scholarly journals Should I stay or should I go? COPD and air travel

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (148) ◽  
pp. 180030 ◽  
Author(s):  
Begum Ergan ◽  
Metin Akgun ◽  
Angela Maria Grazia Pacilli ◽  
Stefano Nava

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a challenging respiratory problem throughout the world. Although survival is prolonged with new therapies and better management, the magnitude of the burden resulting from moderate-to-severe disease is increasing. One of the major aims of the disease management is to try to break the vicious cycle of patients being homebound and to promote an active lifestyle. A fundamental component of active daily life is, of course, travelling. Today, the world is getting smaller with the option of travelling by air. Air travel is usually the most preferred choice as it is easy, time saving, and relatively inexpensive. Although it is a safe choice for many passengers, the environment inside the aeroplane may sometimes have adverse effects on health. Hypobaric hypoxaemia due to cabin altitude may cause health risks in COPD patients who have limited cardiopulmonary reserve. Addressing the potential risks of air travel, promoting proactive strategies including pre-flight assessment, and education of COPD patients about the “fitness to fly” concept are essential. Thus, in this narrative review, we evaluated the current evidence for potential risks of air travel in COPD and tried to give a perspective for how to plan safe air travel for COPD patients.

Medicina ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimiliano Polastri ◽  
Enrico Maria Clini ◽  
Stefano Nava ◽  
Nicolino Ambrosino

Background and objectives: Manual massage therapy is a therapeutic option for the treatment of several pathological conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system. It has been pointed out that massage might be beneficial for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients thanks to therapeutic effects primarily related to hyperemia (increased skin temperature and blood flow), and activation of the lymphatic system. The present study reports current evidence on the systemic effects of manual massage in patients with COPD. Materials and Methods: A scoping review was conducted on five major databases. The search went through all databases since their inception until December 2018. Results: Seventy-eight citations were retrieved; after the selection process was completed, seven articles were considered eligible. In patients receiving manual massage, improvements were observed in Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 s, dyspnea perception, and in the 6-min walking test. Conclusions: To date, the use of manual massage in patients with COPD is not supported by substantial evidence in the literature: indeed, it is proposed as a therapeutic option in association with other interventions such as physical exercise.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 864-872
Author(s):  
Fernanda Borowsky da Rosa ◽  
Adriane Schmidt Pasqualoto ◽  
Catriona M. Steele ◽  
Renata Mancopes

Introduction The oral cavity and pharynx have a rich sensory system composed of specialized receptors. The integrity of oropharyngeal sensation is thought to be fundamental for safe and efficient swallowing. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients are at risk for oropharyngeal sensory impairment due to frequent use of inhaled medications and comorbidities including gastroesophageal reflux disease. Objective This study aimed to describe and compare oral and oropharyngeal sensory function measured using noninstrumental clinical methods in adults with COPD and healthy controls. Method Participants included 27 adults (18 men, nine women) with a diagnosis of COPD and a mean age of 66.56 years ( SD = 8.68). The control group comprised 11 healthy adults (five men, six women) with a mean age of 60.09 years ( SD = 11.57). Spirometry measures confirmed reduced functional expiratory volumes (% predicted) in the COPD patients compared to the control participants. All participants completed a case history interview and underwent clinical evaluation of oral and oropharyngeal sensation by a speech-language pathologist. The sensory evaluation explored the detection of tactile and temperature stimuli delivered by cotton swab to six locations in the oral cavity and two in the oropharynx as well as identification of the taste of stimuli administered in 5-ml boluses to the mouth. Analyses explored the frequencies of accurate responses regarding stimulus location, temperature and taste between groups, and between age groups (“≤ 65 years” and “> 65 years”) within the COPD cohort. Results We found significantly higher frequencies of reported use of inhaled medications ( p < .001) and xerostomia ( p = .003) in the COPD cohort. Oral cavity thermal sensation ( p = .009) was reduced in the COPD participants, and a significant age-related decline in gustatory sensation was found in the COPD group ( p = .018). Conclusion This study found that most of the measures of oral and oropharyngeal sensation remained intact in the COPD group. Oral thermal sensation was impaired in individuals with COPD, and reduced gustatory sensation was observed in the older COPD participants. Possible links between these results and the use of inhaled medication by individuals with COPD are discussed.


Author(s):  
Melvin K Mathews ◽  
Abubaker Siddiq ◽  
Bharathi D R

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is preventable and treatable disease state characterized by air flow limitation that is not fully reversible. Severity of the symptoms is increased during exacerbations. Objectives: The purpose of the study is to assess and improve the knowledge regarding COPD among study subjects. Materials and Methods: A Cross-sectional interventional study was carried out among the peoples in selected areas of the Chitradurga city for a period of six months. Result: A total 207 subjects enrolled in the study in that 155 male and 52 females. In our study mean score of post test was more (5.87±1.68) when compare to pre-test (2.63±1.46) which show significant increase in their knowledge after educating them (p=0.000). A total of 207 subjects were enrolled into the study. SPSS Software was used to calculate the statistical estimation. Paired t-test was used to detect the association status of different variables. Conclusion: The relatively good level of COPD awareness needs to be maintained to facilitate future prevention and control of the disease. This study had identified that negative illness perceptions should be targeted, so that they will not avoid patients from seeking for COPD treatment and adhere to it. Key words: Cross sectional study, Knowledge, practice, COPD.


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 80-86
Author(s):  
V. I. Trofimov ◽  
D. Z. Baranov

BACKGROUND: a comparative analysis of laboratory and instrumental tests at patients with bronchial obstructive diseases seems very actual due to the wide prevalence of these diseases. THE AIM: to evaluate characteristics of spirometry as well as allergic (total IgE, sputum eosinophils) and infectious (blood and sputum leucocytes, ESR, CRP, fibrinogen) inflammation markers at patients with bronchial obstructive diseases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 104 case histories of patients with bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and overlap were analyzed including age, duration of smoking (pack-years), laboratory (clinical blood test, biochemical blood test, general sputum analysis, sputum culture) and instrumental (spirometry, body plethysmography, echocardiography) tests. Data were processed statistically with non-parametric methods. RESULTS: COPD patients were older than other groups’ patients, had the highest pack-years index. ACO patients were marked with maximal TLC and Raw, minimal FEV1, FEF25-75, FEV1/FVC. Patients with COPD had the highest inflammation markers (leucocyte count, CRP, fibrinogen). CONCLUSION: high active inflammation may cause severe lower airways possibility disorders at patients with COPD. Data related to a possible role of K. pneumoniaе in the pathogenesis of eosinophilic inflammation in lower airways are of significant interest. Patients with ACO occupy an intermediate position between asthma and COPD patients based on clinical and functional features.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoman Zhou ◽  
Yunjun Zhang ◽  
Yutian Zhang ◽  
Quanni Li ◽  
Mei Lin ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complicated multi-factor, multi-gene disease. Here, we aimed to assess the association of genetic polymorphisms in LINC01414/ LINC00824 and interactions with COPD susceptibility. Methods Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in LINC01414/LINC00824 was genotyped by Agena MassARRAY platform among 315 COPD patients and 314 controls. Logistic analysis adjusted by age and gender were applied to estimate the genetic contribution of selected SNPs to COPD susceptibility. Results LINC01414 rs699467 (OR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.56–0.94, p = 0.015) and LINC00824 rs7815944 (OR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.31–0.99, p = 0.046) might be protective factors for COPD occurrence, while LINC01414 rs298207 (OR = 2.88, 95% CI 1.31–6.31, p = 0.008) risk-allele was related to the increased risk of COPD in the whole population. Rs7815944 was associated with the reduced risk of COPD in the subjects aged > 70 years (OR = 0.29, p = 0.005). Rs6994670 (OR = 0.57, p = 0.007) contribute to a reduced COPD risk, while rs298207 (OR = 7.94, p = 0.009) was related to a higher susceptibility to COPD at age ≤ 70 years. Rs298207 (OR = 2.54, p = 0.043) and rs7815944 (OR = 0.43, p = 0.028) variants was associated COPD risk among males. Rs7815944 (OR = 0.16, p = 0.031) was related to the reduced susceptibility of COPD in former smokers. Moreover, the association between rs298207 genotype and COPD patients with dyspnea was found (OR = 0.50, p = 0.016), and rs7815944 was related to COPD patients with wheezing (OR = 0.22, p = 0.008). Conclusion Our finding provided further insights into LINC01414/LINC00824 polymorphisms at risk of COPD occurrence and accumulated evidence for the genetic susceptibility of COPD.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
L.A Shpagina ◽  
O.S Kotova ◽  
I.S Shpagin ◽  
G.V Kuznetsova ◽  
N.V Kamneva ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Heart failure decompensation requiring hospitalization is an important event, associated with mortality and investigating its predictors is topical problem. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common comorbidity for heart failure. Both conditions share common molecular mechanisms such as systemic inflammation. COPD is heterogeneous and subpopulations with different inflammation patterns may interact with heart failure in different manner. Airway inflammation in occupational COPD may differs from COPD in tobacco smokers. Additionally cardiotoxicity of industrial chemicals influence heart failure features. Despite this biological plausibility, heart failure and occupational COPD comorbidity is not studied enough. Purpose To reveal predictors of hospitalizations for heart failure decompensation in patients with heart failure and occupational COPD comorbidity. Methods Occupational COPD patients (n=115) were investigated in a prospective cohort observational study. Comparison group – 115 tobacco smokers with COPD. Control group – 115 healthy persons. Controls were selected by propensity score matching, covariates were COPD duration, age and gender. Then COPD groups were stratified according to heart failure. Working conditions, echocardiography, spirometry, pulsoxymetry, 6-mitute walking test were done. Molecular markers of tissue damage – chemokine ligand 18 (CCL 18), lactate dehydrogenase, cardiac troponin T, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT pro-BNP), protein S100 beta, von Willebrand factor were measured in serum by ELISA. Follow up after initial assessment was 12 month. Predictors were determined by Cox proportional hazards regression with ROC analysis. Results Heart failure rate in occupational COPD patients were higher – 54.8% versus 36.5% in tobacco smokers with COPD, p&lt;0.05. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction was predominant – 40.9%. Prevalence of biventricular heart failure was 38.3%, isolated right heart failure – 13%, left heart failure – 2.6%. Cumulative hospitalization rate in occupational COPD with heart failure group was higher than in comparison group, 17.5% and 9.5% respectively, p=0.01. In Cox proportional hazards regression model predictors of hospitalizations for heart failure decompensation during 12 months in this group were length of service (HR 1.22, 95% CI: 1.03–2.5), aromatic hydrocarbons concentration at workplaces air (HR 1.4, 95% CI: 1.15–1.96), serum protein S100 beta (HR 1.10, 95% CI: 1.02–1.87), SaO2 (HR 1.2, 95% CI: 1.06–2.13). Area under the ROC curve was 0.82. Conclusion Length of service, aromatic hydrocarbons concentration at workplaces air, serum protein S100 beta, SaO2 are considered to be independent risk factors of heart failure decompensation required hospitalization in patients with heart failure and occupational COPD comorbidity. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Junghyun Kim ◽  
Bom Kim ◽  
So Hyeon Bak ◽  
Yeon-Mok Oh ◽  
Woo Jin Kim

Abstract Background The clinical and radiological presentation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is heterogenous depending on the characterized sources of inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate COPD phenotypes associated with specific dust exposure. Methods This study was designed to compare the characteristics, clinical outcomes and radiological findings between two prospective COPD cohorts representing two distinguishing regions in the Republic of Korea; COPD in Dusty Area (CODA) and the Korean Obstructive Lung Disease (KOLD) cohort. A total of 733 participants (n = 186 for CODA, and n = 547 for KOLD) were included finally. A multivariate analysis to compare lung function and computed tomography (CT) measurements of both cohort studies after adjusting for age, sex, education, body mass index, smoking status, and pack-year, Charlson comorbidity index, and frequency of exacerbation were performed by entering the level of FEV1(%), biomass exposure and COPD medication into the model in stepwise. Results The mean wall area (MWA, %) became significantly lower in COPD patients in KOLD from urban and metropolitan area than those in CODA cohort from cement dust area (mean ± standard deviation [SD]; 70.2 ± 1.21% in CODA vs. 66.8 ± 0.88% in KOLD, p = 0.028) after including FEV1 in the model. COPD subjects in KOLD cohort had higher CT-emphysema index (EI, 6.07 ± 3.06 in CODA vs. 20.0 ± 2.21 in KOLD, p < 0.001, respectively). The difference in the EI (%) was consistently significant even after further adjustment of FEV1 (6.12 ± 2.88% in CODA vs. 17.3 ± 2.10% in KOLD, p = 0.002, respectively). However, there was no difference in the ratio of mean lung density (MLD) between the two cohorts (p = 0.077). Additional adjustment for biomass parameters and medication for COPD did not alter the statistical significance after entering into the analysis with COPD medication. Conclusions Higher MWA and lower EI were observed in COPD patients from the region with dust exposure. These results suggest that the imaging phenotype of COPD is influenced by specific environmental exposure.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Rivadeneira Ruiz ◽  
DF Arroyo Monino ◽  
T Seoane Garcia ◽  
MP Ruiz Garcia ◽  
JC Garcia Rubira

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Objectives Mechanical ventilation is the short-term technical support most widely used and cardiac arrest its main indication in a Coronary Care Unit (CCU). However, the knowledge about the specific moment and ventilator mode of onset to avoid the acute lung injury is still equivocal. Our objective is to determine the survival rate and the prognostic factors in patients supported by mechanical ventilation. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult patients admitted to the CCU between January 2018 and November 2020 that received mechanical ventilation during the hospital stay. Results We collected 94 patients, 28% females with a median age of 68 ± 11,9. 43% were diabetics and almost one quarter of them had some degree of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Ischemic cardiopathy (33%) and heart failure (31%) were frequent pathologies as well as renal injury (29% patients a filtration rate below 45 mL/min/1,73m2). The reason for initiating mechanical ventilation was cardiac arrest in the half of the patients. Volume-controlled ventilation (73%) was the initial setting mode in most cases. The support with vasoactive drugs were highly necessary in these patients (Infection rate of 48%). In the subgroup analysis, we realized that the number of reintubations and the necessity of non-invasive ventilation were higher in the COPD group (p = 0,01), as well as tracheostomy (p = 0,03). COPD patients also needed higher maintaining PEEP, though this was not statistically significant. The mean length of stay in the intensive care unit of our cohort was 11 days (range: 1-78 days; median: 8 days) and the mean length of mechanical ventilation 6 days (range: 1-64 days; median: 3 days). The in-hospital mortality was 41,4%. Conclusions Cardiac arrest is the most common reason of mechanical ventilation support. Our study showed that COPD patients presented more complications during the weaning and the period after extubation. In-hospital mortality remains high in intubated patients.


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