Respiratory care
-
Comparative Study
Factors Affecting CPAP Acceptance in Elderly Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Taiwan.
The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) increases with age. Treatment often includes CPAP. CPAP adherence is correlated with disease severity and symptoms. We hypothesized that CPAP acceptance rates in elderly patients with OSA would be lower than in younger patients with OSA, and examined factors associated with CPAP acceptance. ⋯ CPAP acceptance is low in elderly patients in Taiwan. CPAP acceptance, instead of CPAP adherence, is the critical issue with elderly patients with OSA.
-
Because environmental insults and genetic factors account for the variance in the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in very low birth weight (VLBW, birth weight < 1,500 g) preterm infants, the search for BPD biomarkers has begun to focus on the regulators of non-coding RNA such as microRNAs (miRNAs). Therefore, this study aimed to identify potential miRNAs involved in the pathogenesis of BPD in VLBW preterm infants. ⋯ This is the first study to identify blood-based miRNAs associated with BPD. The findings provide information regarding the roles of these biomarkers in the development of BPD in VLBW preterm infants.
-
Heat and moisture exchangers (HMEs) are commonly used for humidifying respiratory gases administered to mechanically ventilated patients. While they are also applied to tracheostomized patients with spontaneous breathing, their performance in this role has not yet been clarified. We carried out a bench study to investigate the effects of spontaneous breathing parameters and oxygen flow on the humidification performance of 11 HMEs. ⋯ None of the HMEs provided adequate humidification when supplemental oxygen was added. In the ICU, caution is required when applying HME to tracheostomized patients with spontaneous breathing, especially when supplemental oxygen is required.
-
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and bi-level positive airway pressure (BPAP) are the gold standard treatments for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), but CPAP/BPAP is not well tolerated and requires long-term follow-up. ⋯ CPAP/BPAP adherence should be followed with objective monitoring.
-
Although randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are considered the highest level of evidence, they are also subject to bias, due to a lack of adequately reported randomization, and therefore the reporting should be as explicit as possible for readers to determine the significance of the contents. We evaluated the methodological quality of RCTs in respiratory research in high ranking clinical journals, published in 2010. ⋯ The methodological quality of RCTs in respiratory research needs improvement. Stricter enforcement of the CONSORT statement should enhance the quality of RCTs.