Pulmonary Evaluation of Post-COVID-19 Patients: An Ecuadorian Experience.

Background: Despite the growing concerns related to the potential of long-term pulmonary sequelae due to COVID-19, data about intermediate and long-term changes in the respiratory function of patients who recover is relatively sparse, particularly in developing countries. Objectives: To assess the characteristics and pulmonary function at follow-up in a sample of Ecuadorian patients that recovered from the virus. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study that included 43 patients after symptomatic COVID infection, who were evaluated by spirometry, single breath DLCO, and 6MWT. For statistical analysis we performed point biserial correlations, and chi squared tests. Results: Overall, 30.3% of patients (n = 13) reported persistent symptoms, with fatigue being the most common (23.3%, n = 10). Around 34.9% (n = 15) of the sample had a restrictive spirometry pattern, 18.6% (n = 8) had an abnormally decreased adjusted DLCO. A restrictive spirometry pattern was associated with an abnormally low adjusted DLCO (χ2(2) = 11,979, p = 0.001). Conclusion: We found that a considerable proportion of patients presented with persistent symptoms and alterations in pulmonary function following COVID-19, mainly a restrictive respiratory pattern and abnormally low DLCO. Further studies are needed to determine which patients may benefit from the follow-up with specific pulmonary function tests.

Preguntas y respuestas relacionadas con tabaquismo en pacientes con EPID. Aplicación de metodología con formato PICO / Questions and Answers on Smoking in Patients With Diffuse ILD. Use of PICO Methodology

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los grupos de Tabaquismo y de Enfermedades Pulmonares Intersticiales Difusas (EPID) de ALAT y SEPAR han colaborado para la realización de este documento. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: En el mismo se da respuesta, siguiendo metodología PICO, a diferentes interrogantes sobre la relación entre el consumo de tabaco y las EPID. RESULTADOS Y CONCLUSIONES: Sus principales recomendaciones son: a) evidencia moderada y recomendación fuerte para considerar el tabaquismo como un factor de riesgo para el desarrollo y/o modificador de la progresión de EPID; b) evidencia moderada para identificar que existe un incremento de la mortalidad en la EPID independientemente de su patrón histológico. Evidencia baja para adjudicarlo al tabaquismo y recomendación fuerte para identificar a los pacientes con EPID precozmente. Se hacen necesarios nuevos estudios que evalúen el efecto de la cesación tabáquica en los pacientes con EPID; c) evidencia baja y recomendación débil para definir el impacto del tabaquismo de segunda mano en la EPID; d) evidencia baja para demostrar que la cesación tabáquica mejora los resultados de los pacientes diagnosticados de EPID y recomendación fuerte para aconsejar la cesación tabáquica en casos de EPID en fumadores, y e) evidencia baja que demuestre la utilidad clínica o epidemiológica de la búsqueda activa de los casos de EPID en los programas de cesación tabáquica y recomendación fuerte para justificar la realización de espirometría durante esta búsqueda independientemente del estatus actual de tabaquismo pero con la dosis acumulada previamente, aun en casos asintomáticos

INTRODUCTION: The Smoking and the Diffuse Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD) groups of ALAT and SEPAR collaborated in the preparation of this document. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This document uses PICO methodology to answer various questions on the relationship between tobacco use and diffuse ILD. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The main recommendations are: a) moderate level of evidence and strong recommendation to consider smoking as a risk factor for the development and/or modification of the progression of diffuse ILD; b) moderate level of evidence to identify an increase in mortality in diffuse ILD, irrespective of histologic pattern. Low evidence for ascribing it to smoking and strong recommendation for the early identification of patients with diffuse ILD. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effect of smoking cessation in patients with diffuse ILD; c) low level of evidence and weak recommendation for defining the impact of passive smoking in diffuse ILD; d) low level of evidence to demonstrate that smoking cessation improves the outcomes of patients diagnosed with diffuse ILD and strong recommendation to advise smoking cessation in smokers with diffuse ILD, and e) low level of evidence to support the clinical or epidemiological usefulness of active case finding for diffuse ILD in smoking cessation programs, and strong recommendation justifying the performance of spirometry in active case finding, based not on current smoking status, but on previous accumulated consumption, even in asymptomatic cases

Incorporando nuevas evidencias sobre medicamentos inhalados en la EPOC. Asociación Latinoamericana de Tórax (ALAT) 2019 / Incorporating New Evidence on Inhaled Medications in COPD. The Latin American Chest Association (ALAT) 2019

Este documento sobre EPOC de la Asociación Latinoamericana de Tórax (ALAT) 2019 analiza las nuevas evidencias de medicación inhalada utilizando la metodología de preguntas clínicas en formato PICO. Surgen de este análisis los siguientes puntos claves: 1) no hay evidencia que compare el uso de broncodilatadores de acción corta vs. larga en pacientes con EPOC leve; en aquellos con EPOC moderada-grave existe mayor beneficio de los broncodilatadores de acción larga, 2) beneficios similares de la monoterapia con antimuscarínicos de acción prolongada (LAMA) y la terapia combinada β2-agonistas de acción larga/corticosteroides inhalados (LABA/CIS), asociada esta última a mayor riesgo de neumonía, 3) mayores beneficios del LABA/LAMA en función pulmonar y riesgo de exacerbación vs. LABA/CIS (esta última con mayor riesgo de neumonía) y 4) mayores beneficios de la terapia LAMA/LABA/CIS comparada con LABA/LAMA sobre el riesgo de exacerbaciones moderadas-severas. En relación al rol de los eosinófilos para guiar el uso de los CIS: debe considerarse su retiro cuando la indicación inicial fue errada o sin respuesta, en pacientes con efectos secundarios como neumonía, y en aquellos con bajo riesgo de exacerbación con recuento de eosinófilos en sangre < 300 cél/μl. Incorporando estas evidencias según la gravedad de la obstrucción, síntomas y riesgo de exacerbaciones se genera un algoritmo para el uso de medicación inhalada en la EPOC

This document on COPD from the Latin American Chest Association (ALAT-2019) uses PICO methodology to analyze new evidence on inhaled medication and answer clinical questions. The following key points emerged from this analysis: 1) evidence is lacking on the comparison of short-acting vs. long-acting bronchodilators in patients with mild COPD; patients with moderate-to-severe COPD obtain greater benefit from long-acting bronchodilators; 2) the benefits of monotherapy with long-acting antimuscarinic agents (LAMA) and combined therapy with long-acting β2-agonists and inhaled corticosteroids (LABA/ICS) are similar, although the latter is associated with a greater risk of pneumonia; 3) LABA/LAMA offer greater benefits in terms of lung function and risk of exacerbation than LABA/ICS (the latter involve an increased risk of pneumonia), 4) LAMA/LABA/ICS have greater therapeutic benefits than LABA/LAMA on the risk of moderate-severe exacerbations. With regard to the role of eosinophils in guiding the use of ICS, ICS withdrawal must be considered when the initial indication was wrong or no response is elicited, in patients with side effects such as pneumonia, and in patients with a low risk of exacerbation and an eosinophil blood count of <300 cells/μl. All this evidence, categorized according to the severity of the obstruction, symptoms, and risk of exacerbations, has been used to generate an algorithm for the use of inhaled medication in COPD

Incorporating New Evidence on Inhaled Medications in COPD. The Latin American Chest Association (ALAT) 2019. / Incorporando nuevas evidencias sobre medicamentos inhalados en la EPOC. Asociación Latinoamericana de Tórax (ALAT) 2019.

This document on COPD from the Latin American Chest Association (ALAT-2019) uses PICO methodology to analyze new evidence on inhaled medication and answer clinical questions. The following key points emerged from this analysis: 1) evidence is lacking on the comparison of short-acting vs. long-acting bronchodilators in patients with mild COPD; patients with moderate-to-severe COPD obtain greater benefit from long-acting bronchodilators; 2) the benefits of monotherapy with long-acting antimuscarinic agents (LAMA) and combined therapy with long-acting ß2-agonists and inhaled corticosteroids (LABA/ICS) are similar, although the latter is associated with a greater risk of pneumonia; 3) LABA/LAMA offer greater benefits in terms of lung function and risk of exacerbation than LABA/ICS (the latter involve an increased risk of pneumonia), 4) LAMA/LABA/ICS have greater therapeutic benefits than LABA/LAMA on the risk of moderate-severe exacerbations. With regard to the role of eosinophils in guiding the use of ICS, ICS withdrawal must be considered when the initial indication was wrong or no response is elicited, in patients with side effects such as pneumonia, and in patients with a low risk of exacerbation and an eosinophil blood count of <300 cells/µl. All this evidence, categorized according to the severity of the obstruction, symptoms, and risk of exacerbations, has been used to generate an algorithm for the use of inhaled medication in COPD.

Questions and Answers on Smoking in Patients With Diffuse ILD. Use of PICO Methodology. / Preguntas y respuestas relacionadas con tabaquismo en pacientes con EPID. Aplicación de metodología con formato PICO.

INTRODUCTION: The Smoking and the Diffuse Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD) groups of ALAT and SEPAR collaborated in the preparation of this document. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This document uses PICO methodology to answer various questions on the relationship between tobacco use and diffuse ILD. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The main recommendations are: a) moderate level of evidence and strong recommendation to consider smoking as a risk factor for the development and/or modification of the progression of diffuse ILD; b) moderate level of evidence to identify an increase in mortality in diffuse ILD, irrespective of histologic pattern. Low evidence for ascribing it to smoking and strong recommendation for the early identification of patients with diffuse ILD. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effect of smoking cessation in patients with diffuse ILD; c) low level of evidence and weak recommendation for defining the impact of passive smoking in diffuse ILD; d) low level of evidence to demonstrate that smoking cessation improves the outcomes of patients diagnosed with diffuse ILD and strong recommendation to advise smoking cessation in smokers with diffuse ILD, and e) low level of evidence to support the clinical or epidemiological usefulness of active case finding for diffuse ILD in smoking cessation programs, and strong recommendation justifying the performance of spirometry in active case finding, based not on current smoking status, but on previous accumulated consumption, even in asymptomatic cases.

Longitudinal association of adiposity with wheezing and atopy at 22 years: the 1993 Birth Cohort, Pelotas, Brazil.

PURPOSE: Asthma is a highly prevalent noncommunicable lung disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the longitudinal association of obesity/adiposity with wheezing and atopy. METHODS: The population of the study was composed of participants from the 1993 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort. The following outcome variables were measured at 22 years: wheezing in the last 12 months, wheezing with atopy, wheezing without atopy, only atopy, and persistent wheezing at 18 and 22 years. Exposure variables were obesity body mass index, percent fat mass (FM), and fat mass index, which were obtained by precise methods (BOD POD and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry [DXA]). Crude and adjusted logistic and multinomial logistic regressions were used in the analyses. RESULTS: The prevalence of wheezing (with and without atopy), wheezing without atopy, only atopy, and persistent wheezing were 10.6%, 3.9%, 30.9%, and 4.0%, respectively. To be obese or to belong to the highest tertile of obesity/adiposity at two follow-ups showed a cumulative and positive association with wheezing in the adjusted analysis; for atopy there was no significant association. The odds ratio (OR) for wheezing according to the percentage of total FM measured by DXA in the highest tertile at both follow-ups was 1.58 (95% CI: 1.14-2.20) against an OR of 1.16 (95% CI: 0.92-1.47) for atopy. Persistent wheezing was also associated with adiposity, but without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: We found a positive longitudinal association between several measures of adiposity and wheezing at 22 years old. The effect was higher for cumulative adiposity; the results for atopy were not consistent.

Preguntas y respuestas relacionadas con tabaquismo en pacientes con EPOC. Aplicación de metodología con formato PICO / Using PICO Methodology to Answer Questions About Smoking in COPD Patients

Los grupos de control y tratamiento del tabaquismo de ALAT y SEPAR han colaborado para la realización de este documento en el que se da respuesta, siguiendo metodología PICO, a diferentes interrogantes relacionados con la asistencia sanitaria para ayudar a dejar de fumar a los pacientes con EPOC. Sus principales recomendaciones son: a)evidencia moderada y recomendación fuerte para realizar espirometría en pacientes con diagnóstico o en fumadores con alto riesgo de padecer EPOC, como instrumento de motivación, en particular evidenciando la edad pulmonar, y con fines diagnósticos y de búsqueda activa de casos; b)evidencia alta y recomendación fuerte para utilizar asesoramiento conductual intenso y específico y tratamiento farmacológico para ayudar a dejar de fumar a fumadores con EPOC; c)evidencia alta y recomendación fuerte para iniciar intervenciones para ayudar a dejar de fumar a fumadores con EPOC mientras se encuentran hospitalizados mejorando al mantener la intervención tras el alta, y d)evidencia alta y recomendación fuerte para la financiación del tratamiento del tabaquismo en fumadores con EPOC por su impacto sobre la salud y la economía de la salud (AU)

The ALAT and SEPAR Treatment and Control of Smoking Groups have collaborated in the preparation of this document which attempts to answer, by way of PICO methodology, different questions on health interventions for helping COPD patients to stop smoking. The main recommendations are: (I) moderate-quality evidence and strong recommendation for performing spirometry in COPD patients and in smokers with a high risk of developing the disease, as a motivational tool (particularly for showing evidence of lung age), a diagnostic tool, and for active case-finding; (II) high-quality evidence and strong recommendation for using intensive dedicated behavioral counselling and drug treatment for helping COPD patients to stop smoking; (III)high-quality evidence and strong recommendation for initiating interventions for helping COPD patients to stop smoking during hospitalization with improvement when the intervention is prolonged after discharge, and (IV) high-quality evidence and strong recommendation for funding treatment of smoking in COPD patients, in view of the impact on health and health economics (AU)

Using PICO Methodology to Answer Questions About Smoking in COPD Patients. / Preguntas y respuestas relacionadas con tabaquismo en pacientes con EPOC. Aplicación de metodología con formato PICO.

The ALAT and SEPAR Treatment and Control of Smoking Groups have collaborated in the preparation of this document which attempts to answer, by way of PICO methodology, different questions on health interventions for helping COPD patients to stop smoking. The main recommendations are: (i)moderate-quality evidence and strong recommendation for performing spirometry in COPD patients and in smokers with a high risk of developing the disease, as a motivational tool (particularly for showing evidence of lung age), a diagnostic tool, and for active case-finding; (ii)high-quality evidence and strong recommendation for using intensive dedicated behavioral counselling and drug treatment for helping COPD patients to stop smoking; (iii)high-quality evidence and strong recommendation for initiating interventions for helping COPD patients to stop smoking during hospitalization with improvement when the intervention is prolonged after discharge, and (iv)high-quality evidence and strong recommendation for funding treatment of smoking in COPD patients, in view of the impact on health and health economics.

Quality assessment of asthma clinical practice guidelines: a systematic appraisal.

BACKGROUND: The quality and potential impact of available clinical guidelines for asthma management have not been systematically evaluated. We, therefore, evaluated the quality of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for asthma. METHODS: We performed a systematic search of scientific literature published between 2000 and 2010 to identify and select CPGs related to asthma management. We searched guideline databases, guideline developers' websites, and the MEDLINE database of the US National Library of Medicine. Four independent reviewers assessed the eligible guidelines using the Appraisal of Guidelines Research & Evaluation (AGREE) II instrument. We calculated the overall agreement among reviewers with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). RESULTS: Eighteen CPGs published between the years 2000 and 2010 were selected from a total of 1,005 references. The overall agreement among reviewers was moderate (ICC: 0.78; 95% CI, 0.62-0.90). The mean scores for each AGREE domain were: scope and purpose, 44.1% (range: 10.0%-79.0%); stakeholder involvement, 33.8% (range: 4.0%-66.0%); rigor of development, 32.4% (range: 8.0%-64.0%); clarity and presentation, 52.1% (range: 17.0%-85.0%); applicability, 21.1% (range: 3%-55%); and editorial independence, 25% (range: 0%-58%). None of the appraised guidelines had a score > 60% (recommended). One-half of the appraised guidelines were recommended with modifications (nine of 18) or not recommended (nine of 18) for use in clinical practice. We observed improvement over time in overall quality of the guidelines (P = .01; guidelines published in the period 2001-2006 vs 2007-2009). CONCLUSIONS: The quality of guidelines for asthma care is low, although it has improved over time. Greater efforts are needed to provide high-quality guidelines that can be used as reliable tools for clinical decision-making in this field.