Respiratory care
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Comparative Study
Prevalence of Supranormal Pulmonary Function Testing Values Between a Military and Non-Military Cohort.
The study objective was to determine differences in the proportion of supranormal pulmonary function tests (PFTs) between active duty (AD) military personnel and a similar non-active duty (non-AD) population. Given the emphasis on cardiovascular fitness in the military, it has been hypothesized that regular exercise in this cohort leads to an increased proportion of supranormal PFTs. We hypothesized that a comparison of PFTs would identify no differences in the ratio of supranormal to normal PFTs between the AD and non-AD populations. ⋯ This study revealed no significant difference in the proportion of supranormal-to-normal PFTs in an AD versus non-AD duty population of the same age range. Based on these findings, no assumption should be made that supranormal PFTs are more common in military personnel. Interpretation of normal PFTs in AD personnel undergoing evaluation should not differ from that in any typical patient.
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Limited exercise tolerance is a cardinal clinical feature in COPD. Depression and COPD share some clinical features, such as reduced physical activity and impaired nutritional status. The aim of the present study was to evaluate maximum and daily physical activities and the nutritional status of COPD patients affected or not by depression. ⋯ Our study found that depressed COPD patients have a reduced daily and maximum exercise capacity compared to non-depressed patients. This further suggests the potential utility of screening for depression in COPD.
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The current frequency of noninvasive (NIV) and invasive mechanical ventilation use in asthma exacerbations (AEs) and the relationship to outcomes are unknown. ⋯ There was a substantial increase in the use of mechanical ventilation, accompanied by a shift from invasive mechanical ventilation to NIV. Although we could not determine the clinical reasons for this increase, hospital stay and mortality were unchanged. A randomized trial is needed to determine whether NIV can improve outcomes in AEs before widespread adoption makes it impossible to conduct such a trial.