Adherence, Disease Control, and Misconceptions Related to the Use of Inhalation Therapy in Patients with Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background and Objectives: Inadequate treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) might have a negative impact on their progression. Inhalation therapy is the cornerstone of pharmacotherapy for these conditions. However, challenges such as low adherence, negative attitudes, and misconceptions about inhaled medications still persist, impeding effective disease management. This study aimed to evaluate adherence, ascertain the level of disease control in asthma and COPD, explore potential misconceptions surrounding inhalation therapy among patients with obstructive lung diseases and the general population in Vojvodina, and evaluate the reliability of newly developed questionnaires employed in the study. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized a battery of questionnaires encompassing sociodemographic data, the Asthma Control Test (ACT), the COPD Assessment Test (CAT), along with two novel questionnaires-one for assessing adherence and another for analyzing attitudes toward inhalation therapy. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS software, version 25.0. Results: The average ACT score among patients with asthma was 17.31, while it was 19.09 for the CAT questionnaire among COPD patients. The composite score on the newly developed adherence assessment questionnaire was 2.27, exhibiting a reliability coefficient lower than recommended (α = 0.468). Significant statistical differences emerged among sample subgroups regarding attitudes and misconceptions toward inhalation therapy. The reliability coefficient for this questionnaire was deemed satisfactory (α = 0.767). Conclusions: Adherence rates were notably suboptimal in both subgroups of the studied population. The disease control levels were higher among asthma patients, while they exhibited less prevalent misconceptions regarding inhalation therapy compared to COPD patients and the healthy population.

Implications of early respiratory support strategies on disease progression in critical COVID-19: a matched subanalysis of the prospective RISC-19-ICU cohort.

BACKGROUND: Uncertainty about the optimal respiratory support strategies in critically ill COVID-19 patients is widespread. While the risks and benefits of noninvasive techniques versus early invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) are intensely debated, actual evidence is lacking. We sought to assess the risks and benefits of different respiratory support strategies, employed in intensive care units during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic on intubation and intensive care unit (ICU) mortality rates. METHODS: Subanalysis of a prospective, multinational registry of critically ill COVID-19 patients. Patients were subclassified into standard oxygen therapy ≥10 L/min (SOT), high-flow oxygen therapy (HFNC), noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NIV), and early IMV, according to the respiratory support strategy employed at the day of admission to ICU. Propensity score matching was performed to ensure comparability between groups. RESULTS: Initially, 1421 patients were assessed for possible study inclusion. Of these, 351 patients (85 SOT, 87 HFNC, 87 NIV, and 92 IMV) remained eligible for full analysis after propensity score matching. 55% of patients initially receiving noninvasive respiratory support required IMV. The intubation rate was lower in patients initially ventilated with HFNC and NIV compared to those who received SOT (SOT: 64%, HFNC: 52%, NIV: 49%, p = 0.025). Compared to the other respiratory support strategies, NIV was associated with a higher overall ICU mortality (SOT: 18%, HFNC: 20%, NIV: 37%, IMV: 25%, p = 0.016). CONCLUSION: In this cohort of critically ill patients with COVID-19, a trial of HFNC appeared to be the most balanced initial respiratory support strategy, given the reduced intubation rate and comparable ICU mortality rate. Nonetheless, considering the uncertainty and stress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, SOT and early IMV represented safe initial respiratory support strategies. The presented findings, in agreement with classic ARDS literature, suggest that NIV should be avoided whenever possible due to the elevated ICU mortality risk.

[Palliative Sedation at the End of Life: A Comparative Study of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Lung Cancer Patients].

BACKGROUND: Although patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) receive poor-quality palliative care, information about the use of palliative sedation (PS) in the last days of life is very scarce. OBJECTIVES: To compare the use of PS in hospitalized patients who died from COPD or lung cancer and identify factors correlating with PS application. METHODS: In a retrospective observational cohort study, from 1,675 patients died at a teaching hospital between 2013 and 2015, 109 patients who died from COPD and 85 from lung cancer were compared. Sociodemographic data, clinical characteristics, health care resource utilization, application of PS and prescribed drugs were recorded. RESULTS: In the last 6 months of life, patients who died from COPD had more hospital admissions due to respiratory causes and less frequent support by a palliative home care team (PHCT). Meanwhile, during their last hospitalization, patients who died from COPD had fewer do-not-resuscitate orders and were subjected to more intensive care unit admissions and cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers. PS was applied less frequently in patients who died from COPD than in those who died from lung cancer (31 vs. 53%, p = 0.002). Overall, previous use of opioid drugs, support by a PHCT, and a diagnosis of COPD (adjusted odds ratio 0.48, 95% CI: 0.26-0.89, p = 0.020) were retained as factors independently related to PS. In COPD patients, only previous use of opioid drugs was identified as a PS-related factor. CONCLUSION: During their last days of life, hospitalized COPD patients receive PS less frequently than patients with lung cancer.

The neonatal respiratory morbidity associated with early term caesarean section - an emerging pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the impact of early term caesarean section (CS) on respiratory morbidity and early neonatal outcomes when elective caesarean section was carried out before 39 completed weeks gestation in our population. METHODS: A one-year population-based retrospective cohort analysis using routinely collected hospital data. Livebirths from women who had elective lower segment cesarean section (ELSCS) for uncomplicated singleton pregnancies at early term (ET) 37+0 to 38+6 weeks were compared to full term (FT)≥39+0 weeks gestation. Exclusion criteria included diabetes, antenatal corticosteroid use, stillbirths, immediate neonatal deaths, normal vaginal deliveries and emergency caesareans sections. The outcomes were combined respiratory morbidity (tachypnea [TTN] and respiratory distress syndrome [RDS]), Apgar <7 at 5 min of age, respiratory support, duration of respiratory support and NICU admission. RESULTS: Out of a total of 1,466 elective CS with term livebirths, the timing of CS was early term (ET) n=758 (52%) and full term (FT) n=708 (48%). There was a higher incidence of respiratory morbidities and neonatal outcomes in the ET in comparison to FT newborns. In the univariable analysis, significant risks for outcomes were: the need for oxygen support OR 2.42 (95% C.I. 1.38-4.22), respiratory distress syndrome and/or transient tachypnea of newborn (RDSF/TTN) OR 2.44 (95% C.I. 1.33-4.47) and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission OR 1.91 (95% C.I. 1.22-2.98). Only the need for oxygen support remained (OR 1.81, 95% C.I. 1.0-3.26) in the multivariable analysis. These results were observed within the context of a significantly higher proportion of older, multiparous, and higher number of previous caesarean sections in the early term CS group. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant risk of respiratory morbidities in infants born by elective cesarean section prior to full term gestation. Obstetricians should aim towards reducing the high rate of women with previous multiple cesarean sections including balancing the obstetric indication of early delivery among such women with the evident risk of neonatal respiratory morbidity.

Characteristic of COVID-19 infection in pediatric patients: early findings from two Italian Pediatric Research Networks.

Detailed data on clinical presentations and outcomes of children with COVID-19 in Europe are still lacking. In this descriptive study, we report on 130 children with confirmed COVID-19 diagnosed by 28 centers (mostly hospitals), in 10 regions in Italy, during the first months of the pandemic. Among these, 67 (51.5%) had a relative with COVID-19 while 34 (26.2%) had comorbidities, with the most frequent being respiratory, cardiac, or neuromuscular chronic diseases. Overall, 98 (75.4%) had an asymptomatic or mild disease, 11 (8.5%) had moderate disease, 11 (8.5%) had a severe disease, and 9 (6.9%) had a critical presentation with infants below 6 months having significantly increased risk of critical disease severity (OR 5.6, 95% CI 1.3 to 29.1). Seventy-five (57.7%) children were hospitalized, 15 (11.5%) needed some respiratory support, and nine (6.9%) were treated in an intensive care unit. All recovered.Conclusion:This descriptive case series of children with COVID-19, mostly encompassing of cases enrolled at hospital level, suggest that COVID-19 may have a non-negligible rate of severe presentations in selected pediatric populations with a relatively high rates of comorbidities. More studies are needed to further understand the presentation and outcomes of children with COVID-19 in children with special needs. What is Known: • There is limited evidence on the clinical presentation and outcomes of children with COVID-19 in Europe, and almost no evidence on characteristics and risk factors of severe cases. What is New: • Among a case series of 130 children, mostly diagnosed at hospital level, and with a relatively high rate (26.2%) of comorbidities, about three-quarter had an asymptomatic or mild disease. • However, 57.7% were hospitalized, 11.5% needed some respiratory support, and 6.9% were treated in an intensive care unit.

Management of Australian Adults with Bronchiectasis in Tertiary Care: Evidence-Based or Access-Driven?

PURPOSE: Australian data regarding the management of patients with bronchiectasis is scarce. We sought to compare the management of adults with bronchiectasis attending tertiary Australian centres with recent national and international guidelines. METHODS: The Australian Bronchiectasis Registry is a centralised database of patients with radiologically confirmed bronchiectasis unrelated to cystic fibrosis recruited from 14 tertiary Australian hospitals. We excluded children (<18 years) and those with incomplete data, leaving 589 adults for cross-sectional analyses. We compared the proportion of patients receiving certain therapies, as compared to the proportion eligible for those treatments according to the current guidelines and baseline clinical information available from the registry. RESULTS: Pulmonary rehabilitation was attended by 22%, although it was indicated in 67% of the cohort. Airway clearance was undertaken in 52% of patients, although 71% reported chronic productive cough. Sputum bacterial culture results were available for 59%, and mycobacterial culture results were available for 29% of the cohort. Inhaled antibiotics were used in half of potentially eligible patients. Despite guideline recommendations against routine use, inhaled corticosteroids were used in 48% of patients. Long-term macrolides were used in 28% of participants. CONCLUSIONS: Discrepancies exist between guideline recommendations and real-world treatment of bronchiectasis in Australia, even in tertiary centres. These findings suggest the need for increased patient referral to pulmonary rehabilitation, increased attention to airway clearance, increased collection of sputum samples (especially for mycobacterial culture) and rationalisation of inhaled corticosteroid use. These findings encourage a review of treatment access and will inform ongoing education to promote evidence-based care for people living with bronchiectasis.

Admissions for ambulatory care sensitive conditions: a national observational study in the general and COPD population.

BACKGROUND: Hospital admissions for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) may be prevented by effective ambulatory management and treatment. ACSC admissions is used as indicator for primary care quality and accessibility. However, debate continues to which extent these admissions are truly preventable. The aim of this study was to provide more objective insight into the preventability of ACSC admissions. METHODS: Observational study using 2012-15 health insurer claim data of 13 182 602 Dutch insured inhabitants. Logistic multilevel regression analyses were conducted to investigate factors (ambulatory care and characteristics of inhabitants) possibly associated with ACSC admissions. Prior ambulatory care use was examined for patients with an ACSC contributing to the highest number of ACSC admissions: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). RESULTS: In 2014, 89.8 hospital admissions for ACSCs per 10 000 insured inhabitants were claimed. Percentage of inhabitants with ACSC admissions varied between general practices from 0.58-0.84%. ASCS admissions were hardly associated with ambulatory care. One month prior to admission, 97% of admitted COPD patients had at least one ambulatory care contact. CONCLUSIONS: Variation in ACSC admissions between general practitioners was observed, indicating that certain hospital admissions may be prevented. However, we found no indication that ACSC admissions were preventable, as no link was found with the provision of ambulatory care and ACSC admissions. This may indicate that this indicator is country and health care system specific. Before including ACSC admission as quality indicator of primary care in the Netherlands, more insight into the causes of variation is required.

Race Effects of Inhaled Nitric Oxide in Preterm Infants: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) improves survival without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) for preterm African American infants. STUDY DESIGN: An individual participant data meta-analysis was conducted, including 3 randomized, placebo-controlled trials that enrolled infants born at <34 weeks of gestation receiving respiratory support, had at least 15% (or a minimum of 10 infants in each trial arm) of African American race, and used a starting iNO of >5 parts per million with the intention to treat for 7 days minimum. The primary outcome was a composite of death or BPD. Secondary outcomes included death before discharge, postnatal steroid use, gross pulmonary air leak, pulmonary hemorrhage, measures of respiratory support, and duration of hospital stay. RESULTS: Compared with other races, African American infants had a significant reduction in the composite outcome of death or BPD with iNO treatment: 49% treated vs 63% controls (relative risk, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.65-0.91; P = .003; interaction P = .016). There were no differences between racial groups for death. There was also a significant difference between races (interaction P = .023) of iNO treatment for BPD in survivors, with the greatest effect in African American infants (P = .005). There was no difference between racial groups in the use of postnatal steroids, pulmonary air leak, pulmonary hemorrhage, or other measures of respiratory support. CONCLUSION: iNO therapy should be considered for preterm African American infants at high risk for BPD. iNO to prevent BPD in African Americans may represent an example of a racially customized therapy for infants.

Surgical Ligation Versus Percutaneous Closure of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Very Low-Weight Preterm Infants: Which are the Real Benefits of the Percutaneous Approach?

Percutaneous treatment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in extreme premature infants is technically difficult, and therefore, often not consider as an alternative to surgery. The main objective of our work was to compare respiratory status prior and post ductal closure and morbi-mortality, in our series of preterm infants with percutaneous PDA closure versus surgical ligation in the same time-period. Retrospective review of all premature infants submitted to percutaneous and surgical PDA closure from January 2011 to December 2016. All the antenatal, perinatal, and postnatal characteristics were collected. The main outcome was the assessment of the pulmonary status before and after ductal closure using a pulmonary score. Secondary outcomes included moderate-severe disability in neurodevelopment, death before discharge, moderate-severe chronic lung disease, and morbidity at discharge. 25 patients with a mean weight of 1330 g (± 280) underwent percutaneous closure of PDA with ADO-II-AS, and a total of 53 underwent surgical ligation. 28/53 with similar gestational age, birth weight, and procedure weight to those in the percutaneous group, were selected to perform the comparative study. Ductal closure (percutaneous and surgical) resulted in improved respiratory status. However, percutaneous group achieved a fastest respiratory improvement, than surgical group. The surgical closure group associated higher morbidity among survivors (HIV, number of sepsis, need, and duration of inotropics post-interventionism). The incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy among the surgical group was 17%. Percutaneous closure of PDA in carefully selected low-weight preterm infants is a safe and reliable alternative to surgical ligation.

Low rates of participation and completion of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary health care.

BACKGROUND: Only 6% of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) participate in pulmonary rehabilitation programs (PR) and only 50% of those who participate, complete these programs. AIM: To determine rates of PR program participation and completion among patients with COPD in Chile. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Analysis of a database available at the Ministry of Health, which included data of 277491 patients with COPD (55% females) and their participation in PR programs, between 2014 and 2016. RESULTS: Forty percent of patients were over 75 years of age. Participation rates in PR programs ranged from 2.4 to 2.9%. Rates of completion ranged from 26 to 36%. CONCLUSIONS: There is a low rate of participation in PR programs among patients with COPD. Approximately one third of participants complete these programs.

COPD: Health Care Utilisation Patterns with Different Disease Management Interventions.

PURPOSE: The management of COPD is a significant and costly issue worldwide, with acute healthcare utilisation consisting of admissions and outpatient attendances being a major contributor to the cost. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) and integrated disease management (IDM) are often offered. Whilst there is strong evidence of physical and quality of life outcomes following IDM and PR, few studies have looked into healthcare utilisation. The aims of this study were to confirm whether IDM and PR reduce acute healthcare utilisation and to identify factors which contribute to acute health care utilisation or increased mortality. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with COPD who were referred to IDM over a 10-year period. Patients were also offered an 8-week PR program. Data collected were matched with the hospital dataset to obtain information on inpatient, ED and outpatient attendances. RESULTS: 517 patients were enrolled to IDM. 315 (61%) also commenced PR and 220 (43%) completed PR. Patients who were referred to PR were younger and had less comorbidities (p < 0.001). Both groups (IDM only and IDM + PR referred) had reductions in healthcare utilisation but the IDM-only group had greater reductions. A survival benefit (HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.50-0.92) was seen in those who were PR completers compared to patients who received IDM only. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COPD who successfully complete PR in addition to participating in IDM have improved survival. IDM alone was effective in the reduction of healthcare utilisation; however, the addition of PR did not reduce healthcare usage further.

Social Determinants of Adherence to Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Adherence to pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is low. Previous studies have focused on clinical predictors of PR completion. We aimed to identify social determinants of adherence to PR. A cross-sectional analysis of a database of COPD patients (N = 455) in an outpatient PR program was performed. Adherence, a ratio of attended-to-prescribed sessions, was coded as low (<35%), moderate (35-85%), and high (>85%). Individual-level measures included age, sex, race, BMI, smoking status, pack-years, baseline 6-minute walk distance (6MWD: <150, 150-249, ≥250), co-morbidities, depression, and prescribed PR sessions (≤20, 21-30, >30). Fifteen area-level measures aggregated to Census tracts were obtained from the U.S. Census after geocoding patients' addresses. Using exploratory factor analysis, a neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage index was constructed, which included variables with factor loading >0.5: poverty, public assistance, households without vehicles, cost burden, unemployment, and minority population. Multivariate regression models were adjusted for clustering on Census tracts. Twenty-six percent of patients had low adherence, 23% were moderately adherent, 51% were highly adherent. In the best fitted full model, each decile increase in neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage increased the risk of moderate vs high adherence by 14% (p < 0.01). Smoking tripled the relative risk of low adherence (p < 0.01), while each increase in 6MWD category decreased that risk by 72% (p < 0.01) and 84% (p < 0.001), respectively. These findings show that, relative to high adherence, low adherence is associated with limited functional capacity and current smoking, while moderate adherence is associated with socioeconomic disadvantage. The distinction highlights different pathways to suboptimal adherence and calls for tailored intervention approaches.

Problems of elderly patients on inhalation therapy: Difference in problem recognition between patients and medical professionals.

BACKGROUND: There is no systematic analysis to identify problems involved with instruction on inhalation therapy for elderly patients. We conducted a nationwide questionnaire survey for patients and medical professionals. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted of adult patients on inhaled drugs (ages 18-92 years, 820 individuals) and medical professionals (pharmacists or nurses) who provided instruction on inhalation therapy to these patients in 23 institutions in Japan to investigate the technique and the level of understanding (knowledge) of the inhalation therapy. Changes in the recognition of performance of inhalation technique and inhalation knowledge with increasing age were analyzed. RESULTS: According to patients' subjective assessment, there was no deterioration in the performance of the inhalation technique or loss of the knowledge with increasing age. On the other hand, medical professionals' objective assessment revealed a significant loss of both inhalation technique and knowledge with increasing age. Not many elderly patients noticed their own problems themselves, revealing a great perception gap between elderly patients and medical professionals. Thus, there was concern that patients would unconsciously practice the inhalation procedure improperly. On the other hand, in comparison with non-elderly patients, elderly patients were less resistant to continuation of therapy, suggesting that they would be more likely to accept instruction on inhalation therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients are apt to assume that they "understand well", therefore, in order to recognize and close the perception gap between elderly patients and medical professionals, it is necessary to provide them with more aggressive (frequent) instructions on inhalation therapy.

Adherence to treatment in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis: a cross-sectional, multi-method study investigating the influence of beliefs about treatment and parental depressive symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Adherence to treatment is often reported to be low in children with cystic fibrosis. Adherence in cystic fibrosis is an important research area and more research is needed to better understand family barriers to adherence in order for clinicians to provide appropriate intervention. The aim of this study was to evaluate adherence to enzyme supplements, vitamins and chest physiotherapy in children with cystic fibrosis and to determine if any modifiable risk factors are associated with adherence. METHODS: A sample of 100 children (≤18 years) with cystic fibrosis (44 male; median [range] 10.1 [0.2-18.6] years) and their parents were recruited to the study from the Northern Ireland Paediatric Cystic Fibrosis Centre. Adherence to enzyme supplements, vitamins and chest physiotherapy was assessed using a multi-method approach including; Medication Adherence Report Scale, pharmacy prescription refill data and general practitioner prescription issue data. Beliefs about treatments were assessed using refined versions of the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire-specific. Parental depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. RESULTS: Using the multi-method approach 72% of children were classified as low-adherers to enzyme supplements, 59% low-adherers to vitamins and 49% low-adherers to chest physiotherapy. Variations in adherence were observed between measurement methods, treatments and respondents. Parental necessity beliefs and child age were significant independent predictors of child adherence to enzyme supplements and chest physiotherapy, but parental depressive symptoms were not found to be predictive of adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Child age and parental beliefs about treatments should be taken into account by clinicians when addressing adherence at routine clinic appointments. Low adherence is more likely to occur in older children, whereas, better adherence to cystic fibrosis therapies is more likely in children whose parents strongly believe the treatments are necessary. The necessity of treatments should be reinforced regularly to both parents and children.

[Inhalation therapy, patient's perspective]. / Patientenpräferenz von Inhalern.

The cornerstone of drug application in obstructive pulmonary diseases is by inhalation as advocated by all treatment guidelines. Today, there exists an extensive choice of inhalers and new models. Numerous inhaler types are constantly being developed and introduced into the market making the "correct" selection a wearying task for the physician as well as for the patient. Improvement in the management of this aspect, which is often neglected in its importance in daily practice as well as in guidelines, is therefore reliant not only on the medications themselves but also on their effective delivery. Complicated inhaler mechanics and poor inhaler technique which do not meet the patient requirements and desires contribute to poor compliance eventually leading to poor disease control. In this review, the importance of inhaler acceptance and the degree of satisfaction with different inhaler types are discussed. This paper focuses on the behavioral and attitudinal evidence that the acceptance of the inhaler is linked to patient compliance, and its linkage on health and patient-reported outcomes.

[[Effect of erythropoietin and its combination with hypoxic altitude chamber training on the clinical and functional manifestations of chronic glomerulonephritis].

AIM: To evaluate the efficiency of treatment for renal anemia in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN), by using erythropoietin and its combination with hypoxic altitude chamber training (HACT). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sixty-three patients (41 men and 22 women) (mean age 37.1 ± 3.3 years) with CGN during the predialysis phase of chronic kidney disease (CKD) complicated by anemia. Hemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), and red blood cell indices (mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)), platelet count, serum iron, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP) and creatinine levels were determined in all the patients at baseline and during a prospective follow-up. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was measured using with the Rehberg-Tareev test. Along with standard renal protective therapy, all the patients received either epoetin beta (n=31; Group 1) or its combination with HACT (n=32; Group 2). In Group 1 patients (n=31), erythropoietin (EPO) was given in an initial dose of 20-50 IU/kg thrice daily, followed by the dose being adjusted until the target Hb level was reached. Group 2 patients (n=32) received HACT cycles by the standard procedure in combination with EPO given in lower doses (20-50 IU/kg once weekly). A prospective .follow-up of the patients was carried out during one year. RESULTS: Following one year, the number of patients who had achieved the target Hb level was 74.1% in Group 1 and 87.5% in Group 2. Over time, there were increases in the concentration of Hb (from 108.6 ± 19.4 to 124.5 ± 14.09 g/l; p<0.05), PCV, and red blood cell indices (MCV, MCHC) in the patients receiving EPO (Group 1). Besides an'anti-anemic effect, there was a significant decrease in the concentrations of fibrinogen from 6655 (4884-7634) to 3776 (3330-4884) mg/dL; (p<0.05), serum creatinine from 159 (89--261) to 138 (79-258) pmol/I (p<0,05), proteinuria from 2.955 (1.024-6.745) to 2.069 (0.539-4.279) (p<0.05), which was accompanied by an increase in GFR from 62.3 (37.0 - 107.4) to 76.9 (46.0-96.0) mi/min (p<0.05). In Group 2, the rise in the concentration of Hb (from 114.1 ± 11.7 to 132.0 ± 16.5 g/I (p<0.05), PCV, MCV, and MCHC proved to be more pronounced than that in Group 1 (p<0.05) and accompanied by an elevation in the counts of platelets (from 222.7 ± 19.8.10(9)/1 to 249.3 ± 21.9.10(9)/1 (p<0:05)) and red blood cells (from 4.0 ± 0.4-10(12)/1 to 4.34 ± 0.3 X 10(12)/I (p<0.05)). There was a more marked reduction in the degree of proteinuria from 3.092 (0.764-7.694) g at baseline to 1.600 (0.677-4.078) g one year later (p<0.05) than that in Group 1 (p<0.05). The increase in GFR from 60.1 (46.0-96.0) to 79.4 (44.0-120.0) ml/min (p<0.05) and the fall in the concentration of fibrinogen from 5555 (4884-7770) to 4107 (3776-5328) mg/dL (p<0.05) and serum creatinine from 166 (92-273) to 147 (92-152) µmol/L (p<0.05), which were observed in Group 2, were comparable to those in Group 1. CONCLUSION: Epoetin beta used in patients with CGN has an anti-anemic effect and leads to improved renal nitrogen-excretory function. Erythropoietin in combination with HACT used in CGN provides a higher anti-anemic efficacy and a more pronounced antiproteinuric effect.

Usefulness of lung-to-head ratio and intrapulmonary arterial Doppler in predicting neonatal morbidity in fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia treated with fetoscopic tracheal occlusion.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the potential value of intrapulmonary artery Doppler velocimetry in predicting neonatal morbidity in fetuses with left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) treated with fetoscopic tracheal occlusion (FETO). METHODS: Observed/expected lung-to-head ratio (O/E-LHR), and intrapulmonary Doppler pulsatility index and peak early-diastolic reversed flow were evaluated within 24 h before FETO in a consecutive cohort of 51 fetuses with left-sided CDH at between 24 and 33 weeks' gestation. Lung Doppler parameters were converted into Z-scores and defined as abnormal if the pulsatility index had a Z-score of > 1.0 or the peak early-diastolic reversed flow had a Z-score of > 3.5. The association of O/E-LHR and Doppler velocimetry with neonatal outcome was assessed using multiple linear or logistic regression analysis adjusted for gestational age at birth. RESULTS: Among the 26 fetuses that survived, 18 (69.2%) had normal and eight (30.8%) had abnormal Doppler values. O/E-LHR was not associated with neonatal morbidity in surviving fetuses. Compared with the group with normal Doppler parameters, cases with abnormal intrapulmonary Doppler were associated with a significant increase in the duration of mechanical ventilation (average increase of 21.2 (95% CI, 9.99-32.5) days; P < 0.01), conventional ventilation (15.2 (95% CI, 7.43-23.0) days; P < 0.01), high-frequency ventilation (6.34 (95% CI, 0.69-11.99) days; P < 0.05), nitric oxide therapy (5.73 (95% CI, 0.60-10.9) days; P < 0.05), oxygen support (36.5 (95% CI, 16.3-56.7) days; P < 0.01), parenteral nutrition (19.1 (95% CI, 7.53-30.7) days; P < 0.01) and stay in neonatal intensive care unit (42.7 (95% CI, 22.9-62.6) days; P < 0.001), and with significantly higher rates of high-frequency ventilation (87.5 vs. 44.4%;P < 0.05), oxygen requirement at 28 days of age (75.0 vs. 11.1%; P < 0.01), gastroesophageal reflux (62.5 vs. 22.2%; P < 0.05) and tube feeding at discharge (37.5 vs. 5.56%; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: As previously reported, O/E-LHR did not predict neonatal morbidity. In contrast, intrapulmonary artery Doppler evaluation was predictive of neonatal morbidity in CDH fetuses treated with FETO.

Neonatal respiratory support strategies in the intensive care unit: an Italian survey.

We carried out a survey of current practices of neonatal respiratory support in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Italy with the aim of comparing the current reality with evidence from the literature. We sent a questionnaire by email to the 103 level III neonatal units in Italy. There was a 61 % (73/120) response rate to the questionnaire. We found that synchronized intermittent positive pressure ventilation is mostly used in infants in the acute phase of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), while the majority of the units prefer volume-targeted ventilation for those in the weaning phase. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure is the most commonly used non-invasive mode of respiratory support, both in the acute and post-extubation phase of RDS. Surfactant is mainly given as rescue treatment. Infants receive caffeine before extubation and analgesia under mechanical ventilation, while post-natal steroids are given after the first week of life in the majority of the units. In conclusion, respiratory support strategies in Italian NICUs are frequently evidence-based. However, since there are areas where this does not occur, we suggest that focused interventions take place on these areas to help improve clinical practice and increase their adherence to evidence-based medical criteria.