Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ahmad R. Alsayed, Anas Abed, Yazun Bashir Jarrar, Farhan Alshammari, Bushra Alshammari, Iman A. Basheti, Malek Zihlif
Summary: The aim of this study was to compare the respiratory microbiome in patients with asthma-COPD overlap during stable and exacerbation states. The study took place in Jordan from September 1, 2021 to April 30, 2022. Sputum samples were collected within 48 hours of exacerbation onset and again at 3 weeks after exacerbation. The results showed a decrease in taxonomic richness and an increase in taxonomic evenness in sputum samples collected during exacerbation episodes compared to those from stable patients. This suggests that certain microorganisms may replace a significant portion of the airway microbiome during ACO exacerbation, leading to decreased microbial diversity.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Ahmad R. Alsayed, Mahmoud S. Abu-Samak, Mohammad Alkhatib
Summary: Asthma and COPD have distinct symptoms, but there is no globally accepted definition for the overlap between the two (ACO). ACO is not considered a separate disease or symptom, but it is important to identify patients with both conditions for guiding clinical therapy.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Henryka Hometowska, Jakub Klekowski, Natalia Swiatoniowska-Lonc, Beata Jankowska-Polanska, Mariusz Chabowski
Summary: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of fatigue, anxiety, and depression in patients with asthma, COPD, and ACO and to consider their mutual correlations. The results showed that patients with COPD, asthma, and ACO generally suffered from an increased level of fatigue and depression. Anxiety was high in all groups, but it was at a similar level for patients suffering from each of the three diseases under consideration. It is important to treat the physical symptoms as well as the psychological disorders since they greatly impact patient outcomes.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Peter M. A. Calverley, Paul Phillip Walker
Summary: This review examines the overlap between asthma and COPD, known as ACO, and how it is defined and managed. It discusses the challenges in diagnosing and treating ACO patients, highlighting various phenotypes that could be part of ACO and suggesting ways for clinicians to manage patients with features of both asthma and COPD.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Kawsari Abdullah, Deshayne B. Fell, Dhenuka Radhakrishnan, Steven Hawken, David W. Johnson, Piush Mandhane, Teresa To, Gary Joubert, Amy C. Plint
Summary: This study aims to analyze the risk of developing asthma in children who were treated with high-dose corticosteroids and epinephrine for bronchiolitis during infancy, identify risk factors associated with asthma development, and develop asthma prediction models for children diagnosed with bronchiolitis during infancy.
Article
Allergy
Rod Hughes, Eleni Rapsomaniki, Aruna T. Bansal, Jorgen Vestbo, David Price, Alvar Agusti, Richard Beasley, Malin Fageras, Marianna Alacqua, Alberto Papi, Hana Mullerova, Helen K. Reddel
Summary: Cluster analysis in patients with asthma and/or COPD identified distinct clusters with characteristics that differed from conventional diagnostic features. The overlap between clusters suggests that they do not reflect discrete underlying mechanisms.
JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY-IN PRACTICE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
R. te Paske, Liset van Dijk, Annemiek J. Linn, Job F. M. van Boven, Ellen S. Koster, Marcia Vervloet
Summary: This study aims to improve medication adherence and inhaler technique among adult patients with asthma and/or COPD through an intervention called 'On TRACk'. The intervention involves training pharmacy technicians in patient-centered communication and inhalation instruction skills, and actively involving patients in refill consultations. A cluster randomized controlled trial will be conducted with 15 pharmacies in each group. The primary outcome is adherence to inhalation maintenance medication, and secondary outcomes include inhaler technique, persistence, patients' attitudes towards medication, self-efficacy in medication use and communication with their pharmacy technicians. A process evaluation and cost-effectiveness analysis will also be performed. The results of this study will contribute to the improvement of disease control and healthcare outcomes for patients with asthma and/or COPD, potentially leading to cost savings.
Article
Allergy
Daniel J. Tan, Caroline J. Lodge, Eugene Haydn Walters, Adrian J. Lowe, Dinh S. Bui, Gayan Bowatte, Rangi Kandane-Rathnayake, Fahad M. Aldakheel, Bircan Erbas, Garun S. Hamilton, Paul S. Thomas, Mark Hew, Mimi L. K. Tang, Michael J. Abramson, Jennifer L. Perret, Shyamali C. Dharmage
Summary: This study found that subclinical inflammation exists in adults with spontaneous asthma remission, and these inflammatory biomarkers are associated with future asthma relapse and lung function decline. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and serum inflammatory cytokines have prognostic value in predicting outcomes in adults with spontaneous asthma remission, suggesting the need for closer monitoring and follow-up in high-risk individuals.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Alex Wilkinson, Ashley Woodcock
Summary: The choice of asthma treatment options has significant impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with strategies that replace overuse of reliever MDIs with inhaled corticosteroids having the potential to improve asthma control and reduce carbon emissions.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Usame Yakutcan, John R. Hurst, Reda Lebcir, Eren Demir
Summary: This study developed a computer-based decision support tool (DST) to help decision makers explore the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on COPD care. The tool uses discrete event simulation and regression modeling to estimate COPD admissions and generate various outputs.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Karla Morganna Pereira Pinto de Mendonca, Sean Collins, Tacito Z. M. Santos, Gabriela Chaves, Sarah Leite, Thayla Amorim Santino, Karolinne Souza Monteiro
Summary: This study aims to assess the effects of the Buteyko method in children and adults with asthma through systematic review and meta-analysis. Randomized controlled trials comparing the Buteyko method with asthma education or inactive control intervention will be included. Primary outcomes include quality of life, asthma symptoms, and adverse events/side effects.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Heather Sharpe, Lisa Cerato, Darlene Derech, Lisa Guirguis, Kathleen Hayward, Tara Lohmann, Joanna E. MacLean, Elizabeth Manafo, Janice Paskey, Jananee Rasiah, Mark Rimkus, Syeda Kinza Rizvi, Gerry Robinson, Brent Seefried, Zeeyaan Somani, Mindy Tindall, Harissios Vliagoftis, Sachin R. Pendharkar, Michael K. Stickland
Summary: The stakeholder-led research prioritisation process identified optimal clinical management/follow-up, equitable access to services, and management of social, psychological and mental health issues related to respiratory/sleep health as priority research areas in Alberta.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Antoni Sicras-Mainar, Belen Gomez Rodriguez, Susana Traseira-Lugilde, Toni Fernandez-Sanchez, Jose Luis Velasco Garrido
Summary: This retrospective observational study aimed to evaluate the treatment persistence and exacerbations in patients receiving inhaler treatment with fixed-dose combinations of inhaled corticosteroids/long-acting beta-2-adrenergic agonists for asthma. The study found that patients treated with FP/FORM and FF/VI had greater treatment adherence and lower exacerbation rates compared to those treated with FP/SAL, BDP/FORM, and BUD/FORM.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Guizuo Wang, Dong Han, Zhengdong Jiang, Manxiang Li, Shumei Yang, Lu Liu
Summary: The study found a significant association between bronchiolitis before the age of 2 and late-onset wheezing/asthma. Further well-designed prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Omar S. Usmani, MeiLan K. Han, David A. Kaminsky, James Hogg, Josephine Hjoberg, Naimish Patel, Megan Hardin, Christina Keen, Stephen Rennard, Francois-Xavier Ble, Mary N. Brown
Summary: Identification of pathologic changes in early and mild obstructive lung disease has highlighted the importance of small airways in contributing to symptoms. However, current therapies target symptoms and physiological changes rather than underlying causes of airflow disruption. Newer functional and imaging techniques allow for better assessment of small airways dysfunction, but gaps in understanding remain regarding the role of small airways dysfunction in early disease.