RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Infection by SARS-CoV-2 has unquestionably had an impact on the health of patients with chronic respiratory airway diseases, such as COPD and asthma, but little information is available about its impact on patients with bronchiectasis. The objective of the present study was to analyze the effect of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the state of health, characteristics, and clinical severity (including the number and severity of exacerbations) of patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. METHODS: This study was multicenter, observational, and ambispective (with data collected before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic), and included 150 patients diagnosed with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. RESULTS: A significant drop was observed in the number and severity of the exacerbations (57% in all exacerbations and 50% in severe exacerbations) in the E-FACED and BSI multidimensional scores, in the pandemic, compared with the pre-pandemic period. There was also a drop in the percentage of sputum samples positive for pathogenic microorganisms in general (from 58% to 44.7%) and, more specifically, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (from 23.3% to 13.3%) and Haemophilus influenzae (from 21.3% to 14%). CONCLUSIONS: During the SARS-CoV-2 period, a significant reduction was observed in the exacerbations, severity, and isolations of pathogenic microorganisms in patients with bronchiectasis.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The use of oral nutritional supplements (ONS) is common practice in patients suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF). We aimed to describe the rate of ONS use to assess their contribution to dietary intake and to determine if they are associated with respiratory status, body composition, muscle strength, bone mineral density (BMD), bone remodeling biomarkers, and plasmatic levels of vitamins. METHODS: Cross-sectional study. Patients were clinically stable adults recruited from the CF unit. A 4-day prospective dietary questionnaire was conducted; in addition to respiratory variables, body composition, and BMD (through densitometry, DXA), muscle strength (JAMAR dynamometer), fat-soluble vitamins, and bone remodeling biomarkers (vitamins A, D, and E; osteocalcin, OC; undercarboxylated osteocalcin, ucOC; degradation of the C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen, CTX; and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand, RANKL) were also evaluated. RESULTS: The study included 59 subjects with CF (57.6% female, mean age 29.3 ± 9.4 years, and BMI 22.0 ± 3.6 kg/m2). In this study, 22% (13) patients were taking ONS and presented, compared with those not taking them, significantly more total and mild exacerbations and lower BMI; moreover, they showed a significantly higher total daily calorie intake in addition to a higher consumption of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids per kg of body weight, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamins A, D, and E. Vitamin E plasmatic levels were significantly higher in the group on ONS, as was the case with RANKL; finally, a lower rate of vitamin D deficiency was also found. CONCLUSIONS: ONS were used by patients with worse respiratory and nutritional statuses and their use was associated with a higher intake of macro- and micronutrients and with better plasmatic levels of fat-soluble vitamins.