Asthma, airflow limitation and mortality risk in the general population

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease co-exist in a significant proportion of patients. Whether asthma increases mortality risk among subjects with airflow limitation remains controversial.We used data from 2121 adult participants in the population-based Tucson Epidemiological Study of Airway Obstructive Disease cohort. At enrolment (1972–1973), participants completed questionnaires and lung function tests. Participants were categorised into four groups based on the combination of airflow limitation (AL; forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) <70%) and physician-confirmed asthma at baseline. Vital status as of January 2011 was assessed through the National Death Index. Cox proportional hazards models were used to test differences in mortality risk across the four airflow limitation/asthma groups.In multivariate Cox models, the AL+/asthma+ group had a 114% increased mortality risk during follow-up compared with the AL-/asthma- group (adjusted HR 2.14; 95% CI 1.64–2.79). The corresponding hazard ratios were 1.09 (95% CI 0.89–1.34) and 1.34 (95% CI 1.14–1.57) for the AL-/asthma+ and AL+/asthma- groups, respectively. Among subjects with airflow limitation, asthma was associated with increased mortality risk (HR 1.58, 95% CI 1.17–2.12). However, this increased risk was substantially reduced and no longer significant after further adjustment for baseline FEV1 levels. Similar results were obtained when airflow limitation was defined as FEV1/FVC less than the lower limit of normal.In a population-based cohort, subjects with concomitant airflow limitation and asthma had an increased risk of dying, which was mainly related to their baseline lung function deficits.

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Lung function, forced expiratory volume in 1 s decline and COPD hospitalisations over 44 years of follow-up

European Respiratory Journal ◽

10.1183/13993003.01575-2015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 47 (3) ◽

pp. 742-750 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Suneela Zaigham ◽

Per Wollmer ◽

Gunnar Engström

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Airflow Obstruction ◽

Fixed Ratio ◽

Population Based ◽

Forced Expiratory Volume ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Lung Function Decline ◽

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Hazard Ratios

The use of baseline lung function in the prediction of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) hospitalisations, all-cause mortality and lung function decline was assessed in the population-based “Men Born in 1914” cohort.Spirometry was assessed at age 55 years in 689 subjects, of whom 392 had spirometry reassessed at age 68 years. The cohort was divided into three groups using fixed ratio (FR) and lower limit of normal (LLN) criterion: forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/vital capacity (VC) ≥70%, FEV1/VC <70% but ≥LLN (FR+LLN−), and FEV1/VC <70% and <LLN (FR+LLN+).Over 44 years of follow-up, 88 men were hospitalised due to COPD and 686 died. Hazard ratios (95% CI) for incident COPD hospitalisation were 4.15 (2.24–7.69) for FR+LLN− and 7.88 (4.82–12.87) for FR+LLN+ (reference FEV1/VC ≥70%). Hazard ratios for death were 1.30 (0.98–1.72) for FR+LLN− and 1.58 (1.25–2.00) for FR+LLN+. The adjusted FEV1 decline between 55 and 68 years of age was higher for FR+LLN− and FR+LLN+ relative to the reference. Of those with FR+LLN− at 55 years, 53% had progressed to the FR+LLN+ group at 68 years.Airflow obstruction at age 55 years is a powerful risk factor for future COPD hospitalisations. The FR+LLN− group should be carefully evaluated in clinical practice in relation to future risks and potential benefit from early intervention. This is reinforced by the increased FEV1 decline in this group.

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Predictive Modelling of Lung Function using Emphysematous Density Distribution

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-56351-9 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Kuo-Lung Lor ◽

Cheng-Pei Liu ◽

Yeun-Chung Chang ◽

Chong-Jen Yu ◽

Cheng-Yi Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Predictive Model ◽

Lung Volume ◽

Model Fitting ◽

Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease ◽

Correlation Study ◽

Forced Expiratory Volume ◽

Airflow Limitation ◽

Normal Lung ◽

Chronic Obstructive

AbstractTarget lung tissue selection remains a challenging task to perform for treating severe emphysema with lung volume reduction (LVR). In order to target the treatment candidate, the percentage of low attenuation volume (LAV%) representing the proportion of emphysema volume to whole lung volume is measured using computed tomography (CT) images. Although LAV% have shown to have a correlation with lung function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), similar measurements of LAV% in whole lung or lobes may have large variations in lung function due to emphysema heterogeneity. The functional information of regional emphysema destruction is required for supporting the choice of optimal target. The purpose of this study is to develop an emphysema heterogeneity descriptor for the three-dimensional emphysematous bullae according to the size variations of emphysematous density (ED) and their spatial distribution. The second purpose is to derive a predictive model of airflow limitation based on the regional emphysema heterogeneity. Deriving the bullous representation and grouping them into four scales in the upper and lower lobes, a predictive model is computed using the linear model fitting to estimate the severity of lung function. A total of 99 subjects, 87 patients with mild to very severe COPD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage I~IV) and 12 control participants with normal lung functions (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) > 0.7) were evaluated. The final model was trained with stratified cross-validation on randomly selected 75% of the dataset (n = 76) and tested on the remaining dataset (n = 23). The dispersed cases of LAV% inconsistent with their lung function outcome were evaluated, and the correlation study suggests that comparing to LAV of larger bullae, the widely spread smaller bullae with equivalent LAV has a larger impact on lung function. The testing dataset has the correlation of r = −0.76 (p < 0.01) between the whole lung LAV% and FEV1/FVC, whereas using two ED % of scales and location-dependent variables to predict the emphysema-associated FEV1/FVC, the results shows their correlation of 0.82 (p < 0.001) with clinical FEV1/FVC.

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Associations Between Anemia, Cognitive Impairment, and All-Cause Mortality in Oldest-Old Adults: A Prospective Population-Based Cohort Study

Frontiers in Medicine ◽

10.3389/fmed.2021.613426 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Jia Wangping ◽

Han Ke ◽

Wang Shengshu ◽

Song Yang ◽

Yang Shanshan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mortality Risk ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

Oldest Old ◽

Population Based ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

Risk Of Mortality ◽

Increased Risk ◽

All Cause Mortality

Objective: To evaluate the combined effects of anemia and cognitive function on the risk of all-cause mortality in oldest-old individuals.Design: Prospective population-based cohort study.Setting and Participants: We included 1,212 oldest-old individuals (men, 416; mean age, 93.3 years).Methods: Blood tests, physical examinations, and health questionnaire surveys were conducted in 2012 were used for baseline data. Mortality was assessed in the subsequent 2014 and 2018 survey waves. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate anemia, cognitive impairment, and mortality risk. We used restricted cubic splines to analyze and visualize the association between hemoglobin (Hb) levels and mortality risk.Results: A total of 801 (66.1%) deaths were identified during the 6-year follow-up. We noted a significant association between anemia and mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14–1.54) after adjusting for confounding variables. We also observed a dose-response relationship between the severity of anemia and mortality (P < 0.001). In the restricted cubic spline models, Hb levels had a reverse J-shaped association with mortality risk (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.84–0.93 per 10 g/L-increase in Hb levels below 130 g/L). The reverse J-shaped association persisted in individuals without cognitive impairment (HR 0.88, 95% CI 0.79–0.98 per 10 g/L-increase in Hb levels below 110 g/L). For people with cognitive impairment, Hb levels were inversely associated with mortality risk (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.78–0.89 per 10 g/L-increase in Hb levels below 150 g/L). People with anemia and cognitive impairment had the highest risk of mortality (HR 2.60, 95% CI 2.06–3.27).Conclusion: Our results indicate that anemia is associated with an increased risk of mortality in oldest-old people. Cognitive impairment modifies the association between Hb levels and mortality.

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The occupations at increased risk of COPD: analysis of lifetime job-histories in the population-based UK Biobank Cohort

European Respiratory Journal ◽

10.1183/13993003.00186-2019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 54 (1) ◽

pp. 1900186 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Sara De Matteis ◽

Deborah Jarvis ◽

Andrew Darnton ◽

Sally Hutchings ◽

Steven Sadhra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Occupational Exposures ◽

Population Based ◽

Forced Expiratory Volume ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Preventive Strategies ◽

Uk Biobank ◽

Increased Risk ◽

New Findings ◽

Never Smokers

Occupational exposures are important, preventable causes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Identification of COPD high-risk jobs is key to focus preventive strategies, but a definitive job-list is unavailable.We addressed this issue by evaluating the association of lifetime job-histories and lung function data in the population-based UK Biobank cohort, whose unprecedented sample size allowed analyses restricted to never-smokers to rule out the most important confounder, tobacco smoking. COPD was spirometrically defined as forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity ratio below the lower limit of normal. Lifetime job-histories were collected via OSCAR (Occupations Self-Coding Automatic Recording), a new validated online tool that automatically codes jobs into the UK Standard Occupational Classification v.2000. Prevalence ratios for COPD by employment duration in each job compared to lifetime office workers were estimated using robust Poisson regression adjusted for age, sex, centre and smoking. Only associations confirmed among never-smokers and never-asthmatics were considered reliable.From the 116 375 participants with complete job-histories, 94 551 had acceptable/repeatable spirometry data and smoking information and were included in the analysis. Six occupations showed an increased COPD risk among never-smokers and never-asthmatics; most of these also with positive exposure-response trends. Interesting new findings included sculptors, gardeners and warehouse workers.COPD patients, especially never-smokers, should be asked about their job-history for better disease management. Focussed preventive strategies in COPD high-risk jobs are warranted.

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Asthma and COPD Overlap Syndrome (ACOS)

Macedonian Medical Review ◽

10.1515/mmr-2015-0002 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 69 (1) ◽

pp. 8-11

Author(s):

Deska Dimitrievska ◽

Marija Zdraveska ◽

Dejan Todevski ◽

Elena Janeva ◽

Suzana Arbutina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Lung Function ◽

Randomized Clinical Trials ◽

Significant Proportion ◽

Overlap Syndrome ◽

Airflow Limitation ◽

Rapid Decline ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Acute Exacerbations

Abstract Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have traditionally been viewed as distinct clinical entities. Recently, however, much attention has been focused on patients with overlapping features of both asthma and COPD: those with asthma COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS). A significant proportion of patients who present with symptoms of a chronic airways disease have features of both asthma and COPD. Several diagnostic terms, most including the word “overlap”, have been applied to such patients, and the topic has been extensively reviewed. However, there is no generally agreed term or defining features for this category of chronic airflow limitation, although a definition based upon consensus has been published for overlap in patients with existing COPD. In spite of these uncertainties, there is broad agreement that patients with features of both asthma and COPD experience frequent exacerbations, have poor quality of life, a more rapid decline in lung function and high mortality, and consume a disproportionate amount of healthcare resources than asthma or COPD alone. ACOS accounts for approximately 15-25% of the obstructive airway diseases and patients experience worse outcomes compared to asthma or COPD alone. Patients with ACOS often have the combined risk factors of smoking and atopy, are generally younger than patients with COPD and experience acute exacerbations with higher frequency and greater severity than in COPD alone. Pharmacotherapeutic considerations require an integrated approach, first to identify the relevant clinical phenoltype( s), then to determine the best available therapy. The authors discuss the array of existing and emerging classes of drugs which patients with ACOS could benefit from and share their therapeutic approach. A consensus international definition of ACOS is needed to design prospective. Randomized clinical trials are necessary to evaluate specific influence of drug interventions on important outcomes such as lung function, acute exacerbations, quality of life and mortality.

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Defining asthma–COPD overlap syndrome: a population-based study

European Respiratory Journal ◽

10.1183/13993003.02008-2016 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 49 (5) ◽

pp. 1602008 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Tobias N. Bonten ◽

Marise J. Kasteleyn ◽

Renee de Mutsert ◽

Pieter S. Hiemstra ◽

Frits R. Rosendaal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Patient Characteristics ◽

Population Based ◽

Forced Expiratory Volume ◽

Overlap Syndrome ◽

Self Report ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Copd Patients ◽

Adjusted Incidence Rate

Asthma–chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap syndrome (ACOS) seems an important clinical phenotype, but multiple definitions have been proposed. This study's objectives were to assess the effect of different ACOS definitions on prevalence, patient characteristics and exacerbations.5675 individuals aged 45–65 years, with 846 asthma/COPD patients, were included in the Netherlands Epidemiology of Obesity study between 2008 and 2012, and followed-up for a median of 1.8 years. ACOS was defined by recent consensus criteria and five other definitions, based on registry, questionnaires and lung function.Prevalence of ACOS in the asthma/COPD population ranged between 4.4% and 38.3%, depending on the definition used. Agreement between registry-based and self-reported ACOS was 0.04 and 0.41 when lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) <0.7) was added. With registry or self-report defined ACOS, only 51% and 33% had FEV1/FVC <0.7. Patient characteristics were similar, but asthma duration was longer with self-reported compared with registry-based ACOS (mean difference 22 years (95% CI 12–33)). Exacerbation risk was highest with registry-based ACOS compared with asthma (adjusted incidence rate ratio 1.6 (95% CI 1.2–2.1)).This study adds important knowledge about agreement between ACOS definitions and their relation with exacerbations. Given the low agreement, differences in prevalence, patient characteristics and risk of exacerbations, consensus about ACOS definition in different care settings is urgently needed.

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Trajectory and mortality of preserved ratio impaired spirometry: the Rotterdam Study

European Respiratory Journal ◽

10.1183/13993003.01217-2019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 55 (1) ◽

pp. 1901217 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Sara Renata Alex Wijnant ◽

Emmely De Roos ◽

Maryam Kavousi ◽

Bruno Hugo Stricker ◽

Natalie Terzikhan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease ◽

Population Based ◽

Forced Expiratory Volume ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Rotterdam Study ◽

Lung Function Decline ◽

Cardiovascular Comorbidities ◽

Age Related

Preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm) is a heterogeneous condition but its course and disease progression remain to be elucidated. We aimed to examine its prevalence, trajectories and prognosis in the general population.In the Rotterdam Study (population-based prospective cohort) we examined prevalence, trajectories and prognosis of subjects with normal spirometry (controls; forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ≥0.7, FEV1 ≥80%), PRISm (FEV1/FVC ≥0.7, FEV1 <80%) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (FEV1/FVC <0.7) at two study visits. Hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals for mortality (until December 30, 2018) were adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, current smoking and pack-years.Of 5487 subjects (age 69.1±8.9 years; 7.1% PRISm), 1603 were re-examined after 4.5 years. Of the re-examined PRISm subjects, 15.7% transitioned to normal spirometry and 49.4% to COPD. Median lung function decline was highest in subjects with incident PRISm (FEV1 −92.8 mL·year−1, interquartile range (IQR) −131.9– −65.8 mL·year−1; FVC −93.3 mL·year−1, IQR −159.8– −49.1 mL·year−1), but similar in persistent PRISm (FEV1 −30.2 mL·year−1, IQR −67.9– −7.5 mL·year−1; FVC −20.1 mL·year−1, IQR −47.7–21.7 mL·year−1) and persistent controls (FEV1 −39.6 mL·year−1, IQR −64.3–−12.7 mL·year−1; FVC −20.0 mL·year−1, IQR −55.4–18.8 mL·year−1). Of 5459 subjects with informed consent for follow-up, 692 (12.7%) died during 9.3 years (maximum) follow-up: 10.3% of controls, 18.7% of PRISm subjects and 20.8% of COPD subjects. Relative to controls, subjects with PRISm and COPD Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 2–4 had increased all-cause mortality (PRISm: HR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2–2.0; COPD GOLD 2–4: HR 1.7, 95% CI 1.4–2.1) and cardiovascular mortality (PRISm: HR 2.8, 95% CI 1.5–5.1; COPD 2–4: HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2–3.6). Mortality within <1 year was highest in PRISm, with patients often having cardiovascular comorbidities (heart failure or coronary heart disease; 70.0%).PRISm is associated with increased mortality and this population encompasses at least three distinct subsets: one that develops COPD during follow-up, a second with high cardiovascular burden and early mortality, and a third with persistent PRISm and normal age-related lung function decline.

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Preoperative pulmonary function in all comers for cardiac surgery predicts mortality

Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery ◽

10.1093/icvts/ivz049 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

pp. 244-251

Author(s):

Emilie C Risom ◽

Katrine B Buggeskov ◽

Ulla B Mogensen ◽

Martin Sundskard ◽

Jann Mortensen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiac Surgery ◽

Lung Function ◽

Airflow Obstruction ◽

Forced Expiratory Volume ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Clinical Trial Registration ◽

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Risk Of Death ◽

Increased Risk ◽

History Of

Abstract OBJECTIVES Although reduced lung function and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with higher risk of death following cardiac surgery, preoperative spirometry is not performed routinely. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between preoperative lung function and postoperative complications in all comers for cardiac surgery irrespective of smoking or COPD history. METHODS Preoperative spirometry was performed in elective adult cardiac surgery patients. Airflow obstruction was defined as the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity ratio below the lower limit of normal (LLN) and reduced forced ventilatory capacity defined as FEV1 <LLN. RESULTS A history of COPD was reported by 132 (19%) patients; however, only 74 (56%) had spirometry-verified airflow obstruction. Conversely, 64 (12%) of the 551 patients not reporting a history of COPD had spirometry-verified airflow obstruction. The probability of death was significantly higher in patients with airflow obstruction (8.8% vs 4.5%, P = 0.04) and in patients with a FEV1 <LLN (8.7% vs 3.7%, P = 0.007). In the multivariate analysis were age [hazard ratio (HR) 1.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0–2.5; P = 0.04], prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time (HR 1.2, 95% CI 1.02–1.3; P = 0.03), reduced kidney function (HR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2–5.6; P = 0.02) and FEV1 <LLN (HR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1–5.2; P = 0.03) all independently associated with an increased risk of death. CONCLUSIONS Preoperative spirometry reclassified 18% of the patients. A reduced FEV1 independently doubled the risk of death. Inclusion of preoperative spirometry in routine screening of cardiac surgical patients may improve risk prediction and identify high-risk patients. Clinical trial registration number NCT01614951 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

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Measures of lung function and their relationship with advanced glycation end-products

ERJ Open Research ◽

10.1183/23120541.00356-2019 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 00356-2019

Author(s):

Suneela Zaigham ◽

Margaretha Persson ◽

Amra Jujic ◽

Sophia Frantz ◽

Yan Borné ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Advanced Glycation End Products ◽

Lung Parenchyma ◽

Population Based ◽

Forced Expiratory Volume ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Advanced Glycation ◽

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Glycation End Products ◽

End Products

BackgroundAdvanced glycation end-products (AGEs) have been implicated in the pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the association between AGE accumulation in the skin measured by skin autofluorescence (SAF) and lung function in healthy subjects has not been explored in detail. We use a population-based study of 50–64-year-olds to assess spirometry, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) and impulse oscillometry (IOS) in relation to SAF.MethodsParticipants with information on SAF, lung function and potential confounding variables were included from the Swedish Cardiopulmonary Bioimage Study (SCAPIS) cohort (spirometry, n=4111; DLCO, n=3889; IOS, n=3970). Linear regression was used to assess changes in lung function (as measured by spirometry (forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC), DLCO and IOS (resistance measured at 5 (R5) and 20 Hz (R20), R5−R20, area of reactance, reactance measured at 5 Hz (X5), and resonant frequency)) by a 1-sd increase in SAF.ResultsFEV1, FVC and DLCO were significantly and inversely associated with SAF after adjustment for potential confounding factors (per 1-sd increase in SAF: FEV1 −0.03 L (95% CI −0.04– −0.02 L), p<0.001; FVC −0.03 L (95% CI −0.05– −0.02 L), p<0.001; DLCO −0.07 mmol·min−1·kPa−1 (95% CI −0.11– −0.03 mmol·min−1·kPa−1), p<0.001). This association was also found in nonsmokers and in non-COPD subjects. Pulmonary reactance (X5) but not pulmonary resistance (R5, R20 and R5−R20) was significantly associated with SAF (per 1-sd increase in SAF: X5 −0.001 kPa·L−1·s (95% CI −0.003–0.00 kPa·L−1·s), p=0.042), which was mirrored in non-COPD patients but not in current nonsmokers.ConclusionsAGE accumulation, as measured by SAF, is significantly associated with lung function decrements indicative of changes in the lung parenchyma

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Pulmonary impairment after tuberculosis in a South African population

South African Journal of Physiotherapy ◽

10.4102/sajp.v72i1.307 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 72 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Gibwa Cole ◽

Duncan Miller ◽

Tasneem Ebrahim ◽

Tannith Dreyden ◽

Rory Simpson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Function ◽

Pulmonary Tuberculosis ◽

South African ◽

Pulmonary Rehabilitation ◽

Population Based ◽

Forced Expiratory Volume ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Predicted Values

Background: In South Africa, pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) remains a problem of epidemic proportions. Despite evidence demonstrating persistent lung impairment after PTB cure, few population-based South African studies have investigated this finding. Pulmonary rehabilitation post-cure is not routinely received.Objectives: To determine the effects of PTB on lung function in adults with current or past PTB. To determine any association between PTB and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: This study was observational and cross-sectional in design. Participants (n = 55) were included if they were HIV positive on treatment, had current PTB and were on treatment, and/or had previous PTB and completed treatment or if they were healthy adult subjects with no history of PTB. A sample of convenience was used with participants coming from a similar socio-economic background and undergoing spirometry testing. Multiple regression analyses were conducted on each lung function variable.Results: Compared to normal percentage-predicted values, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1 ), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1 :FVC were significantly reduced in those with current PTB by 23.39%, 15.99% and 6.4%, respectively. Both FEV1 and FVC were significantly reduced in those with past PTB by 11.76% and 10.79%, respectively. There was no association between PTB and COPD – those with previous PTB having a reduced FEV1 :FVC (4.88% less than the norm), which was just short of significance (p = 0.059).Conclusions: Lung function is reduced both during and after treatment for PTB and these deficits may persist. This has implications regarding the need for pulmonary rehabilitation even after medical cure.Keywords: Lung function, pulmonary, tuberculosis

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