Respirology : official journal of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology
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In respiratory health research, interest often lies in estimating the effect of an exposure on a health outcome. If randomization of the exposure of interest is not possible, estimating its effect is typically complicated by confounding bias. This can often be dealt with by controlling for the variables causing the confounding, if measured, in the statistical analysis. ⋯ After creating a causal diagram for the research question, an intuitive and easy-to-use set of rules can be applied, based on a foundation of rigorous mathematics, to decide which measured variables must be controlled for in the statistical analysis in order to remove confounding, to the extent that is possible using the available data. This approach is illustrated by constructing a causal diagram for the research question: 'Does personal smoking affect the risk of subsequent asthma?'. Using data taken from the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study, the statistical analysis suggested by the causal diagram approach was performed.
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Previous studies suggested that chronic nasal symptoms (CNS) are frequent in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) subjects, but their contribution to dyspnoea and quality-of-life (QoL) impairment is not clearly established. ⋯ In this group of COPD subjects, CNS were frequently observed and associated with dyspnoea and poorer QoL. CNS should be systematically assessed and could be a potential target in the management of COPD.
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In low and middle-income countries where HIV infection is prevalent, identifying patients at high risk of dying from lower respiratory tract infections is challenging and validated prognostic models are lacking. Serum procalcitonin may be a useful prognostic tool in these settings. We sought to determine if elevated serum procalcitonin is associated with increased in-hospital mortality and to combine serum procalcitonin with available clinical characteristics to create a clinically useful prognostic model. ⋯ Elevated serum procalcitonin >0.5 ng/ml is an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality. Elevated serum procalcitonin, tachypnea, and hypoxemia may be combined into a prognostic model to identify patients at high risk of dying in the hospital. This model may be used to estimate the probability of death and to guide triage and treatment decisions.
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Loss of lung function is an important chronic obstructive pulmonary disease phenotype and decreased forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁) is an independent risk factor of morbidity and mortality. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identifying genetic variants underlying lung function have been performed mostly in Caucasian populations. In this study, we aimed to identify genetic variants influencing lung function in a Korean population. ⋯ We identified that PPT2 on chromosome 6p21 is associated with loss of lung function in the Korean population.
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Pleural procedures such as tube thoracostomy and chest aspirations are commonly performed and carry potential risks of visceral organ injury, pneumothorax and bleeding. In this context limited information exists on the complication rates when non-pulmonologists perform ultrasound-guided bedside pleural procedures. Bedside pleural procedures in our university hospital were audited to compare complication rates between pulmonologists and non-pulmonologists. ⋯ Results from this study support pleural procedural practice by both pulmonologists and non-pulmonologists in an academic medical centre setting. This is possible with a standard training program, pleural safety checklists and relatively high utilization rates of ultrasound guidance for pleural effusions. Nonetheless, additional vigilance is needed when patients with COPD undergo pleural procedures.