A strategy for improvement in diagnosis and treatment of bronchial asthma in primary care

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 457-467
Author(s):  
S. N. Avdeev ◽  
S. R. Aisanov ◽  
A. S. Belevskiy ◽  
A. V. Emel’yanov ◽  
O. M. Kurbacheva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Bronchial Asthma ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Respiratory Symptoms ◽  
Respiratory Diseases ◽  
Diagnosis And Treatment ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Asthma Diagnosis ◽  
Chronic Respiratory Diseases

Recently, bronchial asthma is considered as a heterogeneous disease characterized by chronic airway inflammation and respiratory symptoms, which vary in time and intensity and manifest together with variable obstruction of the airways. Asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases in primary care. Patients with certain respiratory symptoms seek for medical aid initially in primary care physicians, such as therapeutists, general practitioners, and family physicians, who can suspect and diagnose chronic respiratory diseases such as bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), allergic rhinitis, etc. Currently, untimely diagnosis of asthma and late initiation of anti-inflammatory treatment are widespread, mainly due to insufficient knowledge of primary care physicians on diagnostic criteria and therapeutic standards for asthma. Feasible and convenient algorithms for asthma diagnosis and treatment in primary care were developed by experts of Russian Respiratory Society and Russian Association of Allergologists and Clinical Immunologists. A therapeutic algorithm for asthma treatment in primary care institutions uses an approach considering symptom severity both in patients with newly diagnosed and previously treated for asthma. Diagnostic tools, such as a questionnaire for asthma diagnosis and an algorithm for differential diagnosis between asthma and COPD are mainly intended to facilitate diagnosis of chronic respiratory disease, particularly bronchial asthma, by a primary care physician and to improve the healthcare quality for these patients.

scholarly journals Management of patients with obstructive lung disease in South India: a retrospective study of spirometry and bronchodilator use in an urban health centre

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 3061
Author(s):  
Niger David ◽  
Sajitha M. F. Rahman ◽  
Ruby Angeline Pricilla ◽  
Sunil Abraham ◽  
Kirubah V. David
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Urban Health ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Respiratory Symptoms ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Health Centre ◽  
Airflow Limitation ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Urban Health Centre

Background: Based on the burden of obstructive lung diseases program (BOLD), the global prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was 11.7% in which 90% of the deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. India and China are estimated to account for 66% of total global COPD mortality. The Indian Chest Society (ICS) recommends spirometry to document irreversible airflow limitation in patients suspected of having COPD. However, the reported usage of spirometry among primary care physicians in India is only 10-20% as primary health care centers in India are not equipped with spirometry or inhaler devices.Methods: A retrospective study was done on patients treated for respiratory symptoms with bronchodilators at an urban health centre to document the practice pattern of primary care physicians with regards to use of spirometry in patients on bronchodilators.Results: Of the 1196 patients on bronchodilators, spirometry was documented in 15.5%. Patients on inhalers, using more than one therapy and males less than 55 years were more likely to undergo spirometry. About 52.4% of patients who underwent spirometry were found to have post bronchodilator forced expiratory volume at first second (FEV1)/ forced vital capacity (FVC) less than 0.7 of which 43% had severe disease and 44% had poor post-broncho-dilator reversibility.Conclusions: Besides diagnostic spirometry, management guidelines for COPD should be complemented by health education to change patients’ perception of respiratory symptoms, increase awareness of COPD in those with risk factors and change their health seeking behaviour along with continuous professional development activities for primary care physicians.

scholarly journals MicroRNAs as Potential Regulators of Immune Response Networks in Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
José A. Cañas ◽  
José M. Rodrigo-Muñoz ◽  
Beatriz Sastre ◽  
Marta Gil-Martinez ◽  
Natalia Redondo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Immune Response ◽  
Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Regulatory Networks ◽  
Respiratory Diseases ◽  
Diagnosis And Treatment ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Mirna Regulation ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Chronic Respiratory Diseases

Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) are an important factor of morbidity and mortality, accounting for approximately 6% of total deaths worldwide. The main CRDs are asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These complex diseases have different triggers including allergens, pollutants, tobacco smoke, and other risk factors. It is important to highlight that although CRDs are incurable, various forms of treatment improve shortness of breath and quality of life. The search for tools that can ensure accurate diagnosis and treatment is crucial. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs and have been described as promising diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers for CRDs. They are implicated in multiple processes of asthma and COPD, regulating pathways associated with inflammation, thereby showing that miRNAs are critical regulators of the immune response. Indeed, miRNAs have been found to be deregulated in several biofluids (sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage, and serum) and in both structural lung and immune cells of patients in comparison to healthy subjects, showing their potential role as biomarkers. Also, miRNAs play a part in the development or termination of histopathological changes and comorbidities, revealing the complexity of miRNA regulation and opening up new treatment possibilities. Finally, miRNAs have been proposed as prognostic tools in response to both conventional and biologic treatments for asthma or COPD, and miRNA-based treatment has emerged as a potential approach for clinical intervention in these respiratory diseases; however, this field is still in development. The present review applies a systems biology approach to the understanding of miRNA regulatory networks in asthma and COPD, summarizing their roles in pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment.

Approach to the Patient with Respiratory Symptoms

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Silvestri ◽  
Calvin Huang
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Respiratory Symptoms ◽  
Respiratory Diseases ◽  
Diagnosis And Treatment ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Life Years ◽  
Obstructive Sleep ◽  
Respiratory Complaints

Respiratory complaints are among the most common symptoms encountered by emergency physicians (EPs). Collectively, acute and chronic respiratory diseases account for 11.1% of all mortality and 8.8% of all disability-adjusted life-years lost worldwide. Acute respiratory infections are the single greatest contributor to the overall global burden of disease. Chronic respiratory conditions, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and occupational lung disease, affect an estimated 1 billion people. Many of these chronic conditions present as acute and life-threatening exacerbations in emergency care settings. Respiratory complaints are not specific to pulmonary pathology. Indeed, cardiovascular, neurologic, musculoskeletal, and even gastrointestinal and endocrine diseases can all manifest principally with respiratory symptoms. Moreover, primary conditions of the lung need not present with respiratory symptoms and may instead be heralded only by nonspecific symptomatology, including weakness or confusion. The EP’s approach must be systematic, rooted in a firm grasp of relevant respiratory pathophysiology, with a rapid and yet comprehensive approach to stabilization, diagnosis, and treatment. This review covers the pathophysiology, stabilization and assessment, diagnosis and treatment, and disposition and outcomes of respiratory diseases in the emergency department. Figures show an illustration of the respiratory system and the relation of oxygen saturation, partial pressure, and minute ventilation. The table lists clinical indications for microbiological testing in suspected community-acquired pneumonia.  Key words: asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dyspnea, expiratory wheeze, respiratory symptoms This review contains 2 highly rendered figures, 1 table, and 98 references.

scholarly journals The AIMAR recommendations for early diagnosis of chronic obstructive respiratory disease based on the WHO/GARD model*

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Nardini ◽  
Isabella Annesi-Maesano ◽  
Mario Del Donno ◽  
Maurizio Delucchi ◽  
Germano Bettoncelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
General Population ◽  
Early Diagnosis ◽  
Respiratory Disease ◽  
Respiratory Diseases ◽  
World Health ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Chronic Respiratory Diseases ◽  
The World

Respiratory diseases in Italy already now represent an emergency (they are the 3rd ranking cause of death in the world, and the 2nd if Lung cancer is included). In countries similar to our own, they result as the principal cause for a visit to the general practitioner (GP) and the second main cause after injury for recourse to Emergency Care. Their frequency is probably higher than estimated (given that respiratory diseases are currently underdiagnosed). The trend is towards a further increase due to epidemiologic and demographic factors (foremost amongst which are the widespread diffusion of cigarette smoking, the increasing mean age of the general population, immigration, and pollution). Within the more general problem of chronic disease care, chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) constitute one of the four national priorities in that they represent an important burden for society in terms of mortality, invalidity, and direct healthcare costs. The strategy suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO) is an integrated approach consisting of three goals: inform about health, reduce risk exposure, improve patient care. The three goals are translated into practice in the three areas of prevention (1-primary, 2-secondary, 3-tertiary) as:1) actions of primary (universal) prevention targeted at the general population with the aim to control the causesof disease, and actions of Predictive Medicine - again addressing the general population but aimed at measuring the individual’s risk for disease insurgence; 2) actions of early diagnosis targeted at groups or - more precisely - subgroups identified as at risk; 3) continuous improvement and integration of care and rehabilitation support - destined at the greatest possible number of patients, at all stages of disease severity. In Italy, COPD care is generally still inadequate. Existing guidelines, institutional and non-institutional, are inadequately implemented: the international guidelines are not always adaptable to the Italian context; the document of the Agency for Regional Healthcare Services (AGE.NA.S) is a more suited compendium for consultation, and the recent joint statement on integrated COPD management of the three major Italian scientific Associations in the respiratory area together with the contribution of a Society of General Medicine deals prevalently with some critical issues (appropriateness of diagnosis, pharmacological treatment, rehabilitation, continuing care); also the document “Care Continuity: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)” of the Global Alliance against chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD)-Italy does not treat in depth the issue of early diagnosis. The present document – produced by the AIMAR (Interdisciplinary Association for Research in Lung Disease) Task Force for early diagnosis of chronic respiratory disease based on the WHO/GARD model and on available evidence and expertise –after a general examination of the main epidemiologic aspects, proposes to integrate the above-mentioned existing documents. In particular: a) it formally indicates on the basis of the available evidence the modalities and the instruments necessary for carrying out secondary prevention at the primary care level (a pro-active,‘case-finding’approach;  assessment of the individual’s level of risk of COPD; use of short questionnaires for an initial screening based on symptoms; use of simple spirometry for the second level of screening); b) it identifies possible ways of including these activities within primary care practice; c) it places early diagnosis within the “systemic”, consequential management of chronic respiratory diseases, which will be briefly described with the aid of schemes taken from the Italian and international reference documents.

CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing Tool: A Promising Tool for Therapeutic Applications on Respiratory Diseases

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 333-346
Author(s):  
Sadiya Bi Shaikh ◽  
Yashodhar Prabhakar Bhandary
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Diseases ◽  
Gene Editing ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Respiratory Health ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Therapeutic Tool ◽  
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Chronic Respiratory Diseases ◽  
Promising Tool

Respiratory diseases are one of the prime topics of concern in the current era due to improper diagnostics tools. Gene-editing therapy, like Clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats- associated nuclease 9 (CRISPR/Cas9), is gaining popularity in pulmonary research, opening up doors to invaluable insights on underlying mechanisms. CRISPR/Cas9 can be considered as a potential gene-editing tool with a scientific community that is helping in the advancement of knowledge in respiratory health and therapy. As an appealing therapeutic tool, we hereby explore the advanced research on the application of CRISPR/Cas9 tools in chronic respiratory diseases such as lung cancer, Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and cystic fibrosis (CF). We also address the urgent need to establish this gene-editing tool in various other lung diseases such as asthma, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The present review introduces CRISPR/Cas9 as a worthy application in targeting epithelial-mesenchymal transition and fibrinolytic system via editing specific genes. Thereby, based on the efficiency of CRISPR/Cas9, it can be considered as a promising therapeutic tool in respiratory health research.

Interleukin-17A: A Potential Therapeutic Target in Chronic Lung Diseases

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 921-928 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sadiya Bi Shaikh ◽  
Ashwini Prabhu ◽  
Yashodhar Prabhakar Bhandary
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Diseases ◽  
Inflammatory Cytokine ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Interleukin 17 ◽  
Potential Therapeutic Target ◽  
Chronic Respiratory Diseases ◽  
Chronic Lung Diseases ◽  
Interleukin 17A ◽  
Insight Into

Background: Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that has gained a lot of attention because of its involvement in respiratory diseases. Interleukin-17 cytokine family includes six members, out of which, IL-17A participates towards the immune responses in allergy and inflammation. It also modulates the progression of respiratory disorders. Objective: The present review is an insight into the involvement and contributions of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-17A in chronic respiratory diseases like Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Distress (COPD), asthma, pneumonia, obliterative bronchiolitis, lung cancer and many others. Conclusion: IL-17A is a major regulator of inflammatory responses. In all the mentioned diseases, IL- 17A plays a prime role in inducing the diseases, whereas the lack of this pro-inflammatory cytokine reduces the severity of respective respiratory diseases. Thereby, this review suggests IL-17A as an instrumental target in chronic respiratory diseases.

Masked Depression: Its Interrelations with Somatization, Hypochondriasis and Conversion

1988 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 367-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Z. Fisch
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Somatic Symptoms ◽  
Somatic Complaints ◽  
Diagnosis And Treatment ◽  
Clinical Phenomenon ◽  
Clinical Problems

Masked depression appears to be a common clinical phenomenon. Most depressions present with some somatic complaints in addition to affective and cognitive ones. About one half of all depressions seen by primary care physicians initially present predominantly or exclusively with somatic symptoms. Many of these depressions are not recognized or are misdiagnosed and mistreated. The possible reasons for this are discussed here. The phenomenon of somatization in depressions and other conditions is reviewed and the interface with other related clinical problems like hypochondriasis and conversion is delineated. It is hypothesized that the proportion of depressions that are masked is positively correlated to the patients' tendency to somatize and negatively correlated to the doctors' ability to recognize depressions that hide behind somatic complaints. Suggestions for the diagnosis and treatment of masked depressions are given.

scholarly journals Diagnostic and treatment barriers to persistent somatic symptoms in primary care – representative survey with physicians

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Lehmann ◽  
Nadine Janis Pohontsch ◽  
Thomas Zimmermann ◽  
Martin Scherer ◽  
Bernd Löwe
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Rating Scales ◽  
Treatment Guidelines ◽  
Somatic Symptoms ◽  
Diagnosis And Treatment ◽  
Treatment Barriers ◽  
Adequate Treatment ◽  
Physical Disease ◽  
Federal States

Abstract Background Many patients consult their primary care physician with persistent somatic symptoms such as pain or sickness. Quite often these consultations and further diagnostic measures yield no medical explanation for the symptoms – patients and physicians are left in uncertainty. In fact, diagnostic and treatment barriers in primary care hinder timely health-care provision for patients suffering from persistent somatic symptoms (PSS). The significance of individual barriers is still unknown. We compare and quantify these barriers from the perspective of primary care physicians and identify subpopulations of primary care physicians who experience particular barriers as most severe. Methods We mailed a questionnaire to primary care physicians (PCP) in Germany and asked them which barriers they consider most important. We invited a random sample of 12,004 primary care physicians in eight federal states in Germany. Physicians provided anonymous mailed or online responses. We also mailed a postcard to announce the survey and a mail reminder. Main measures were Likert rating scales of items relating to barriers in the diagnosis and treatment of PSS in primary care. Information on demography and medical practice were also collected. Results We analyzed 1719 data sets from 1829 respondents. PCPs showed strongest agreement with statements regarding (1.) their lack of knowledge about treatment guidelines, (2.) their perceptions that patients with PSS would expect symptom relief, (3.) their concern to overlook physical disease in these patients, and (4.) their usage of psychotropic drugs with these patients. More experienced PCPs were better able to cope with the possibility of overlooking physical disease than those less experienced. Conclusions The PCPs in our survey answered that the obligation to rule out severe physical disease and the demand to relieve patients from symptoms belong to the most severe barriers for adequate treatment and diagnosis. Moreover, many physicians admitted to not knowing the appropriate treatment guidelines for these patients. Based on our results, raising awareness of guidelines and improving knowledge about the management of persistent somatic symptoms appear to be promising approaches for overcoming the barriers to diagnosis and treatment of persistent somatic symptoms in primary care. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register (Deutschen Register Klinischer Studien, DRKS) https://www.drks.de/drks_web/setLocale_EN.do The date the study was registered: October 2nd 2017 The date the first participant was enrolled: February 9th 2018 DRKS-ID: DRKS00012942

scholarly journals Hospitalisation for COPD in Puglia: the role of hospital discharge database to estimate prevalence and incidence

2016 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Trerotoli ◽  
N. Bartolomeo ◽  
A.M. Moretti
Keyword(s):  
Disease Management ◽  
Hospital Discharge ◽  
Respiratory Diseases ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Diagnostic Procedures ◽  
Chronic Respiratory Disease ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Chronic Respiratory Diseases ◽  
Hospital Discharge Database ◽  
Discharge Database

Background and aim. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), although largely preventable, is a great health burden in all the countries worldwide. Statistics of morbidity and mortality of COPD show the need for correct management of the disease. Chronic Obstructive Respiratory Diseases (DRG 88) are in 9th place for discharge in in-patient hospital admission. It is necessary to establish specific indicators which are efficacious and relevant for the patient, the doctor and the health manager. This study will analyse the information in respect of hospital admissions (Hospital discharge database) in Puglia for the period 2000-2005. Methods. The analysis was carried out utilising the Puglia Region hospital patient discharge database, selecting those patients with admission for chronic respiratory disease as principal or secondary diagnosis. Results. Chronic respiratory diseases are more frequent in males and in people over 45 years old with frequency increasing with age. Geographical distribution shows that there are greater rates of hospitalisation in big cities and in the neighbourhood of industrial areas. Although the trend over time is slight. A higher percentage of re-admission has been found for patients with COPD, and the interval between the two admissions occurs within one or two months; the diagnosis at the second admission is the same as for the first. 10.6% of discharge forms report one diagnosis, especially in patients older than 65 years of age. Little could be said about diagnostic procedures because these are not reported on the discharge form. Conclusion. Hospitalisation data confirms expectations regarding age and sex of patients. The high hospitalisation rates indicate that in-patients care still remains the only viable treatment for COPD and other chronic respiratory diseases. The high number of exacerbations reflect the absence of out-patients service or community care, and the same diagnosis in more than one episode shows the lack of efficiency of health services and disease management. This data is necessary to understand disease distribution and the modification of disease management in order to reduce health care costs, to increase efficacy in disease control and to limit repeated exacerbation and so to obtain the maximum benefit for the patients.

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