Clinical characteristics of chronic bronchitic, emphysematous and ACOS phenotypes in COPD patients with frequent exacerbations.

PURPOSE: Chronic bronchitis (CB), emphysematous (EM) and asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap syndrome (ACOS) phenotypes in COPD are well recognized. This study aimed to investigate distinguishing characteristics of these phenotypes in COPD patients with frequent exacerbations (FE). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out. COPD patients with acute exacerbations were consecutively reviewed from November 2015 to October 2016. Patients were divided into FE and infrequent exacerbations (iFE) subgroups. RESULTS: A total of 142 eligible COPD subjects were reviewed. In the CB phenotype subgroup, age, body mass index, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) % predicted, COPD assessment test (CAT), modified Medical Research Council breathlessness measurement (mMRC) dyspnea scale, emphysema scores and arterial carbon dioxide pressure (PaCO2) were significantly different in subjects with FE when compared to those in subjects with iFE of CB. In the EM phenotype subgroup, age, CAT, mMRC scores and history of COPD were different in subjects with FE when compared to those in CB subjects with iFE. Multivariate analysis indicated that FEV1% predicted (odds ratio [OR] =0.90, P=0.04) and PaCO2 (OR =1.22, P=0.02) were independent risk factors for FE in COPD with CB phenotype, and CAT (OR =2.601, P=0.001) was the independent risk factor for FE in COPD with EM phenotype. No significant differences in characteristics were observed in ACOS phenotype subgroups with FE or iFE. CONCLUSION: In CB or EM phenotypes, COPD patients with FE present several differential clinical characteristics compared to patients with iFE, while the characteristics of ACOS phenotype in patients with FE need more investigation.

[Phenotype specific therapy of COPD]. / Phänotyp-spezifische Therapie der COPD.

COPD is not a homogenous disease but consists of at least four different phenotypes: Emphysema, COPD with chronic bronchitis, asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS), and COPD with recurrent exacerbations. With differentiation, treatment can be designed phenotype-specific. Some modern drugs are not indicated in all phenotypes.

La BPCO n'est pas une maladie homogène. Quatre différents phénotypes peuvent être différentiés: BPCO avec emphysème, BPCO avec bronchite chronique, l'asthme-BPCO overlap syndrome (ACOS) et la BPCO avec des exacerbations fréquentes. Avec la différentiation du type la thérapie devient phénotype-spécifique. Quelques médicaments modernes ne sont pas indiqués que dans certains phénotypes.

BODE-index, modified BODE-index and ADO-score in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: relationship with COPD phenotypes and CT lung density changes.

COPD is a heterogeneous disorder whose assessment is going to be increasingly multidimensional. Grading systems such as BODE (Body-Mass Index, Obstruction, Dyspnea, Exercise), mBODE (BODE modified in grading of walked distance), ADO (Age, Dyspnea, Obstruction) are proposed to assess COPD severity and outcome. Computed tomography (CT) is deemed to reflect COPD lung pathologic changes. We studied the relationship of multidimensional grading systems (MGS) with clinically determined COPD phenotypes and CT lung density. Seventy-two patients underwent clinical and chest x-ray evaluation, pulmonary function tests (PFT), 6-minute walking test (6MWT) to derive: predominant COPD clinical phenotype, BODE, mBODE, ADO. Inspiratory and expiratory CT was performed to calculate mean lung attenuation (MLA), relative area with density below-950 HU at inspiration (RAI(-950)), and below -910 HU at expiration (RAE(-910)). MGS, PFT, and CT data were compared between bronchial versus emphysematous COPD phenotype. MGS were correlated with CT data. The prediction of CT density by means of MGS was investigated by direct and stepwise multivariate regression. MGS did not differ in clinically determined COPD phenotypes. BODE was more closely related and better predicted CT findings than mBODE and ADO; the better predictive model was obtained for CT expiratory data; stepwise regression models of CT data did not include 6MWT distance; the dyspnea score MRC was included only to predict RA-950 and RA-910 which quantify emphysema extent. BODE reflect COPD severity better than other MGS, but not its clinical heterogeneity. 6MWT does not significantly increase BODE predictivity of CT lung density changes.

[On parity in development of obstructive and restrictive changes in miners].

Spirometric studies in 397 miners having pneumoconiosis and chronic dust bronchitis demonstrated 80% occurrence of respiratory failure with equally marked obstructive and restrictive disorders. Therefore, bronchopulmonary diseases in miners do not match the criteria of chronic obstrictive lung disease.

Distinct clinical phenotypes of airways disease defined by cluster analysis.

Airways disease is currently classified using diagnostic labels such as asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. The current definitions of these classifications may not reflect the phenotypes of airways disease in the community, which may have differing disease processes, clinical features or responses to treatment. The aim of the present study was to use cluster analysis to explore clinical phenotypes in a community population with airways disease. A random population sample of 25-75-yr-old adults underwent detailed investigation, including a clinical questionnaire, pulmonary function tests, nitric oxide measurements, blood tests and chest computed tomography. Cluster analysis was performed on the subgroup with current respiratory symptoms or obstructive spirometric results. Subjects with a complete dataset (n = 175) were included in the cluster analysis. Five clusters were identified with the following characteristics: cluster 1: severe and markedly variable airflow obstruction with features of atopic asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema; cluster 2: features of emphysema alone; cluster 3: atopic asthma with eosinophilic airways inflammation; cluster 4: mild airflow obstruction without other dominant phenotypic features; and cluster 5: chronic bronchitis in nonsmokers. Five distinct clinical phenotypes of airflow obstruction were identified. If confirmed in other populations, these findings may form the basis of a modified taxonomy for the disorders of airways obstruction.

Continued exposure to silica after diagnosis of silicosis in Brazilian gold miners.

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of studies analyzing the effect of continued silica exposure after the onset of silicosis with regard to disease progression. The present study investigates differences in clinical and radiological presentation of silicosis among former workers with a diagnosis of silicosis, and compares workers who continued to be exposed to silica with those who stopped silica exposure after having received their diagnosis. METHODS: A sample of 83 former gold miners with a median of 21 years from the first diagnoses of silicosis, had their clinical and occupational histories taken and underwent both chest radiography (International Labor Organization standards) and spirometry. Their silica exposure was assessed and an exposure index was created. The main outcome was the radiological severity of silicosis and tuberculosis (TB). The statistical analysis was done by multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Among the 83 miners, 44 had continued exposed to silica after being diagnosed with silicosis. Continuation of silica exposure was associated with advanced radiological images of silicosis (X-ray classification in category 3, OR = 6.42, 95% CI = 1.20-34.27), presence of coalescence and/or large opacities (OR = 3.85, CI = 1.07-13.93), and TB (OR = 4.61, 95% CI = 1.14-18.71). CONCLUSIONS: Differential survival is unlikely to explain observed differences in silicosis progression. Results reinforce the recommendation that silica exposure should be halted at an early stage whenever X-ray is suggestive of the disease.

Development of a COPD severity score.

OBJECTIVE: Treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is based on symptom control. This suggests that COPD severity can be determined by analyzing treatment intensity. The objective of this analysis was to develop and validate a severity score for adult COPD based on treatments. RESEARCH DESIGN: Using principal components analysis, a COPD severity score was developed using data based on treatments extracted from an employer claims database (development group). Variables included were identified from literature review and clinical expert opinion. External validity was tested in a separate group of adult chronic bronchitis patients in whom principal components analysis was re-conducted and factor loadings were compared to the development group. Construct validity was tested by comparing the incidence of acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECB) in patients with high and lower severity scores. To illustrate the use of the COPD severity score, effectiveness of alternative AECB antibiotic treatments was compared in a separate patient sample categorized by severe versus mild/moderate COPD. RESULTS: In the development group (n = 2068), principal components analysis produced a single main factor for severity scoring. Of the 12 variables contributing to this factor, the 6 with the highest factor loadings were treatment related. The factor performed similarly in the external validity group (n = 9127) as it did in the development group. In construct validity testing, severe COPD patients were 4 times more likely to have AECB episodes than mild/moderate patients. Patients with severe COPD and an AECB were more likely to fail treatment with antibiotics than those with mild/moderate COPD. Based on the COPD severity score developed, we found that treatment of patients with severe COPD and an AECB with fluoroquinolones was more likely to result in treatment failure than treatment with macrolides (OR = 2.01; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The analysis was successful in developing and validating a method to score COPD severity based on treatments. This method may prove useful in providing insights about the benefits of COPD treatments.

Acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis: need for an evidence-based approach.

Acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECB) can be classified into three levels according to severity: (1) home treatment sufficient; (2) hospitalisation required; (3) hospitalisation in the presence of respiratory failure. This evidence-based classification is useful in ranking the clinical relevance of the episode and its outcome, and makes it possible to define the clinical history, clinical evaluation and diagnostic procedures of an exacerbation. Treatment guidelines vary according to severity, but they are essentially based on appropriate bronchodilator therapy (beta(2) agonists and/or anticholinergics, corticosteroids and antibiotics selected according to the local bacterial resistance pattern). It is important that cases requiring management in an intermediate/special respiratory care unit or intensive care unit (ICU) be identified. This is the stage where oxygen therapy and ventilatory support become particularly important. As first choice, they should be non-invasive, saving intubation and invasive ventilatory support for most severe cases characterised by severe acidemia and hypercapnia. We identify the optimal criteria for hospital discharge and follow-up of patients with AECB. In view of the chronic nature of the underlying disease, a correct follow-up is essential to avoid frequent and repeated relapses.

[Chronic bronchitis in children]. / Khronicheskie bronkhity u detei.

Current approaches to diagnosing in children a group of chronic lung diseases running with the symptoms of chronic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis is demonstrated to be a major syndrome underlying the clinical manifestations of a number of chronic lung diseases, such as congenital malformations of the lung, chronic pneumonia, ciliary dyskinesia, immunodeficiencies running with the involvement of the lung, cystic fibrosis, etc. The paper shows it necessary to diagnose these conditions, by using various diagnostic studies (bronchological, immunological, biochemical, microbiological, etc.). Primary chronic bronchitis in childhood occurs rarely and it is diagnosed after excluding the above diseases.

Population impact of different definitions of airway obstruction.

There is currently no consensus on the criteria for diagnosing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This study evaluated the impact of different definitions of airway obstruction on the estimated prevalence of obstruction in a population-based sample. Using the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, obstructive airway disease was defined using the following criteria: 1) self-reported diagnosis of chronic bronchitis or emphysema; 2) forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) <0.70 and FEV1 <80% predicted (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) Stage IIA); 3) FEV1/FVC below the lower limit of normal; 4) FEV1/FVC <88% pred in males and <89% pred in females; 5) FEV1/FVC <0.70 ("fixed ratio"). Spirometry in this dataset did not include reversibility testing, making it impossible to distinguish reversible from irreversible obstruction. Rates in adults varied from 77 per 1,000 (self-report) to 168 per 1,000 (fixed ratio). For persons aged >50 yrs, the fixed ratio criteria produced the highest rate estimates. For all subgroups tested, the GOLD Stage II criteria produced lower estimates than other spirometry-based definitions. Different definitions of obstruction may produce prevalence estimates that vary by >200%. International opinion leaders should agree upon a clear definition of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease that can serve as a population-based measurement criterion as well as a guide to clinicians.