European Respiratory Society clinical practice guideline on symptom management for adults with serious respiratory illness.

Respiratory symptoms are ubiquitous and impair health-related quality of life in people with respiratory disease. This European Respiratory Society (ERS) task force aimed to provide recommendations for symptomatic treatment in people with serious respiratory illness. The ERS task force comprised 16 members, including representatives of people with serious respiratory illness and informal caregivers. Seven questions were formulated, six in the PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) format, which were addressed with full systematic reviews and evidence assessed using GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation). One question was addressed narratively. An "evidence-to-decision" framework was used to formulate recommendations. To treat symptoms in people with serious respiratory illness, the task force suggests the use of graded exercise therapy (conditional recommendation, low certainty of evidence); and suggests the use of a multicomponent services, handheld fan and breathing techniques (conditional recommendations, very low certainty of evidence). The task force suggests not to use opioids (conditional recommendation, very low certainty of evidence); and suggests either administering or not administering supplemental oxygen therapy (conditional recommendation, low certainty of evidence). The task force suggests that needs assessment tools may be used as part of a comprehensive needs assessment, but do not replace patient-centred care and shared decision making (conditional recommendation, low certainty of evidence). The low certainty of evidence, modest impact of interventions on patient-centred outcomes, and absence of effective strategies to ameliorate cough highlight the need for new approaches to reduce symptoms and enhance wellbeing for individuals who live with serious respiratory illness.

Binaural Beats Reduce Postoperative Morphine Consumption in Older adults After Total Knee Replacement Surgery.

CONTEXT: A reduction in the use of opioids by older adult patients could reduce unpleasant side effects for them. During general anesthesia, binaural beat (BB) listening has been found to reduce intraoperative fentanyl consumption as well as postoperative pain scores and discharge time. Auditory BBs are a perceptual phenomenon occurring when tones of 2 slightly different frequencies are presented simultaneously and separately to each ear. OBJECTIVE: The study intended to evaluate the ability of BBs, as a nonpharmacological premedication, to reduce postoperative morphine consumption in older adults undergoing total knee replacement surgery and to modify the levels of anxiety and feelings of pain that patients experience. DESIGN: The research team designed a prospective, single-center, randomized controlled study. SETTING: The study was conducted in the Orthopedic Department of the Santa Maria Maddalena Hospital (Volterra [Pisa], Italy). PARTICIPANTS: Forty older adults at the hospital who were undergoing total knee joint replacement with spinal anesthesia participated in the study. INTERVENTION: The study included 2 groups (n = 20 each), one receiving BBs stimulation with frequencies of 256 Hz in one ear and 260 Hz in the opposite ear producing a BB of 4 Hz (intervention group), and the other receiving acoustical stimulation at 256 Hz in both ears (control group). BBs, or acoustical stimulation, were administered before the surgical procedure. Both acoustical stimuli, generated with the Gnaural program, were delivered through stereo headphones connected to a laptop in the preoperative holding area. OUTCOME MEASURES: The study measured postoperative, cumulative, self-administered morphine consumption, in mg, through a patient-controlled analgesia device. Feelings of anxiety were also assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and feelings of pain were measured every 8 h during the first postoperative day using a numerical rating scale. RESULTS: Patients who received the intervention, consumed almost half of the dosage of morphine during the first postoperative day when compared with the control group's consumption, 5.75 mg ± 5.25 vs 11.85 mg ± 7.71, respectively. The consumption did not correlate to anxiety measures. Regarding pain perception, no differences between the groups were captured. CONCLUSIONS: BB stimulation before surgery can be successfully used as a nonpharmacological treatment to reduce morphine consumption in older adults who undergo knee replacement. The use of a noninvasive, safe, and inexpensive BB intervention can result in a positive effect on patients' postoperative recovery.

Non-invasive ventilation during cycle exercise training in patients with chronic respiratory failure on long-term ventilatory support: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The role of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) during exercise training (ET) in patients with chronic respiratory failure (CRF) is still unclear. The aim of this study was to test whether NIV during ET had an additional effect in increasing the 6-min walking distance (6MWD) and cycle endurance time compared with ET alone. METHODS: All patients underwent 20 sessions of cycle training over 3 weeks and were randomly assigned to ET with NIV or ET alone. Outcome measures were 6MWD (primary outcome), incremental and endurance cycle ergometer exercise time, respiratory muscle function, quality of life by the Maugeri Respiratory Failure questionnaire (MRF-28), dyspnoea (Medical Research Council scale) and leg fatigue at rest. RESULTS: Forty-two patients completed the study. Following training, no significant difference in 6MWD changes were found between groups. Improvement in endurance time was significantly greater in the NIV group compared with the non-NIV training group (754 ± 973 vs 51 ± 406 s, P = 0.0271); dyspnoea improved in both groups, while respiratory muscle function and leg fatigue improved only in the NIV ET group. MRF-28 improved only in the group training without NIV. CONCLUSION: In CRF patients on long-term NIV and long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT), the addition of NIV to ET sessions resulted in an improvement in endurance time, but not in 6MWD.

Integrating the care of the complex COPD patient.

Proceedings of the European Seminars in Respiratory Medicine course, Long-Term Integrated Care of COPD Patients held in Stresa, Italy, on 16-17 June, 2016.

Tele-monitoring of ventilator-dependent patients: a European Respiratory Society Statement.

The estimated prevalence of ventilator-dependent individuals in Europe is 6.6 per 100 000 people. The increasing number and costs of these complex patients make present health organisations largely insufficient to face their needs. As a consequence, their burden lays mostly over families. The need to reduce healthcare costs and to increase safety has prompted the development of tele-monitoring for home ventilatory assistance.A European Respiratory Society Task Force produced a literature research based statement on commonly accepted clinical criteria for indications, follow-up, equipment, facilities, legal and economic issues of tele-monitoring of these patients.Many remote health monitoring systems are available, ensuring safety, feasibility, effectiveness, sustainability and flexibility to face different patients' needs. The legal problems associated with tele-monitoring are still controversial. National and European Union (EU) governments should develop guidelines and ethical, legal, regulatory, technical, administrative standards for remote medicine. The economic advantages, if any, of this new approach must be compared to a "gold standard" of home care that is very variable among different European countries and within each European country.Much more research is needed before considering tele-monitoring a real improvement in the management of these patients.

A prospective multicentric study of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and different clinical phenotypes.

BACKGROUND: Recently, it has been proposed that different clinical phenotypes can be recognized in patients with chronic obstructive disease (COPD), namely predominant airway disease or parenchymal destructive changes. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this prospective multicenter study was to evaluate whether these two phenotypes may influence outcomes following a pulmonary rehabilitation program (PRP). METHODS: We have prospectively evaluated 364 consecutive COPD patients (70 ± 8 years, 76.3% males) admitted to a standard hospital-based PRP in 6 Italian centers. According to their phenotype, the study cohort was divided into two groups: patients with airway obstructive (group 1, n = 208) or parenchymal destructive COPD (group 2, n = 156). Before and after PRP, values of 6-min walking distance, perceived breathlessness (Medical Research Council), health-related quality of life (St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire) and respiratory muscle function (maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure) were recorded. RESULTS: PRP resulted in significant improvements in all outcome measures without any significant differences between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms that COPD patients may benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation independent of their clinical phenotype.

The effect of graded exercise therapy on fatigue in people with serious respiratory illness: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: In adults with serious respiratory illness, fatigue is prevalent and under-recognised, with few treatment options. The aim of this review was to assess the impact of graded exercise therapy (GET) on fatigue in adults with serious respiratory illness. METHODS: Electronic databases were searched to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) testing GET (involving incremental increases in exercise from an established baseline) in adults with serious respiratory illness. The primary outcome was fatigue and secondary outcomes were health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and adverse events. Two authors independently screened for inclusion, evaluated risk of bias and extracted data. RESULTS: 76 RCTs were included with 3309 participants, most with a diagnosis of COPD or asthma. Reductions in fatigue measured by the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire fatigue domain score were demonstrated following GET consisting of aerobic with/without resistance training (mean difference (MD) 0.53 points, 95% CI 0.41-0.65, 11 RCTs, 624 participants) and GET using resistance training alone (MD 0.58 points, 95% CI 0.21-0.96, two RCTs, 82 participants) compared with usual care. Although the mean effect exceeded the minimal important difference, the lower end of the confidence intervals did not always exceed this threshold so the clinical significance could not be confirmed. GET consistently improved HRQoL in people with a range of chronic respiratory diseases on multiple HRQoL measures. No serious adverse events related to GET were reported. CONCLUSION: GET may improve fatigue alongside consistent improvements in HRQoL in people with serious respiratory illness. These findings support the use of GET in the care of people with serious respiratory illness.

ERS International Congress 2023: highlights from the Respiratory Clinical Care and Physiology Assembly.

It is a challenge to keep abreast of all the clinical and scientific advances in the field of respiratory medicine. This article contains an overview of laboratory-based science, clinical trials and qualitative research that were presented during the 2023 European Respiratory Society International Congress within the sessions from the five groups of Assembly 1 (Respiratory Clinical Care and Physiology). Selected presentations are summarised from a wide range of topics: clinical problems, rehabilitation and chronic care, general practice and primary care, electronic/mobile health (e-health/m-health), clinical respiratory physiology, exercise and functional imaging.

Efficacy of temporary positive expiratory pressure (TPEP) in patients with lung diseases and chronic mucus hypersecretion. The UNIKO® project: a multicentre randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether temporary positive expiratory pressure provides benefit in patients with lung diseases and chronic hypersecretion. DESIGN: Single blind multicentre randomized trial. SETTING: Five Italian rehabilitation centres. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-eight patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and/or chronic bronchitis (n=78), or bronchiectasis (n=20), with a peak cough expiratory flow >150 l/min and sputum production >30 ml/day, randomly included into two treatment groups. INTERVENTIONS: For 10 consecutive days, the active group performed twice a day 20-minute cycles of manually assisted breathing techniques in sequence with the addition of 15 minutes of temporary positive expiratory pressure, while the control group was treated by manually assisted breathing techniques alone. MEASURES: Within and between group changes of arterial oxygenation index, lung volumes and respiratory muscles strength were recorded at enrolment and after 3 and 10 treatment sessions. Pre-to-post treatment change of sputum volume and bronchial encumbrance (Δ-visual analog scale), sputum density and purulence were compared daily within the study period. RESULTS: No significant changes were recorded for the oxygenation index, while dynamic lung volumes and respiratory muscle strength significantly (P <0.05) improved in the active group. The group comparison analysis of the pre-to-post change showed that inspiratory capacity was significantly higher in the active than in the control group (+19.5% and +2.2%, P=0.044) at day 10. A greater improvement in Δ-visual analog scale was recorded in the active group at day 3 and 8. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary data suggest that temporary positive expiratory pressure improves lung volumes and speeds up the improvement of bronchial encumbrance in patients with lung diseases and hypersecretion.

Holistic management of patients with progressive pulmonary fibrosis.

Progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a complex interstitial lung disease that impacts substantially on patients' daily lives, requiring personalised and integrated care. We summarise the main needs of patients with PF and their caregivers, and suggest a supportive care approach. Individualised care, education, emotional and psychological support, specialised treatments, and better access to information and resources are necessary. Management should start at diagnosis, be tailored to the patient's needs, and consider end-of-life care. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions should be individualised, including oxygen therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation, with digital healthcare utilised as appropriate. Further research is needed to address technical issues related to oxygen delivery and digital healthcare. Educational aims: To identify the main needs of patients with PF and their caregivers.To describe the components of a comprehensive approach to a supportive care programme for patients with PF.To identify further areas of research to address technical issues related to the management of patients with PF.

ERS International Congress 2022: highlights from the Respiratory Clinical Care and Physiology Assembly.

It is a challenge to keep abreast of all the clinical and scientific advances in the field of respiratory medicine. This article contains an overview of the laboratory-based science, clinical trials and qualitative research that were presented during the 2022 European Respiratory Society International Congress within the sessions from the five groups of Assembly 1 (Respiratory Clinical Care and Physiology). Selected presentations are summarised from a wide range of topics: clinical problems, rehabilitation and chronic care, general practice and primary care, mobile/electronic health (m-health/e-health), clinical respiratory physiology, exercise and functional imaging.

Binaural beats reduce feeling of pain and discomfort during colonoscopy procedure in not-sedated patients: A randomized control trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the effect of Binaural Beats(BB)on feeling of pain, and patient comfort during colonoscopy without sedation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It is a randomized, controlled, double-blind procedural study of 115 patients that underwent colonoscopy without sedation. The patients were randomly assigned into the experimental group (n = 42) and the control group (n = 48) that were given BB starting 5 min before and continuing until the end of the colonoscopy procedure without any intervention other than routine nursing care. Measures of the state of anxiety (VAS-Anxiety scale) administered before the procedure, and measures of feeling of pain (Visual Analogue scale VAS-pain), Satisfactory and Willingness to repeat the procedure as Likert scales were also collected soon after the colonoscopy procedure. RESULTS: Feeling of pain was lower and scores of the level of comfort were higher in the experimental group when compared to the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: BB is an effective and safe method for reducing pain and improving patient comfort in cases undergoing colonoscopy without sedation. Since BB method is a non-pharmacological, non-invasive, inexpensive and simple method without any side effects, it may be used to reduce the feeling of pain and discomfort for non-sedated patients undergoing colonoscopy.

The impact of the meta-analysis of pulmonary rehabilitation by Lacasse and colleagues: transforming pulmonary rehabilitation from "art to science".

#Pulmonaryrehab was transformed in the 1990s into the standard of care for COPD: this article focuses on the impact of the 1996 meta-analysis by Lacasse and colleagues which provided the evidence to silence the sceptics https://bit.ly/3MIntBC.

Pulmonary Function and Psychological Burden Three Months after COVID-19: Proposal of a Comprehensive Multidimensional Assessment Protocol.

Persisting limitations in respiratory function and gas exchange, cognitive impairment, and mental health deterioration have been observed weeks and months after acute SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). The present study aims at assessing the impairment at three-months in patients who successfully recovered from acute COVID-19. We collected data from May to July 2020. Patients underwent a multidimensional extensive assessment including pulmonary function test, psychological tests, thoracic echo scan, and functional exercise capacity. A total of 21 patients (M:13; Age 57.05 ± 11.02) completed the global assessment. A considerable proportion of patients showed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (28.6%), moderate depressive symptoms (9.5%), and clinical insomnia (9.5%); 14.3% of patients exhibited moderate anxiety. A total of eleven patients (52.4%) showed impaired respiratory gas exchange capacity (P-DLCO, DLCO ≤ 79% pred). Compared to patients with normal gas exchange, the P-DLCO subgroup perceived a significant worsening in quality of life (QoL) after COVID-19 (p = 0.024), higher fatigue (p = 0.005), and higher impact of lung disease (p = 0.013). In P-DLCO subgroup, higher echo score was positively associated with hospitalization length of stay (p = 0.047), depressive symptoms (p = 0.042), fatigue (p = 0.035), impairment in mental health (p = 0.035), and impact of lung disease in health status (p = 0.020). Pulmonary function and echo scan lung changes were associated to worsened QoL, fatigue, and psychological distress symptoms.

ERS International Congress 2021: highlights from the Respiratory Clinical Care and Physiology Assembly.

It is a challenge to keep abreast of all the clinical and scientific advances in the field of respiratory medicine. This article contains an overview of laboratory-based science, randomised controlled trials and qualitative research that were presented during the 2021 European Respiratory Society International Congress within the sessions from the five groups of the Assembly 1 - Respiratory clinical care and physiology. Selected presentations are summarised from a wide range of topics: clinical problems, rehabilitation and chronic care, general practice and primary care, electronic/mobile health (e-health/m-health), clinical respiratory physiology, exercise and functional imaging.

Secondary Traumatic Stress and Burnout in Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Outbreak.

(1) Background: The present study aims to assess the level of professional burnout and secondary traumatic stress (STS), and to identify potential risk or protective factors among health care workers (HCWs) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.; (2) Methods: This cross-sectional study, based on an online survey, collected demographic data and mental distress outcomes from 184 HCWs from 1 May 2020, to 15 June 2020, from 45 different countries. The degree of STS, perceived stress and burnout was assessed using the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Service Survey (MBI-HSS) respectively. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed to identify potential risk and protective factors for STS; (3) Results: 184 HCWs (M = 90; Age mean: 46.45; SD: 11.02) completed the survey. A considerable proportion of HCWs had symptoms of STS (41.3%), emotional exhaustion (56.0%), and depersonalization (48.9%). The prevalence of STS was 47.5% in frontline HCWs while in HCWs working in other units it was 30.3% (p < 0.023); 67.1% for the HCWs exposed to patients' death and 32.9% for those HCWs which were not exposed to the same condition (p < 0.001). In stepwise multiple regression analysis, perceived stress, emotional exhaustion, and exposure to patients' death remained as significant predictors in the final model for STS (adjusted R2 = 0.537, p < 0.001); (4) Conclusions: During the current COVID-19 pandemic, HCWs facing patients' physical pain, psychological suffering, and death are more likely to develop STS.

ERS International Congress 2020: highlights from the General Pneumology Assembly.

The European Respiratory Society (ERS) accepted 4062 abstracts for presentation at the ERS International Congress in 2020. Although the conference was held virtually, making it possible to replay presentations, it remains a challenge to keep abreast of all the clinical and scientific advances. Therefore, this article provides highlights from the General Pneumology Assembly. Selected presentations from rehabilitation and chronic care, general practice and primary care, and electronic/mobile health (e-health/m-health) are summarised. The highlights incorporate novel findings from laboratory-based science, randomised controlled trials and qualitative research together with insights from newly available clinical guidelines.

A new era for Assembly 1: general pneumology.

Meet @ERSTalk Assembly 1: general pneumology http://ow.ly/EbtX30oaYuK.

Telemedicine in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Telemedicine is a medical application of advanced technology to disease management. This modality may provide benefits also to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Different devices and systems are used. The legal problems associated with telemedicine are still controversial. Economic advantages for healthcare systems, though potentially high, are still poorly investigated. A European Respiratory Society Task Force has defined indications, follow-up, equipment, facilities, legal and economic issues of tele-monitoring of COPD patients including those undergoing home mechanical ventilation. KEY POINTS: The costs of care assistance in chronic disease patients are dramatically increasing.Telemedicine may be a very useful application of information and communication technologies in high-quality healthcare services.Many remote health monitoring systems are available, ensuring safety, feasibility, effectiveness, sustainability and flexibility to face different patients' needs.The legal problems associated with telemedicine are still controversial.National and European Union governments should develop guidelines and ethical, legal, regulatory, technical, administrative standards for remote medicine.The economic advantages, if any, of this new approach must be compared to a "gold standard" of homecare that is very variable among different European countries and within each European country.The efficacy of respiratory disease telemedicine projects is promising (i.e. to tailor therapeutic intervention; to avoid useless hospital and emergency department admissions, and reduce general practitioner and specialist visits; and to involve the patients and their families).Different programmes based on specific and local situations, and on specific diseases and levels of severity with a high level of flexibility should be utilised.A European Respiratory Society Task Force produced a statement on commonly accepted clinical criteria for indications, follow-up, equipment, facilities, legal and economic issues also of telemonitoring of ventilator-dependent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.Much more research is needed before considering telemonitoring a real improvement in the management of these patients. EDUCATIONAL AIMS: To clarify definitions of aspects of telemedicineTo describe different tools of telemedicineTo provide information on the main clinical resultsTo define recommendations and limitations.