Evaluation of a digital health system (PAHcare™) for routine care of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: The CBS-PAH study protocol.

Introduction: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare, multifactorial, chronic condition that requires ongoing monitoring and assessment. PAHcare™ is a novel, patient-centered digital platform that provides software intended for use on patients' mobile phones (downloadable application) and web-based dashboards for use by physicians and health coaches (HC). We describe herein the protocol of a clinical study aimed at evaluating the clinical benefit and safety of PAHcare™ for the routine management of patients with PAH. Methods and analysis: In this prospective, single cohort, multicenter study, 50 patients with PAH will be recruited at six specialized PAH units from reference hospitals of the public Spanish healthcare system. The PAHcare™ digital health platform allows patients to log health and lifestyle information while also providing structured content for patient education, medication reminders, and behavioral and lifestyle coaching from a remote HC. Evaluation will be primarily focused on the impact of the platform use on the patient's health-related quality of life (HRQoL) via questionnaires completion through electronic patient-reported outcomes. Moreover, the analysis of the impact on the patient's functional status, signs and symptoms of PAH, patient costs and healthcare resource utilization, satisfaction, knowledge of the disease and its management, and adherence to and safety of the platform will be secondary outcomes. The clinical investigation started in July 2021 and is expected to end by September 2022. Discussion: The PAHcare™ platform is anticipated to provide direct benefits to healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers. These include the simplification of the multidisciplinary approach needed to tailor routine PAH management, enhancement of the patient/healthcare professional interaction, patient's empowerment to become more actively involved in the management and treatment of the disease, and increase of the patient's and caregiver's knowledge on PAH.

Ancho de distribución eritrocitaria en apnea obstructiva del sueño / Red cell distribution width in obstructive sleep apnea

Introducción. El ancho de distribución eritrocitaria (ADE) describe el grado de heterogeneidad en el tamaño de los hematíes. Un incremento de ADE se ha asociado con exceso de mortalidad en insuficiencia cardiaca y otras enfermedades crónicas. Dado que existe mayor riesgo de morbimortalidad cardiovascular en apnea obstructiva del sueño (AOS), es posible que estos pacientes presenten un ADE elevado. Método. Se reclutaron sujetos de 18 a 60 años remitidos a la Unidad de Trastornos Respiratorios del Sueño (UTRS) por sospecha de AOS. Se excluyeron sujetos con cualquier comorbilidad. En la poligrafía respiratoria se determinó el índice de apnea-hipopnea (IAH). El ADE se obtuvo a partir del hemograma. Al año de seguimiento se determinaron los cambios de ADE tras tratamiento con presión positiva continua en la vía respiratoria (CPAP). Resultados. Se incluyeron 34 sujetos sin AOS y 138 con AOS con una edad de 40,5 ± 9,8 y 45,6 ± 9,2 (p = 0,004) respectivamente. El ADE fue mayor en sujetos con AOS que en sujetos sanos: 13,40 (12,40-14,40) vs. 13,15 (12,07-14,23) (p=0,036). El IAH mostró una relación positiva e independiente con ADE tanto en el conjunto de la población (r = 0,223; p = 0,002) como en el grupo con AOS (r = 0,231; p = 0,005). No se observaron cambios significativos de ADE tras un año de tratamiento con CPAP. Conclusiones. El ADE está aumentado en AOS en relación directa con su gravedad, sin embargo, sus niveles no se ven modificados por el tratamiento efectivo de la AOS con CPAP

Introduction. Red cell distribution width (RDW) describes heterogeneity in the size of red blood cells. An increase in RDW has been associated with excess mortality in heart failure and other chronic diseases. Since there is an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), it is possible that these patients have a high RDW. Method. We recruited subjects aged 18 to 60 years referred to the sleep-disordered breathing unit for suspected OSA. Subjects with any comorbidity were excluded. Apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was calculated from the respiratory polygraphy. The RDW was obtained from the complete blood count. Changes in RDW after one year of treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) were determined. Results. We included 34 healthy subjects and 138 with OSA, aged 40.5 ± 9.8 and 45.6 ± 9.2 (P = .004) years, respectively. The RDW was higher in subjects with OSA compared to healthy subjects: 13.40 (12.40 to 14.40) vs. 13.15 (12.07 to 14.23) (P = .036). AHI showed a positive independent relationship with RDW in both the whole population (r = 0.223; P = .002) and the OSA group (r = 0.231; P = .005). No significant changes were found in RDW after one year of CPAP therapy. Conclusions. RDW increase in patients with OSA is directly associated with severity, although levels are not modified by the effective treatment of OSA with CPAP

Red Cell Distribution Width in Obstructive Sleep Apnea. / Ancho de distribución eritrocitaria en apnea obstructiva del sueño.

INTRODUCTION: Red cell distribution width (RDW) describes heterogeneity in the size of red blood cells. An increase in RDW has been associated with excess mortality in heart failure and other chronic diseases. Since there is an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), it is possible that these patients have a high RDW. METHOD: We recruited subjects aged 18 to 60 years referred to the sleep-disordered breathing unit for suspected OSA. Subjects with any comorbidity were excluded. Apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was calculated from the respiratory polygraphy. The RDW was obtained from the complete blood count. Changes in RDW after one year of treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) were determined. RESULTS: We included 34 healthy subjects and 138 with OSA, aged 40.5±9.8 and 45.6±9.2 (P=.004) years, respectively. The RDW was higher in subjects with OSA compared to healthy subjects: 13.40 (12.40 to 14.40) vs. 13.15 (12.07 to 14.23) (P=.036). AHI showed a positive independent relationship with RDW in both the whole population (r=0.223; P=.002) and the OSA group (r=0.231; P=.005). No significant changes were found in RDW after one year of CPAP therapy. CONCLUSIONS: RDW increase in patients with OSA is directly associated with severity, although levels are not modified by the effective treatment of OSA with CPAP.