Chest
-
Multiple morbidity is the norm in advanced COPD and contributes to high symptom burden and worse outcomes. ⋯ Distinct comorbidity profiles can be identified in patients with COPD using standard EHR-based diagnostic codes, and these profiles are associated with subsequent acute and postacute care use. Population-based risk stratification schemes for end-to-end, comprehensive COPD management should consider integrating comorbidity profiles such as those found in this study.
-
Patients with obesity are at higher risk for community-acquired and nosocomial infections. However, no study has specifically evaluated the relationship between obesity and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). ⋯ Our results suggest that obesity has no significant impact on the incidence of VAP.
-
A 44-year-old woman with a history of renal cell carcinoma and thyroid cancer was referred to our institution for evaluation of cystic lung disease. She was an active smoker with a 15-pack-year of tobacco use. Two years before her presentation, she underwent a left nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma, clear cell type. ⋯ There was no family history of pneumothorax. She complained of mild shortness of breath with exertion and occasional nonproductive cough. As part of her oncologic work up, she underwent a chest CT scan of the lungs (Fig 1).