Ultrasound in the Study of Thoracic Diseases: Innovative Aspects

Thoracic ultrasound (TU) has rapidly gained popularity over the past 10 years. This is in part because ultrasound equipment is available in many settings, more training programmes are educating trainees in this technique, and ultrasound can be done rapidly without exposure to radiation.The aim of this review is to present the most interesting and innovative aspects of the use of TU in the study of thoracic diseases.In pleural diseases, TU has been a real revolution. It helps to differentiate between different types of pleural effusions, guides the performance of pleural biopsies when necessary and is more cost-effective under these conditions, and assists in the decision to remove thoracic drainage after talc pleurodesis.With the advent of COVID19, the use of TU has increased for the study of lung involvement. Nowadays it helps in the diagnosis of pneumonias, tumours and interstitial diseases, and its use is becoming more and more widespread in the Pneumology ward.In recent years, TU guided biopsies have been shown to be highly cost-effective, with other advantages such as the absence of radiation and the possibility of being performed at bedside. The use of contrast in ultrasound to increase the cost-effectiveness of these biopsies is very promising.In the study of the mediastinum and peripheral pulmonary nodules, the introduction of echobronchoscopy has brought about a radical change. It is a fully established technique in the study of lung cancer patients. The introduction of elastography may help to further improve its cost-effectiveness.In critically-ill patients, diaphragmatic ultrasound helps in the assessment of withdrawal of mechanical ventilation, and is now an indispensable tool in the management of these patients. (AU)

Is the diagnostic yield of mediastinal lymph node cryobiopsy (cryoEBUS) better for diagnosing mediastinal node involvement compared to endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA)? A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: New tools such as cryobiopsy of mediastinal lymph nodes (cryoEBUS) have been described to improve the diagnostic usefulness of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). The literature suggests that this novel procedure could be associated with greater diagnostic usefulness than conventional EBUS-TBNA. METHODS: To develop a systematic analysis and meta-analysis on the diagnostic diagnostic yield and safety of cryobiopsy of hilar and mediastinal adenopathies compared to EBUS-TBNA. RESULTS: Seven studies that had included a total of 555 patients were considered in this review, with 365 (65.7%) of these patients having an etiology of malignant lymph node involvement. The overall diagnostic usefulness of cryoEBUS was higher compared to EBUS-TBNA (92% vs. 80%). However, when the results were analysed according to the specific aetiologies of the adenopathies, cryoEBUS was especially useful in cases of lymphomas or non-pulmonary carcinomas (83% vs. 42%) and in cases that were benign (87% vs. 60.1%), with no significant differences being found in specific cases of lung cancer. For lymphoma, cryoEBUS was diagnostic in 87% of cases compared to 12% for EBUS-TBNA and in addition, also allowed the characterisation of every lymphoma subtype. Genetic studies and immunohistochemical determination of PD-L1 was possible in almost all (97%) of the samples obtained by cryoEBUS, while this was only possible in 79% of those obtained by EBUS-TBNA. The most frequent complication was light bleeding, which was described in up to 85% of cases in some series. CONCLUSION: CryoEBUS could represent a promising technique in the diagnostic algorithm used for mediastinal and hilar involvement. Although cryoEBUS did not significantly improve the diagnosis of lung cancer compared to EBUS-TBNA, the results were significantly better in patients with benign pathologies and other tumour types, including lymphomas. In addition, it seems that the samples obtained by cryoEBUS better defined the histological subtypes of lymphoma and allowed complete molecular characterisation in cases of lung cancer. The technique has proven to be safe and no serious complications were described after the procedure.

Experience With Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor in Patients With Cystic Fibrosis and Advanced Disease.

INTRODUCTION: Elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) was used through the early access programme in Spain from December 2019 in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with homozygous or heterozygous F508del mutation with advanced lung disease. METHODOLOGY: Multicentre, ambispective, observational, study in which 114 patients in follow-up in 16 national CF units were recruited. Clinical data, functional tests, nutritional parameters, quality of life questionnaires, microbiological isolates, number of exacerbations, antibiotic treatments and side effects were collected. The study also compared patients with homozygous and heterozygous F508del mutations. RESULTS: Of the 114 patients, 85 (74.6%) were heterozygous for F508del mutation, and the mean age was 32.2±9.96 years. After 30 months of treatment, lung function measured by FEV1% showed improvement from 37.5 to 48.6 (p<0.001), BMI increased from 20.5 to 22.3 (p<0.001), and all isolated microorganisms decreased significantly. The total number of exacerbations was also significantly reduced from 3.9 (±2.9) to 0.9 (±1.1) (p<0.001). All items in the CFQ-R questionnaire showed improvement, except for the digestive domain. Oxygen therapy use decreased by 40%, and only 20% of patients referred for lung transplantation remained on the active transplant list. ETI was well-tolerated, with only 4 patients discontinuing treatment due to hypertransaminemia. CONCLUSIONS: ETI decreases the number of exacerbations, increases lung function and nutritional parameters, decrease in all isolated microorganisms, for 30 months of treatment. There is an improvement in the CFQ-R questionnaire score except for the digestive item. It is a safe and well-tolerated drug.

Multicentre study on the accuracy of lung ultrasound in the diagnosis and monitoring of respiratory sequelae in the medium and long term in patients with COVID-19.

Introduction: Lung ultrasound (LUS) has proven to be a more sensitive tool than radiography (X-ray) to detect alveolar-interstitial involvement in COVID-19 pneumonia. However, its usefulness in the detection of possible pulmonary alterations after overcoming the acute phase of COVID-19 is unknown. In this study we proposed studying the utility of LUS in the medium- and long-term follow-up of a cohort of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia. Materials and methods: This was a prospective, multicentre study that included patients, aged over 18 years, at 3 ± 1 and 12 ± 1 months after discharge after treatment for COVID-19 pneumonia. Demographic variables, the disease severity, and analytical, radiographic, and functional clinical details were collected. LUS was performed at each visit and 14 areas were evaluated and classified with a scoring system whose global sum was referred to as the "lung score." Two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) was performed in 2 anterior areas and in 2 posterior areas in a subgroup of patients. The results were compared with high-resolution computed tomography (CT) images reported by an expert radiologist. Results: A total of 233 patients were included, of whom 76 (32.6%) required Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission; 58 (24.9%) of them were intubated and non-invasive respiratory support was also necessary in 58 cases (24.9%). Compared with the results from CT images, when performed in the medium term, LUS showed a sensitivity (S) of 89.7%, specificity (E) 50%, and an area under the curve (AUC) of 78.8%, while the diagnostic usefulness of X-ray showed an S of 78% and E of 47%. Most of the patients improved in the long-term evaluation, with LUS showing an efficacy with an S of 76% and E of 74%, while the X-ray presented an S of 71% and E of 50%. 2D-SWE data were available in 108 (61.7%) patients, in whom we found a non-significant tendency toward the presentation of a higher shear wave velocity among those who developed interstitial alterations, with a median kPa of 22.76 ± 15.49) versus 19.45 ± 11.39; p = 0.1). Conclusion: Lung ultrasound could be implemented as a first-line procedure in the evaluation of interstitial lung sequelae after COVID-19 pneumonia.

Evolution and long­term respiratory sequelae after severe COVID-19 pneumonia: nitric oxide diffusion measurement value.

INTRODUCTION: There are no published studies assessing the evolution of combined determination of the lung diffusing capacity for both nitric oxide and carbon monoxide (DLNO and DLCO) 12 months after the discharge of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. METHODS: Prospective cohort study which included patients who were assessed both 3 and 12 months after an episode of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Their clinical status, health condition, lung function testings (LFTs) results (spirometry, DLNO-DLCO analysis, and six-minute walk test), and chest X-ray/computed tomography scan images were compared. RESULTS: 194 patients, age 62 years (P25-75, 51.5-71), 59% men, completed the study. 17% required admission to the intensive care unit. An improvement in the patients' exercise tolerance, the extent of the areas of ground-glass opacity, and the LFTs between 3 and 12 months following their hospital discharge were found, but without a decrease in their degree of dyspnea or their self-perceived health condition. DLNO was the most significantly altered parameter at 12 months (19.3%). The improvement in DLNO-DLCO mainly occurred at the expense of the recovery of alveolar units and their vascular component, with the membrane factor only improving in patients with more severe infections. CONCLUSIONS: The combined measurement of DLNO-DLCO is the most sensitive LFT for the detection of the long-term sequelae of COVID-19 pneumonia and it explain better their pathophysiology.

Efectividad del suero salino hipertónico nebulizado en pacientes con hipersecreción bronquial / Effectiveness of nebulized hypertonic saline in patients with bronchial hypersecretion

Introducción: El suero salino hipertónico (SSH) nebulizado mejora la calidad de vida y reduce las exacerbaciones en pacientes con fibrosis quística. Se desconoce si ofrecería los mismos beneficios en otras patologías hipersecretoras.MétodosEstudio observacional retrospectivo. Se incluyeron pacientes que superaron la prueba de tolerancia e iniciaron SSH al 5,8% con un año de seguimiento. Se cuantificaron parámetros clínicos y asistenciales en los años previo y posterior al inicio del tratamiento.ResultadosUn total de 101 pacientes, 60,4% mujeres, media de edad 65años (IC95%: 62,4-67,9): 82 (81,2%) bronquiectasias, 6 (5,9%) EPOC, 2 (2%) asma, 1 (1%) EPID y 10 (9,9%) otros. Se evidenció una reducción de la broncorrea (91,1% vs 75,2%), de las infecciones de repetición (57,4% vs 22,8%) y de los ciclos de antibioterapia (1,54 vs 0,55), así como un aumento del FEV1 (1.881ml vs 1.942ml) y una disminución de las asistencias a atención primaria (2,94 vs 1,1), de urgencias (0,36 vs 0,17) y de hospitalizaciones (0,17 vs 0,06). Setenta y tres pacientes (72,3%) presentaron una adecuada tolerancia.ConclusiónLa nebulización de SSH al 5,8% en pacientes con hipersecreción bronquial es segura y tiene un destacable impacto clínico y asistencial. (AU)

Introduction: Nebulized hypertonic saline (HS) improves quality of life and reduces exacerbations in patients with cystic fibrosis. It is unknown if it would offer the same benefits in other hypersecretory pathologies.MethodsRetrospective observational study. Patients who passed the tolerance test and started HS 5.8% with one year of follow-up were included. Clinical and healthcare parameters were quantified in the year before and after the start of treatment.Results101 patients, 60.4% women, 65years (95%CI: 62.4-67.9): 82 (81.2%) bronchiectasis, 6 (5.9%) COPD, 2 (2%) asthma, 1 (1%) ILD, and 10 (9.9%) other causes. There was a reduction in bronchorrhea (91.1% vs 75.2%), recurrent infections (57.4% vs 22.8%) and cycles of antibiotic therapy (1.54 vs 0.55), as well as an increase in FEV1 (1881ml vs. 1942ml) and a decrease in visits to primary care (2.94 vs. 1.1), emergencies (0.36 vs. 0.17) and hospitalizations (0.17 vs. 0.17). 06). 73 patients (72.3%) presented an adequate tolerance.ConclusionNebulization of HS 5.8% in patients with bronchial hypersecretion is safe and has a remarkable clinical and healthcare impact. (AU)

[Effectiveness of nebulized hypertonic saline in patients with bronchial hypersecretion]. / Efectividad del suero salino hipertónico nebulizado en pacientes con hipersecreción bronquial.

INTRODUCTION: Nebulized hypertonic saline (HS) improves quality of life and reduces exacerbations in patients with cystic fibrosis. It is unknown if it would offer the same benefits in other hypersecretory pathologies. METHODS: Retrospective observational study. Patients who passed the tolerance test and started HS 5.8% with one year of follow-up were included. Clinical and healthcare parameters were quantified in the year before and after the start of treatment. RESULTS: 101 patients, 60.4% women, 65years (95%CI: 62.4-67.9): 82 (81.2%) bronchiectasis, 6 (5.9%) COPD, 2 (2%) asthma, 1 (1%) ILD, and 10 (9.9%) other causes. There was a reduction in bronchorrhea (91.1% vs 75.2%), recurrent infections (57.4% vs 22.8%) and cycles of antibiotic therapy (1.54 vs 0.55), as well as an increase in FEV1 (1881ml vs. 1942ml) and a decrease in visits to primary care (2.94 vs. 1.1), emergencies (0.36 vs. 0.17) and hospitalizations (0.17 vs. 0.17). 06). 73 patients (72.3%) presented an adequate tolerance. CONCLUSION: Nebulization of HS 5.8% in patients with bronchial hypersecretion is safe and has a remarkable clinical and healthcare impact.

The Diagnostic Contribution of Systematic Lung Ultrasonography in Patients Admitted to a Conventional Pulmonology Hospitalization Unit.

OBJECTIVE: Although the evidence to date remains limited, we hypothesized that performing protocolized lung ultrasound (LUS) in patients, admitted to a conventional pulmonology hospitalization unit, could improve diagnostic precision. The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the diagnostic contribution and changes in the treatments administered after performing a protocolized LUS in patients hospitalized in a Pulmonology Department ward. METHODOLOGY: This was a prospective, observational study, which included patients admitted from the Emergency Department to a conventional Pulmonology Department hospitalization unit, after first being evaluated by a pulmonologist. LUS was performed within the first 48 hours of admission. The diagnosis at the time of discharge was used as the reference diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 180 patients were included in this study. The admitting diagnoses were the decompensation of an underlying obstructive disease in 60 patients (33.3%), respiratory infection in 93 (51.7%), pulmonary thromboembolism (PE) in 9 (5%), exacerbation of an interstitial lung disease in 14 (7.8%), and other causes in 4 cases (2.2%). Ultrasonography provided new information, unsuspected at the patient's admission, in 117 (65%) of the patients by capturing images suggestive of infection in 63 patients (35%), 1 new case of ILD, 23 (12.7%) cases of cardiogenic edema, and pleural pathology in 19 (10.5%), as well as two tumors and indirect data related to a PE. The use of LUS resulted in the decision to change the already established treatment in 17.2% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: LUS provided additive information in more than half of patients that ended up reclassifying or potentially changing diagnosis or treatment. Thus, including LUS in management algorithms could reduce the need for other complementary tests or unnecessary treatments.

[Lung Ultrasound to Predict Unfavorable Progress in Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19]. / Predicción de evolución desfavorable en pacientes hospitalizados por COVID-19 mediante ecografía pulmonar.

OBJECTIVE: Thoracic ultrasound has been shown to be useful in the diagnosis of COVID-19 pulmonary involvement. Several scores for quantifying the degree of involvement have been described, although there is no evidence to show that they have any capacity for predicting unfavorable progress. METHODOLOGY: Prospective cohort study of patients hospitalized for COVID-19. The sample was stratified according to clinical course, and patients requiring invasive or non-invasive respiratory support were classified as having unfavorable progress. Biomarkers were analyzed at admission and on the same day that thoracic ultrasound was performed. Prognostic scales were also determined at admission. The ultrasound score was obtained in 8 or 14 areas, depending on the patient's ability to sit. RESULTS: We included 44 patients, 13 (29,5%) of whom subsequently needed ventilatory support. Eight areas were explored in all patients and 14 areas in 35 (79.5%). The most affected areas were the posterior lower lobes. Significant differences were found between the 2 groups on the SOFA and quick SOFA multidimensional scales, and PCR and LDH on the same day as thoracic ultrasound, and the ultrasound scores. The best area under the ROC curve (AUC) was obtained with the 14-area score, with a result of 0.88 (95% CI: 0.75-0.99). Its sensitivity and specificity for a cut-off score of 13.5 were 100% and 61.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The use of scores to quantify lung involvement measured by thoracic ultrasound provides useful information, facilitating risk stratification in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Results from a Spanish national survey on the application of ultrasound in pulmonology services.

BACKGROUND: This was an observational, cross-sectional, and multicentre study carried out from October to December 2020, through a survey sent to Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery members in public hospitals with different levels of complexity. Our objective was to complete a national analysis of clinical practice, organisation, infrastructure, the services portfolio, teaching, and research activity related to ultrasound. RESULTS: Data from 104 hospitals were analysed. Ultrasound was used in 56.7% of cases, both in the area of bronchopleural techniques and on conventional wards, with no differences between centres. Lung ultrasound (LUS) was performed more often in the procedures area in intermediate-complexity centres compared to high- and low-complexity centres (36% vs. 31% and 6.25%, respectively). More high-complexity centres had three or more ultrasound scanners than intermediate-complexity centres (38% vs. 16%); 43% of low-complexity centres shared their ultrasound equipment with other specialties. Fewer than 6% of centres did not have an ultrasound machine. LUS was most often used during the treatment of pleural effusion (91.3%), in the differential diagnosis of dyspnoea (51.9%), and to rule out iatrogenic pneumothorax (50.9%). Only 5.7% of the centres had a pulmonologist specialised in LUS. Finally, fewer than 35% of the hospitals were teaching centres and fewer than 18% participated in research projects. CONCLUSIONS: The use and availability of LUS has grown in pulmonology services, however, still relatively few pulmonologists are specialised in its use. Moreover, teaching and research activity in this field is scarce. Strategies are necessary to improve physicians' skill at using LUS and to promote its use, with the ultimate goal of improving healthcare activity.

Alterations in Respiratory Function Test Three Months after Hospitalisation for COVID-19 Pneumonia: Value of Determining Nitric Oxide Diffusion.

Three to four months after hospitalisation for COVID-19 pneumonia, the most frequently described alteration in respiratory function tests (RFTs) is decreased carbon monoxide transfer capacity (DLCO). METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study that included patients hospitalised because of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, three months after their discharge. A clinical evaluation, analytical parameters, chest X-ray, six-minute walk test, spirometry and DLCO-DLNO analysis were performed. Demographic variables, comorbidities, and variables related to the severity of the admission were recorded. RESULTS: Two hundred patients completed the study; 59.5% men, age 62 years, 15.5% admitted to the intensive care unit. The most frequent functional alteration, in 27% of patients, was in the DLCO-DLNO combination. This alteration was associated with age, male sex, degree of dyspnoea, poorer perception of health, and limited ability for physical effort. These patients also presented higher levels of D-Dimer and more residual radiological alterations. In 42% of the patients with diffusion alterations, only reduced DLNO was presented, along with lower D-Dimer levels and less capillary volume involvement. The severity of the process was associated with the reduction in DLCO-DLNO. CONCLUSIONS: The most sensitive RFT for the detection of the sequelae of COVID-19 pneumonia was the combined measurement of DLCO-DLNO and this factor was related to patient health status and their capacity for physical exertion. In 40% of these cases, there was only a reduction in DLNO, a finding that may indicate less pulmonary vascular involvement.

Validity of Lung Ultrasound: Is an Image Worth More Than a Thousand Sounds?

INTRODUCTION: There is debate as to whether lung-ultrasound (LUS) can replace lung-auscultation (LA) in the assessment of respiratory diseases. METHODOLOGY: The diagnostic validity, safety, and reliability of LA and LUS were analyzed in patients admitted in a pulmonary ward due to decompensated obstructive airway diseases, decompensated interstitial diseases, and pulmonary infections, in a prospective study. Standard formulas were used to calculate the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. The interobserver agreement with respect to the LA and LUS findings was evaluated based on the Kappa coefficient (ᴋ). RESULTS: A total of 115 patients were studied. LUS was more sensitive than the LA in evaluating pulmonary infections (93.59% vs. 77.02%; p = 0.001) and more specifically in the case of decompensated obstructive airway diseases (95.6% vs. 19.10%; p = 0.001). The diagnostic accuracy of LUS was also greater in the case of pulmonary infections (75.65% vs. 60.90%; p = 0.02). The sensitivity and specificity of the combination of LA and LUS was 95.95%, 50% in pulmonary infections, 76.19%, 100% in case of decompensated obstructive airway diseases, and (100%, 88.54%) in case of interstitial diseases. (ᴋ) was 0.71 for an A-pattern, 0.73 for pathological B-lines, 0.94 for condensations, 0.89 for pleural-effusion, 0.63 for wheezes, 0.38 for rhonchi, 0.68 for fine crackles, 0.18 for coarse crackles, and 0.29 for a normal LA. CONCLUSIONS: There is a greater interobserver agreement in the interpretation of LUS-findings compared to that of LA-noises, their combined use improves diagnostic performance in all diseases examined.

Cost Effectiveness of Malignant Pleural Effusion with Indwelling Catheter: Systematic Review.

Background: The current cost of treatment of malignant pleural effusion (MPE) with an indwelling pleural catheter (IPC) is unclear. Objective: We propose a review of the scientific evidence on the cost and effectiveness of this therapeutic option. Methods: Systematic review of the literature on the cost and effectiveness of the treatment of MPE by IPC, according to the PRISMA methodology and quality according to the scientific guidelines. Results: A total of 4 articles, 152 patients, and 159 IPCs were included. The use of IPC was associated with improvement in symptoms and quality of life. The most common complications were infections (empyema in 20.9% of patients and cellulitis in 17.3%); 9% of cases were hospitalized due to complications, and <2% required subsequent procedures. The average cost of IPC (set/drainage bottles) ranged from €2,025.6 to €1,200.5 if it was placed on an outpatient basis, €1,100 if survival was <6 weeks, and €4,028 in patients with mesothelioma. Complications increased the cost, and taking into account follow-up visits, additional tests, and days of admission for complications, the cost was >€5,000. Compared with pleurodesis, the cost of IPC was significantly lower when patient survival was <14 weeks, but not when survival was longer or home care was required. Conclusions: The use of IPC is associated with good control of MPE and seldom requires many subsequent procedures; however, it is also associated with a certain rate of complications, which may increase costs. However, ambulatory management may help reduce costs, which are directly related to the type of tumor, the duration of survival, and the need for specialized treatment.

Predicción de evolución desfavorable en pacientes hospitalizados por COVID-19 mediante ecografía pulmonar / Lung Ultrasound to Predict Unfavorable Progress in Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19

OBJETIVO: La ecografía torácica ha mostrado ser útil para el diagnóstico de la afectación pulmonar por COVID-19. Para cuantificar el grado de afectación se han descrito varias escalas, aunque no existe evidencia de si su determinación podría tener alguna capacidad predictiva de evolución desfavorable. METODOLOGÍA: Estudio prospectivo de cohortes en el que se incluyó a pacientes ingresados por COVID-19. La muestra se estratificó en función de la evolución clínica, considerándose desfavorable en los pacientes que precisaron soporte respiratorio invasivo o no invasivo. Se analizaron biomarcadores al ingreso y el mismo día de la ecografía torácica, así como las escalas pronósticas al ingreso. Según la posibilidad de sedestación o no, se aplicó clasificación ecográfica en 8 o 14 áreas. RESULTADOS: Se incluyó a 44 pacientes, 13 (29,5%) con necesidad posterior de soporte ventilatorio. En todos se exploraron 8 áreas y en 35 (79,5%) las 14. Las zonas más afectadas fueron los lóbulos inferiores en la zona posterior. Se detectaron diferencias significativas entre los 2 grupos en las escalas multidimensionales SOFA y quick SOFA, la PCR y LDH del mismo día de la ecografía torácica y la puntuación de las escalas ecográficas. La mejor área bajo la curva ROC (AUC) se obtuvo con la escala de 14 áreas, que fue de 0,88 (IC 95%: 0,75-0,99). Su sensibilidad y especificidad para un punto de corte 13,5 fue del 100% y del 61,5%. CONCLUSIONES: El uso de escalas para cuantificar la afectación pulmonar mediante ecografía torácica proporciona información útil para facilitar la estratificación del riesgo en los pacientes hospitalizados con COVID-19

OBJECTIVE: Thoracic ultrasound has been shown to be useful in the diagnosis of COVID-19 pulmonary involvement. Several scores for quantifying the degree of involvement have been described, although there is no evidence to show that they have any capacity for predicting unfavorable progress. METHODOLOGY: Prospective cohort study of patients hospitalized for COVID-19. The sample was stratified according to clinical course, and patients requiring invasive or non-invasive respiratory support were classified as having unfavorable progress. Biomarkers were analyzed at admission and on the same day that thoracic ultrasound was performed. Prognostic scales were also determined at admission. The ultrasound score was obtained in 8 or 14 areas, depending on the patient's ability to sit. RESULTS: We included 44 patients, 13 (29,5%) of whom subsequently needed ventilatory support. Eight areas were explored in all patients and 14 areas in 35 (79.5%). The most affected areas were the posterior lower lobes. Significant differences were found between the 2 groups on the SOFA and quick SOFA multidimensional scales, and PCR and LDH on the same day as thoracic ultrasound, and the ultrasound scores. The best area under the ROC curve (AUC) was obtained with the 14-area score, with a result of 0.88 (95% CI: 0.75-0.99). Its sensitivity and specificity for a cut-off score of 13.5 were 100% and 61.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The use of scores to quantify lung involvement measured by thoracic ultrasound provides useful information, facilitating risk stratification in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

Social and clinical predictors of short- and long-term readmission after a severe exacerbation of copd.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive ability of multiple social, and clinical factors for readmission after a severe acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) during various time periods. METHODS: We performed a prospective cohort study in which recruited patients with AECOPD. We systematically collected numerous clinical (symptoms, pulmonary function, comorbidities, and treatment) and social (financial situation, housing situation, family support, caregiver overload, ability to perform activities, and risk of social exclusion) variables using several questionnaires and indices. The patients were followed closely for one year and readmissions at 30, 60, and 365 days were analysed. RESULTS: 253 patients were included, aged 68.9±9.8years, FEV1 = 42.1%±14.2%, and a Charlson's index = 1.8±0.9. Of these patients, 20.2%, 39.6%, and 63.7% were readmitted within the first 30, 90, and 365 days after discharge, respectively. In the multivariate model applied, the variables that were independently associated with readmission over all three periods of the analysis were dependence to perform basic activities of daily living (BADLs) (odds ratio [OR] = 2.10-4.10) and a history of two or more admissions within the previous year (OR = 2.78-3.78). At 90 days, a history of bacterial isolates in a previous sputum culture (OR = 2.39) and at 365 days, a high grade of dyspnoea (OR = 2.51) and obesity (OR = 2.38) were also identified as predictors of hospital readmission. CONCLUSIONS: The patients' limitation to perform BADLs and their history of admissions for AECOPD were the best predictive variables for the likelihood of readmission when adjusted for many other social and clinical variables, regardless of the time period considered for such prediction.

Predictive value of a series of inflammatory markers in COPD for lung cancer diagnosis: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: There is a relationship between Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and the development of lung cancer (LC). The aim of this study is to analyse several blood markers and compare their concentrations in patients with only COPD and LC + COPD. METHODS: Case-control study with cases presenting combined LC and COPD and two control groups (patients presenting only COPD and patients presenting only LC). We also included LC patients with descriptive purposes. In both groups, peripheral blood analyses of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, total leukocyte, lymphocyte and neutrophil counts, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, total platelet count, mean platelet volume, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, alpha 1-antitripsin (A1AT), IgE, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, cholesterol and bilirubin were performed. We developed univariate and multivariate analyses of these markers, as well as a risk score variable, and we evaluated its performance through ROC curves. RESULTS: We included 280 patients, 109 cases (LC + COPD), 83 controls (COPD) and 88 LC without COPD. No differences were observed in the distribution by sex, age, BMI, smoking, occupational exposure, lung function, GOLD stage or comorbidity. Patients with LC + COPD had significantly higher levels of neutrophils [OR 1.00 (95%CI 1.00-1.00), p = 0.03] and A1AT [OR 1.02 (95%CI 1.01-1.03), p = 0.003] and lower cholesterol levels [OR 0.98 (95%CI 0.97-0.99), p = 0.009] than COPD controls. We developed a risk score variable combining neutrophils, A1AT and cholesterol, achieving a sensitivity of 80%, a negative predictive value of 90.7% and an area under the curve of 0.78 (95%CI 0.71-0.86). CONCLUSIONS: COPD patients who also have LC have higher levels of neutrophils and A1AT and lower of cholesterol. These parameters could be potentially predicting biomarkers of LC in COPD patients.

Predicting delays in lung cancer diagnosis and staging.

BACKGROUND: Despite growing interest in increasing the efficiency and speed of the diagnosis, staging, and treatment of lung cancer (LC), the interval from signs and symptoms to diagnosis and treatment remains longer than recommended. The aim of this study was to analyze the factors that cause delays in the LC diagnosis/staging process and, consequently, delays in making therapeutic decisions. METHODS: We analyzed audit data from a prospective dataset of 1330 patients assessed at The Lung Cancer Rapid Diagnostic Unit from 26 June 2013 to 26 March 2016. The number and type of procedures and medical tests and the times of all procedures were recorded. Clinical and epidemiological variables and whether the diagnosis was performed on an inpatient or outpatient basis were also recorded. RESULTS: Malignancy was confirmed in 737 (55.4%) of the 1330 patients, with LC in 627 of these (85.2%). The mean interval to final diagnosis was 19.8 ± 13.9 days. Variables significantly related to a longer diagnostic time were the number of days until computed tomography (CT) was performed (odds ratio [OR], 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.347, 1.103-1.645; P = 0.003), until a histology sample was obtained (OR 1.243, 95% CI1.062-1.454; P = 0.007), and the total number of tests performed during the diagnostic and staging process (OR 1.823, 95% CI 1.046-3.177; P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: A greater number of tests and more days to CT and histology led to longer delay times. Optimization of these factors should reduce delays in the LC diagnosis process.

Influence of the type of emphysema in the relationship between COPD and lung cancer.

INTRODUCTION: There are no studies analyzing the relationship between emphysema and lung cancer (LC). With this aim and in order to make some comparisons between different clinical variables, we carried out the present study. METHODS: This is a case-control study, patients with COPD and LC being the cases and subjects with stable COPD being the controls. Clinical and functional parameters, as well as the existence of radiological emphysema, were evaluated in a qualitative and quantitative way, using a radiological density of -950 Hounsfield units as a cutoff point in the images. The existence of several different types of emphysema (centrilobular, paraseptal, panacinar, or bullae) was analyzed, allowing patients to have more than one simultaneously. The extent to which lobes were involved was evaluated and the extension of emphysema was graduated for each type and location, following a quantitative scale. Differences between cases and controls were compared by using bivariate and multivariate analyzes with results expressed as OR and 95% CI. RESULTS: We included 169 cases and 74 controls, 84% men with a FEV1 (%) of 61.7±18.5, with 90.1% non-exacerbators. Most of them (50%) were active smokers and 47.2% were ex-smokers. Emphysema was found in 80.2% of the subjects, the most frequent type being centrilobular (34.4%). The only significantly different factor was the presence of paraseptal emphysema (alone or combined; OR =2.2 [95% CI =1.1-4.3, P = 0.03]), with adenocarcinoma being significantly more frequent in paraseptal emphysema with respect to other types (67.2% vs 32.8%, P =0.03). CONCLUSION: Patients with COPD and paraseptal emphysema could be a risk group for the development of LC, especially adenocarcinoma subtype.