BBI questions were then selected from a national database and refined based on the attributes deemed most important by our faculty. In the second workshop, faculty practiced the BBI format in mock interviews with third-year fellows. The interview process was further refined based on feedback from the interviewees, and then applied with fellowship candidates for the 2014 recruitment season. The 1-year pilot of behavioral-based interviewing allowed us to achieve consensus on the traits sought for our incoming fellows and to standardize the interview process for our program using the framework of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education core competencies. Although the effects of this change on the clinical performance of our fellows have not yet been assessed, this description of our development and implementation processes may be helpful for programs seeking to redesign their applicant interviews.

Protocol-Based Resuscitation Bundle to Improve Outcomes in Septic Shock Patients: Evaluation of the Michigan Health and Hospital Association Keystone Sepsis Collaborative.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of a multi-ICU quality improvement collaborative implementing a protocol-based resuscitation bundle to treat septic shock patients. DESIGN: A difference-in-differences analysis compared patient outcomes in hospitals participating in the Michigan Health & Hospital Association Keystone Sepsis collaborative (n = 37) with noncollaborative hospitals (n = 50) pre- (2010-2011) and postimplementation (2012-2013). Collaborative hospitals were also stratified as high (n = 19) and low (n = 18) adherence based on their overall bundle adherence. SETTING: Eighty-seven Michigan hospitals with ICUs. PATIENTS: We compared 22,319 septic shock patients in collaborative hospitals compared to 26,055 patients in noncollaborative hospitals using the Michigan Inpatient Database. INTERVENTIONS: Multidisciplinary ICU teams received informational toolkits, standardized screening tools, and continuous quality improvement, aided by cultural improvement. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In-hospital mortality and hospital length of stay significantly improved between pre- and postimplementation periods for both collaborative and noncollaborative hospitals. Comparing collaborative and noncollaborative hospitals, we found no additional reductions in mortality (odds ratio, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.87-1.01; p = 0.106) or length of stay (-0.3 d; 95% CI, -0.7 to 0.1 d; p = 0.174). Compared to noncollaborative hospitals, high adherence hospitals had significant reductions in mortality (odds ratio, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.79-0.93; p < 0.001) and length of stay (-0.7 d; 95% CI, -1.1 to -0.2; p < 0.001), whereas low adherence hospitals did not (odds ratio, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.97-1.19; p = 0.197; 0.2 d; 95% CI, -0.3 to 0.8; p = 0.367). CONCLUSIONS: Participation in the Keystone Sepsis collaborative was unable to improve patient outcomes beyond concurrent trends. High bundle adherence hospitals had significantly greater improvements in outcomes, but further work is needed to understand these findings.

Benefits of Early Active Mobility in the Medical Intensive Care Unit: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Pressure ulcer formation continues to be problematic in acute care settings, especially intensive care units (ICUs). Our institution developed a program for early mobility in the ICU using specially trained nursing aides. The goal was to impact hospital-acquired pressure ulcers incidence as well as factors associated with ICU deconditioning by using specially trained personnel to perform the acute early mobility interventions. METHODS: A 5-point mobility scale was developed and used to establish a patients' highest level of activity achievable during evaluation. A mobility team was created consisting of skin-care prevention/mobility nurses and a new category of worker called a patient mobility assistant. Each level has a corresponding plan of care (intervention) that was followed and adjusted according to the patient's progress and nursing evaluation. Data collection included the type of interventions at each encounter, mobility and skin assessments, new hospital-acquired pressure ulcer, the current mobility level, Braden score, rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia, ICU length of stay, and hospital readmission. Staff was also surveyed about their attitudes toward mobilization and perception of mobility barriers; a prepilot and a postpilot survey were planned. RESULTS: During the 1-year study interval, 3233 patients were enrolled from the medical intensive care unit (MICU). The 2011 preimplementation MICU hospital-acquired pressure ulcer rate was 9.2%. After 1 year of employing the mobility team, there was a statistically significant decrease in the MICU hospital-acquired pressure ulcer rate to 6.1% (P = .0405). Hospital readmission of MICU patients also significantly decreased from 17.1% to 11.5% (P = .0010). The mean MICU length of stay decreased by 1 day. There were no safety issues directly or indirectly associated with these interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Use of this mobility program resulted in a 3% decrease in the most recalcitrant patients in the MICU. This corresponds to a decrease of 1.2 per 1000 patient days. It is definitely both statistically and clinically significant. We believe this lays the groundwork for further work in this area. We have shown that properly trained nonlicensed professionals can safely and effectively mobilize patients in the ICU setting. This can represent a cost-effective way to introduce early mobility in the ICU setting.

Outcome of hypotensive ward patients who re-deteriorate after initial stabilization by the Medical Emergency Team.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the outcome of hypotensive ward patients who re-deteriorated after initial stabilization by the Medical Emergency Team (MET) in our hospital, due to limited data in this regard. METHODS: One thousand one hundred seventy-nine MET calls in 32184 ward patients from January 2009 to August 2011 were evaluated. Four hundred ten hypotensive patients met study criteria and were divided into: (1)"Immediate Transfers (IT), n = 136":admitted by MET to intensive care unit (ICU) immediately; (2)"Re-deteriorated Transfers (RDT) n = 72":initially stabilized and signed off by MET, but later re-deteriorated within 48-hours and admitted to ICU; (3)"Ward Patients (WP) n = 202": remained stable on ward after treatment. RESULTS: The RDT and IT had similar APACHE II scores (20.2 ± 5.1 vs. 19.8 ± 4.8; P=.57], but RDT showed hemodynamic stabilization with initial MET resuscitation. Patients who re-deteriorated were younger, took longer for eventual ICU transfer, had higher initial lactic acid and delayed normalization as compared to IT (P < .04). The re-deterioration predominantly occurred within 8-hours of MET evaluation. RDT had higher 28-day mortality than IT and WP; 42% vs. 27% vs. 7% respectively (P < .03). RDT also had a higher rate of endotracheal intubation and worse ICU mortality (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Hypotensive ward patients who re-deteriorate after initial stabilization have higher mortality. METs should consider implementing at least an 8-hour follow-up in patients who are deemed stable to remain on the wards after hypotensive episodes.

Dedicated multidisciplinary ventilator bundle team and compliance with sedation vacation.

BACKGROUND: How compliance with a ventilator bundle is monitored varies from institution to institution. Some institutions rely on the primary intensive care unit team to review the bundle during their rounds; others rely on a separate team of health care personnel that may include representatives from disciplines such as nursing, respiratory therapy, and pharmacy. OBJECTIVES: To compare rates of compliance with ventilator bundle components between a dedicated ventilator bundle rounding team and the primary intensive care unit rounding team in a 68-bed medical intensive care unit. METHODS: A query of the medical intensive care unit's database was used to retrospectively determine rates of compliance with specific ventilator bundle components at a tertiary care hospital in an urban community for 1 year. RESULTS: Compared with the intensive care unit rounding team, the ventilator bundle rounding team had better compliance with sedation vacation (61.7% vs 54.0%, P < .001). Rates of compliance with spontaneous breathing trials and prophylaxis of peptic ulcer disease were similar in both study groups. CONCLUSIONS: A dedicated ventilator bundle rounding team improves compliance with sedation vacation, but not with spontaneous breathing trials and prophylaxis of peptic ulcer disease. In a large-volume tertiary center, a dedicated ventilator bundle rounding team may be more effective than the primary rounding team in achieving compliance with some bundle components.

A multicenter collaborative approach to reducing pediatric codes outside the ICU.

OBJECTIVES: The Child Health Corporation of America formed a multicenter collaborative to decrease the rate of pediatric codes outside the ICU by 50%, double the days between these events, and improve the patient safety culture scores by 5 percentage points. METHODS: A multidisciplinary pediatric advisory panel developed a comprehensive change package of process improvement strategies and measures for tracking progress. Learning sessions, conference calls, and data submission facilitated collaborative group learning and implementation. Twenty Child Health Corporation of America hospitals participated in this 12-month improvement project. Each hospital identified at least 1 noncritical care target unit in which to implement selected elements of the change package. Strategies to improve prevention, detection, and correction of the deteriorating patient ranged from relatively simple, foundational changes to more complex, advanced changes. Each hospital selected a broad range of change package elements for implementation using rapid-cycle methodologies. The primary outcome measure was reduction in codes per 1000 patient days. Secondary outcomes were days between codes and change in patient safety culture scores. RESULTS: Code rate for the collaborative did not decrease significantly (3% decrease). Twelve hospitals reported additional data after the collaborative and saw significant improvement in code rates (24% decrease). Patient safety culture scores improved by 4.5% to 8.5%. CONCLUSIONS: A complex process, such as patient deterioration, requires sufficient time and effort to achieve improved outcomes and create a deeply embedded culture of patient safety. The collaborative model can accelerate improvements achieved by individual institutions.

Using spirometry to rule out restriction in patients with concomitant low forced vital capacity and obstructive pattern.

BACKGROUND: Different formulas have been proposed to exclude restriction based on spirometry, however none of them have specifically tested the patients whose spirometry show both obstruction and a low forced vital capacity (FVC). STUDY OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to create an algorithm that would better predict the absence of restriction in such patients. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. METHODS: A cohort of consecutive adults that underwent complete pulmonary function testing from 2002-2004 was analyzed. The data was randomly split into two groups to allow for derivation and then validation of a predictive formula. Patients were randomly assigned into either a "derivation" or "validation" group. In the derivation group, stepwise logistic regression was used to determine a formula and optimal cut-off value for the variable with the best discriminative capacity. The formula was applied subsequently to the validation group to test the results and compared to previously published formula. RESULTS: The study group contained 766 patients. We determined that the variable with the highest association with TLC was [(FEV(1)/FVC) % predicted/FVC % predicted]. A value of ≥1.11 was found to be the maximal cutoff to predict the absence of restriction. The formula was applied to a validation group (n=397) and performed better than prior published algorithm with a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 95%, 44%, 22%, and 98%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our formula performs superior to the previously published algorithms in patients with concomitant low FVC and obstruction to exclude restriction.

Resuscitation bundle compliance in severe sepsis and septic shock: improves survival, is better late than never.

UNLABELLED: While clinicians' management of severe sepsis and septic shock has been positively influenced by a number of clinical research studies in the last decade, challenges remain regarding early hemodynamic optimization as envisioned in the Surviving Sepsis Campaign's (SSC) resuscitation bundle (RB). We examined the impact of a hospital-wide continuous quality improvement (CQI) initiative on patients presenting with severe sepsis and septic shock, and the impact of the sepsis RB on patient outcomes when completed beyond the 6-hour recommendation period. The study was an 18-month, prospective cohort study enrolling patients who met the definition of severe sepsis or septic shock. Compliance with the hemodynamic components of the sepsis RB was defined as achieving goal mean arterial pressure (MAP) ≥ 65 mm Hg, central venous pressure (CVP) ≥ 8 mm Hg, and central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2) ≥ 70%. Compliance was assessed at 6 hours and 18 hours after diagnosis of severe sepsis or septic shock. In all, 498 patients with severe sepsis and/or septic shock were evaluated to determine the upper limit of the range of hours that compliance with the RB would still improve outcomes. Using 18 hours as a marker, Compliers at 18 hrs and Non-Compliers at 18 hrs were compared. There were 202 patients who had the RB completed in less than or equal to 18 hours. There were 296 patients who did not complete the RB at 18 hours. The Compliers at 18 hrs had a significant 10.2% lower hospital mortality 37.1% (22% relative reduction) compared to the Non-Compliers at 18 hrs hospital mortality of 47.3% (P < .03). When the two groups were adjusted for differences in baseline illness severity, the Compliers at 18 hrs had a greater reduction in predicted mortality of 26.8% versus 9.4%, P < 0.01. CONCLUSIONS: Initiating the sepsis RB for patients with severe sepsis and/or septic shock decreased mortality. A CQI initiative that monitored the implementation in real-time allowed for improvement in compliance and efficacy of the bundle on outcomes. Multiple studies have shown that compliance to the RB within 6 hours lowers hospital mortality. This study uniquely shows that when bundle completion is extended to 18 hours, the mortality reduction remains significant.

MICU care delivered by PAs versus residents: do PAs measure up?

BACKGROUND: Data on the perfomance of physician assistants in a medical intensive care unit are scarce. OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical outcomes between patients admitted to a resident-run MICU and a PA-run MICU. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected MICU data was performed for 5,346 patients admitted to an MICU from January 2004 through January 2007; 3,971 patients were admitted to a resident-run MICU (resident group) and 1,375 to a PA-run MICU (PA group). RESULTS: The groups were relatively similar, though the resident group had a higher rate of renal insufficiency (25% vs. 22%, P = .05) and the PA group had a higher rate of cerebrovascular accidents (5.6% vs. 4%, P = .02). Hospital length of stay (LOS) was similar, with a median of 9 days in the PA group and 8 days in the resident group (P = .59). MICU LOS was slightly longer for the PA group: a median of 2.58 days (1.55-4.86) vs. 2.33 days (1.39-4.16) in the resident group. After matching by propensity score, we could not confirm this increased LOS. There was no difference in hospital mortality or in ICU mortality between the two groups either in uncontrolled or controlled analyses. Survival analyses showed no difference in 28-day survival between the two groups. CONCLUSION: A PA-run MICU has similar outcomes when compared to a resident-run MICU.

Early enteral nutrition and outcomes of critically ill patients treated with vasopressors and mechanical ventilation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of early enteral feeding on the outcome of critically ill medical patients whose hemodynamic condition is unstable. METHODS: Prospectively collected data in a multi-institutional medical intensive care unit database were analyzed retrospectively. A total of 1174 patients were identified who required mechanical ventilation for more than 2 days and were treated with vasopressor agents to support blood pressure. The patients were divided into 2 groups: those who received enteral nutrition (n = 707) within 48 hours of the start of mechanical ventilation, termed the early enteral nutrition group, and those who did not (n = 467), termed the late enteral nutrition group. The primary end points were overall intensive care unit and hospital mortality. Subgroup analyses were used to evaluate potential confounding variables. The data were also analyzed after adjustments for confounding by matching for propensity score. RESULTS: Intensive care unit and hospital mortality were lower in the early enteral nutrition group than in the late enteral group: 22.5% vs 28.3%; P = 03; and 34.0% vs 44.0%; P < .001, respectively. The beneficial effect of early feeding was more evident in the sickest patients, that is, those treated with multiple vasopressors (odds ratio, 0.36; 95% confidence interval, 0.15-0.85) and those without early improvement (odds ratio, 0.59; 95% confidence interval, 0.39-0.90). When adjustments were made for confounding by matching for propensity score, early feeding was associated with decreased hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: Early enteral nutrition may be associated with reduced intensive care unit and hospital mortality in patients whose hemodynamic condition is unstable.

Quality Education and Safe Systems Training (QuESST): Development and Assessment of a Comprehensive Cross-Disciplinary Resident Quality and Patient Safety Curriculum.

BACKGROUND: Over the past decade, regulatory bodies have heightened their emphasis on health care quality and safety. Education of physicians is a priority in this effort, with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education requiring that trainees attain competence in practice-based learning and improvement and systems-based practice. To date, several studies about the use of resident education related to quality and safety have been published, but no comprehensive interdisciplinary curricula seem to exist. Effective, formal, comprehensive cross-disciplinary resident training in quality and patient safety appear to be a vital need. METHODS: To address the need for comprehensive resident training in quality and patient safety, we developed and assessed a formal standardized cross-disciplinary curriculum entitled Quality Education and Safe Systems Training (QuESST). The curriculum was offered to first-year residents in a large urban medical center. Preintervention and postintervention assessments and participant perception surveys evaluated the effectiveness and educational value of QuESST. RESULTS: A total of 138 first-year medical and pharmacy residents participated in the QuESST course. Paired analysis of preintervention and postintervention assessments showed significant improvement in participants' knowledge of quality and patient safety. Participants' perceptions about the value of the curriculum were favorable, as evidenced by a mean response of 1.8 on a scale of 1 (strongly agree) to 5 (strongly disagree) that the course should be taught to subsequent residency classes. CONCLUSION: QuESST is an effective comprehensive quality curriculum for residents. Based on these findings, our institution has made QuESST mandatory for all future first-year resident cohorts. Other institutions should explore the value of QuESST or a similar curriculum for enhancing resident competence in quality and patient safety.

Specific conductance criteria for a positive methacholine challenge test: are the American Thoracic Society guidelines rather generous?

BACKGROUND: American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines for methacholine challenge testing (MCT) discuss specific airways conductance (sG(aw)) as a surrogate marker for forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV(1)) to diagnose airways obstruction. The guidelines suggest a cutoff value of 45% drop in sG(aw) to diagnose a positive MCT. However, there is no available evidence that supports this cutoff value of 45%. We conducted this study to examine the relationship between FEV(1) and sG(aw) during MCT. METHODS: One-hundred thirty-eight patients who had both sG(aw) and FEV(1) measured during MCT between April 2003 and March 2004 were retrospectively evaluated. The tests were done according to the ATS guidelines. Data were first analyzed using linear regression modeling, comparing the change in FEV(1) to changes in sG(aw). Then the sensitivity and specificity were generated for different cut points, using receiver operating characteristic analysis. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients had a positive MCT based on ATS FEV(1) criteria. A decrease of 20% in FEV(1) correlated with a drop of 56% in sG(aw) (95% confidence interval 52% to 60%, r(2) 0.35, P < .001). Using 20% decline from baseline in FEV(1) at different PC(20) (provocational concentration that produced a > or = 20% FEV(1) decrease) values (4 mg/mL, 8 mg/mL, and 16 mg/mL), we then analyzed the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the 45% decline in sG(aw) and compared it with a 56% decline in sG(aw). Using receiver operating characteristic analysis, we were able to find that a cutoff of 51-52% performed better than either of the 2 values. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that the ATS suggested cutoff value of 45% decline in sG(aw) to diagnose a positive MCT may be rather generous, and a decline of 51% from baseline may provide a more accurate measure of airway hyper-responsiveness. Further studies using well defined subjects with and without asthma should be done to better assess the test characteristics of sG(aw).

Predictive value of sGaw, FEF(25-75), and FEV1 for development of asthma after a negative methacholine challenge test.

BACKGROUND: A 20% change in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) during methacholine challenge testing (MCT) is a reliable marker of asthma. When the FEV(1) decrease is < 20%, there is controversy whether other changes in flows and conductance may be useful. We conducted this study to determine whether changes in sGaw, FEF(25 - 75), and FEV(1) in a negative MCT could predict future occurrence of asthma over a 3-year period. METHODS: A total of 100 consecutive patients with clinical suspicion of asthma but who had a negative MCT per ATS FEV(1) criteria (< 20% FEV(1) decline at 16 mg/mL of methacholine) performed by the 5-breath dosimeter method were analyzed. Two pulmonary fellows, blinded to MCT results, reviewed the patients' medical records. Patients were classified into one of three categories: asthmatic, unclear, and not asthmatic. Decreases in sGaw, FEF(25 - 75), and FEV(1) in the five groups were then retrieved. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Of 100 patients, 23 were excluded owing to lack of a 3-year follow-up. After complete data review, the number of patients (n) in each group was as follows: asthmatic (n = 15), unclear (n = 7), and not asthmatic (n = 55). sGaw and FEF(25 - 75) decreases from the negative MCT could not predict asthma; however, decreases in FEV(1) were associated with future asthma occurrence (sGaw p = 0.21, FEF25-75 p = 0.07, FEV(1) p = 0.0009). Forty-three percent of the patients who had a 10% to 20% decline in FEV(1) eventually developed asthma. CONCLUSION: Up to 20% of patients who have symptoms suggestive of asthma but a negative MCT can still develop asthma. Declines in sGaw and FEF(25 - 75) in a negative MCT appear to have no clinical significance. A decrease in FEV(1), especially 10% to 20%, is associated with the diagnosis of future asthma.

The association between depressive symptoms and acute exacerbations of COPD.

BACKGROUND: Depression is an important comorbidity for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The association between depression and acute exacerbations of COPD is unknown. This study was designed to determine the frequency of COPD exacerbations in outpatients with and without depressive symptoms. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, patients with a primary diagnosis of COPD were followed for 1 year after discharge from a pulmonary rehabilitation program and the frequency of exacerbations was recorded. Upon completion of the program, all patients were administered the Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36), which contains a mental health domain. Patients were classified as having depressive symptoms based on their domain score, which was separately validated in a second population of patients. RESULTS: Of the 194 patients with COPD who completed the pulmonary rehabilitation program, 32 (16.5%) had depressive symptoms. There were no differences in terms of age, race, pack-years, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)), 6-minute walk distance, body mass index, use of supplemental oxygen, use of inhaled steroids, or the Charlson Comorbidity Index between patients with and without depressive symptoms. Patients with depressive symptoms had more exacerbations in the following year (1.91 vs. 1.36; p = 0.02), were 2.8 times more likely to have ever had an exacerbation (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.1-7.3; p = 0.03), and suffered a first exacerbation earlier (148 days compared with 266 days; p = 0.04) than nondepressed patients. CONCLUSIONS: COPD patients with depressive symptoms have a significantly higher risk for exacerbations. Early screening for depression in patients with COPD may help identify those patients at higher risk for subsequent exacerbations.