Exposure to allergens or irritants in the workplace may affect asthma control and the quality of life (QoL) of patients with asthma.
To examine the prevalence and characteristics of work-related ...asthma (WRA) in adult patients with severe asthma.
We analyzed data from the Korean Severe Asthma Registry (KoSAR), which is a nationwide multicenter observational study on severe asthma in Korea. Severe asthma was defined according to the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS) guidelines. WRA was identified on the basis of asthma symptom aggravation at the workplace, as indicated by responses to a structured questionnaire. We compared the demographic and clinical characteristics and QoL between adult patients with severe asthma and WRA and those without WRA.
Among 364 patients with severe asthma who were employed at the time of enrollment, 65 (17.9%) had WRA. There were no significant differences in age, sex, obesity, or smoking history between the WRA and non-WRA groups. However, individuals with WRA exhibited a higher prevalence of anxiety (7.7% vs 2.4%, P = 0.046) and depression (12.3% vs 3.7%, P = 0.010) than those without. The levels of asthma control, lung function, and frequency of asthma exacerbations were similar between the two groups, but patients with WRA reported lower QoL, as determined by the Quality of Life Questionnaire for Adult Korean Asthmatics (56.6 ± 14.6 vs. 63.5 ± 13.9, P < 0.001).
Patients with severe asthma and WRA are more likely to experience anxiety and depression and have lower QoL than those without WRA.
Abstract Purpose A fixed-dose combination of a stain and an antihypertensive drug may be useful for the treatment of patients with hypertension and hyperlipidemia. It may also improve patient drug ...compliance to help control risk factors of cardiovascular disease. This study was designed to evaluate the blood pressure–lowering and cholesterol-lowering effect of a fixed-dose combination of irbesartan-atorvastatin compared with monotherapy by either agent over an 8-week treatment period. Methods Patients with comorbid hypertension and hypercholesterolemia were screened for this randomized, double-blind, Phase III study. Eligible study patients were randomly assigned to test groups receiving a combination of irbesartan 300 mg and atorvastatin 40 mg or 80 mg (IRB300 + ATO40 and IRB300 + ATO80). Comparator groups comprised monotherapy groups with irbesartan 300 mg (IRB300) or atorvastatin 40 mg (ATO40) or atorvastatin 80 mg (ATO80), or placebo. Patients who were eligible at screening were subjected to a 4- to 6-week washout period before commencing 8 weeks of therapy per their assigned group. The primary efficacy end points were percent change in LDL-C and sitting diastolic blood pressure (DBP) levels from baseline to end of therapy. Tolerability profiles of combination therapy were compared with other groups. Findings A total of 733 patients with comorbid hypertension and hypercholesterolemia were screened for this study; 230 eligible patients were randomized to treatment. The mean age of patients was 58.9 (8.5) years, and their mean body mass index was 25.8 (3.2) kg/m2 . More than two thirds (70.9%) of the study patients were male. Mean LDL-C and sitting DBP levels at baseline were 149.54 (29.19) mg/dL and 92.32 (6.03) mm Hg, respectively. Percent reductions in LDL-C after 8 weeks were 46.74% (2.06%) in the IRB300 + ATO40 group and 48.98% (2.12%) in the IRB300 + ATO80 group; these values were 47.13% (3.21%) and 48.30% (2.98%) in the ATO40 and ATO80 comparator groups. Similarly, a reduction in sitting DBP after 8 weeks was –8.50 (1.06) mm Hg in the IRB300 + ATO40 group and 10.66 (1.08) mm Hg in the IRB300 + ATO80 group compared with 8.40 (1.65) mm Hg in the IRB300 group. The incidence rate for treatment-emergent adverse events was 22.27% and was similar between the monotherapy and combination groups. Implications A once-daily combination product of irbesartan and atorvastatin provided an effective, safe, and more compliable treatment for patients with coexisting hypertension and hyperlipidemia. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01442987.
Background Individual studies have suggested the utility of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (F eno ) measurement in detecting cough-variant asthma (CVA) and eosinophilic bronchitis (EB) in patients ...with chronic cough. Objective We sought to obtain summary estimates of diagnostic test accuracy of F eno measurement in predicting CVA, EB, or both in adults with chronic cough. Methods Electronic databases were searched for studies published until January 2016, without language restriction. Cross-sectional studies that reported the diagnostic accuracy of F eno measurement for detecting CVA or EB were included. Risk of bias was assessed with Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2. Random effects meta-analyses were performed to obtain summary estimates of the diagnostic accuracy of F eno measurement. Results A total of 15 studies involving 2187 adults with chronic cough were identified. F eno measurement had a moderate diagnostic accuracy in predicting CVA in patients with chronic cough, showing the summary area under the curve to be 0.87 (95% CI, 0.83-0.89). Specificity was higher and more consistent than sensitivity (0.85 95% CI, 0.81-0.88 and 0.72 95% CI, 0.61-0.81, respectively). However, in the nonasthmatic population with chronic cough, the diagnostic accuracy to predict EB was found to be relatively lower (summary area under the curve, 0.81 95% CI, 0.77-0.84), and specificity was inconsistent. Conclusions The present meta-analyses indicated the diagnostic potential of F eno measurement as a rule-in test for detecting CVA in adult patients with chronic cough. However, F eno measurement may not be useful to predict EB in nonasthmatic subjects with chronic cough. These findings warrant further studies to validate the roles of F eno measurement in clinical practice of patients with chronic cough.
Tiotropium, a long-acting muscarinic antagonist, is recommended for add-on therapy to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)-long-acting beta 2 agonists (LABA) for severe asthma. However, real-world studies ...on the predictors of response to tiotropium are limited. We investigated the real-world use of tiotropium in asthmatic adult patients in Korea and we identified predictors of positive response to tiotropium add-on.
We performed a multicenter, retrospective, cohort study using data from the Cohort for Reality and Evolution of Adult Asthma in Korea (COREA). We enrolled asthmatic participants who took ICS-LABA with at least 2 consecutive lung function tests at 3-month intervals. We compared tiotropium users and non-users, as well as tiotropium responders and non-responders to predict positive responses to tiotropium, defined as 1) increase in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) ≥ 10% or 100 mL; and 2) increase in asthma control test (ACT) score ≥3 after 3 months of treatment.
The study included 413 tiotropium users and 1756 tiotropium non-users. Tiotropium users had low baseline lung function and high exacerbation rate, suggesting more severe asthma. Clinical predictors for positive response to tiotropium add-on were 1) positive bronchodilator response (BDR) odds ratio (OR) = 6.8, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.6–47.4, P = 0.021 for FEV1 responders; 2) doctor-diagnosed asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap (ACO) OR = 12.6, 95% CI: 1.8–161.5, P = 0.024, and 3) initial ACT score <20 OR = 24.1, 95% CI: 5.45–158.8, P < 0.001 for ACT responders. FEV1 responders also showed a longer exacerbation-free period than those with no FEV1 increase (P = 0.014), yielding a hazard ratio for the first asthma exacerbation of 0.5 (95% CI: 0.3–0.9, P = 0.016).
The results of this study suggest that tiotropium add-on for uncontrolled asthma with ICS-LABA would be more effective in patients with positive BDR or ACO. Additionally, an increase in FEV1 following tiotropium may predict a lower risk of asthma exacerbation.
Abstract Objectives The fusion rate in spinal surgery may vary in relation to the technique, and it remains unknown which surgical technique provides the best fusion rate and surgical outcomes. We ...aimed to compare radiological and surgical results between three surgical techniques used for lumbar inter-body fusion. Methods Seventy-seven patients diagnosed with degenerative spinal stenosis including spondylolytic spondylolisthesis. Patients were divided into three groups according to the surgical technique: anterior lumbar inter-body fusion (ALIF, n = 26), transforaminal lumbar inter-body fusion (TLIF, n = 21), and posterior lumbar inter-body fusion (PLIF, n = 30). Various radiological parameters were measured including fusion rates. Results Significant changes after surgery were observed in the ALIF group for the percentage of vertebral body slippage, anterior disc height, posterior disc height, segmental, and segmental ROM. The fusion rate on CT scan at the final follow-up was 69.2% in the ALIF, 72.7% in the TLIF, and 64.3 % in the PLIF. The cage subsidence rate 2 years after surgery was 15.4% in the ALIF, 38.1% in the TLIF, and 10% in the PLIF. Conclusions ALIF was associated with better restoration of segmental lordosis. The fusion rate on CT scan and with segmental ROM did not differ between the three groups. TLIF was associated with a better post op VAS. PLIF showed the lowest cage subsidence rate. Therefore, it looks difficult to tell which surgical technique is better between the three groups as well as all the surgical procedures being equivocal in terms of fusion rate and outcomes.
Abstract Background context Anterior decompression and fusion (ADF) for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is technically demanding and associated with complications. Although ...various factors affecting clinical outcome have been investigated in posterior decompression, prognostic factors of ADF remain unclear. Purpose The purpose of the study was to identify surgical outcome and prognostic factors of ADF for cervical myelopathy due to OPLL. Study design This was a retrospective case study. Patient sample Between 2005 and 2012, 913 patients underwent decompression surgery for cervical OPLL at our institution. Among them, 131 who underwent ADF and 221 who underwent laminoplasty were enrolled. Inclusion criteria were (1) diagnosis of OPLL; (2) cervical compressive myelopathy; and (3) no trauma, infection, tumor, or previous surgery. We excluded 60 patients with ADF and 157 patients with laminoplasty owing to inadequate follow-up or absence of preoperative myelopathy. Finally, 71 patients with ADF and 64 patients with laminoplasty were enrolled in this study (mean follow-up, 48 vs 41 months). Outcome measures Neurologic assessment was conducted using the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scoring system for cervical myelopathy. Rate of neurologic improvement was calculated by comparing preoperative and postoperative JOA scores. Methods We investigated the effects of such variables as age, gender, body mass index (BMI), presence of diabetes mellitus (DM), smoking history, type of OPLL, shape of the ossified lesion, occupying ratio of OPLL, presence of intramedullary increased signal intensity (ISI) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and sagittal alignment of the cervical spine on surgical outcome. Severity of ISI was classified into three groups based on T2-weighted sagittal MRI as follows: Grade 0, none; Grade 1, ISI limited to one disc level; or Grade 2, ISI beyond one disc level. This work was supported by the 2013 Korea Health Technology R&D Project of the Ministry of Health and Welfare of the Republic of Korea (A120254). Results In patients with an occupying ratio ≥60% or with presence of ISI on MRI, ADF yielded better surgical outcome than laminoplasty. A higher ISI grade (B=−28.5, p=.000) and a higher occupying ratio (B=0.88, p=.04) were significantly associated with a lower recovery rate (R=0.56, p=.006). Older age also was associated with a lower recovery rate. Gender, BMI, presence of DM, smoking history, type of OPLL, shape of the ossified lesion, and cervical alignment were not associated with recovery rate. Conclusion Anterior decompression and fusion has favorable outcome in patients with an occupying ratio ≥60% or with presence of ISI on MRI. Presence of higher ISI grade, higher occupying ratio, and older age were associated with a poor long-term surgical prognosis. Therefore, evaluating ISI and occupying ratio on preoperative MRI is important for selecting the appropriate surgical approach and for predicting clinical outcome after surgery for cervical compressive myelopathy due to OPLL.
Abstract Background Context Laminoplasty is a major surgical method used to treat patients with cervical ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Sometimes, patients with cervical ...OPLL demonstrate postoperative kyphosis despite sufficient preoperative lordosis. Recently, the impact of T1 slope has emerged as a predictor of kyphotic alignment change after laminoplasty. However, the relationship between T1 slope and postoperative cervical alignment change is not yet fully established. Purpose The goals of the present study were to investigate the relationship between T1 slope and loss of cervical lordosis (LCL), and to identify the role of T1 slope as a predictor of postoperative kyphosis after laminoplasty in patients with OPLL. Study Design This is a retrospective case study. Patient Sample Between January 2011 and January 2012, 64 consecutive patients who underwent cervical laminoplasty for OPLL were enrolled (male:female ratio=47:17; mean age=55.9 years). Cervical spine lateral radiographs in neutral, flexion, and extension were taken before surgery and at 2-year follow-up. Outcome Measures The C2–C7 Cobb angle, cervical range of motion (ROM), T1 slope, neck tilt, and C2–C7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA) were measured from lateral radiographs of the cervical spine preoperatively and postoperatively at 2-year follow-up. Methods Patients were divided into two groups according to preoperative T1 slope, and the postoperative cervical alignment change was compared between the groups. Postoperative kyphosis and LCL incidence were also evaluated at 2-year follow-up. The relationships between postoperative cervical alignment change and preoperative variables, including age, T1 slope, cervical ROM, C2–C7 SVA, and T1 slope minus C2–C7 Cobb angle (T1S−CL), were investigated. Results Patients were divided into two groups above and below median preoperative T1 slope (23.2°). There were no differences in age, sex, type of OPLL, or operation level between the two groups. Patients with higher preoperative T1 slope demonstrated significantly more lordotic preoperative cervical alignment (p=.001). Patients with higher preoperative T1 slope were more likely to exhibit postoperative LCL (p=.03), and when it occurred the degree of LCL was greater (p=.06). In multiple linear regression analysis, higher T1 slope (B=0.414, p=.04) and lower T1S−CL (B=−0.412, p=.03) were significantly associated with more postoperative LCL. In spite of these results, postoperative kyphosis did not occur more frequently in patients with higher T1 slope (p=.64). Conclusions Patients with higher T1 slope had more lordotic curvature before surgery and demonstrated more LCL at 2-year follow-up. Cervical alignment was compromised after laminoplasty, and the degree of LCL was correlated with preoperative T1 slope. After laminoplasty for cervical OPLL, patients with higher T1 slope tended to exhibit a greater LCL yet did not drift into frank postoperative kyphosis.
Objective Spontaneous isolated dissection of the superior mesenteric artery (SIDSMA) is extremely rare. Various treatment options are currently available, including conservative management, ...anticoagulation, endovascular stenting, and surgical repair. Herein, we present our experience in the treatment of symptomatic SIDSMA. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 14 consecutive patients with symptomatic SIDSMA between January 2000 and January 2010. All patients had acute onset abdominal pain. The decision to intervene was based on patient symptoms and signs, as well as the morphologic characteristics of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) dissection on computed tomography (CT) angiography. Endovascular stenting (ES) was indicated in patients with severe compression of the true lumen or dissecting aneurysm likely to rupture. Self-expandable stents were placed via a right common femoral approach. None of the patients underwent anticoagulation, and patients who underwent ES were maintained on antiplatelet therapy for 3 months postoperatively. Results The median age of the study subjects was 59 years (range, 50-75 years). The median follow-up time was 27.5 months (range, 2-64 months). Treatment included conservative management without the use of anticoagulation in seven patients, ES in six, and necrotic bowel resection in one. Four patients with severe compression of the true lumen or large dissecting aneurysm underwent ES as a primary treatment. ES was additionally performed in two patients in whom initial conservative treatment failed (increasing dissecting aneurysm at 7-day follow-up CT scan in one and a reappearance of abdominal pain after resuming diet in the other). The median fasting time was significantly shorter in patients with primary ES (2.5 days) than in those managed conservatively (8.0 days). No complications associated with the SIDSMA or ES were developed. The patency of stents was demonstrated on follow-up CT scans up to 60 months (range, 1-60 months). Conclusions Conservative management without anticoagulation can be applied successfully to the patients with symptomatic SIDSMA. Primary endovascular stenting is indicated if patients have suspected bowel ischemia, compression of the true lumen of the SMA >80%, or SMA aneurysm of >2.0 cm in diameter on initial CT scan. Endovascular stenting can also be provided to the patients in whom initial conservative treatment failed, as a rescue therapy.
Background Prophylaxis against contrast-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) in hospitalized patients is underused. We evaluated the impact of a computerized alert program for contrast-induced AKI for ...hospitalized patients undergoing contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT). Study Design Quality improvement report. Setting & Participants 463 adult inpatients in a single center with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Quality Improvement Plan We developed a computer alert program in which the responsible physician was alerted to a patient's risk of contrast-induced AKI in the form of a warning message box and was recommended to consider prophylactic measures for contrast-induced AKI when he or she ordered contrast-enhanced CT for patients with eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 . The intervention was applied simultaneously to all hospitalized patients from March 18, 2010. The hospital's contrast-induced AKI preventive guidelines included prehydration, posthydration, and oral N -acetylcysteine. Outcome & Measurements Use of prophylactic interventions, development of contrast-induced AKI. Contrast-induced AKI was defined as an increase in serum creatinine level (≥0.3 mg/dL or ≥50%) 24-72 hours after contrast medium exposure. Results 258 adult inpatients with eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 were identified as undergoing contrast-enhanced CT before application of the computer alert program (from October 28, 2009, to March 17, 2010), and 205, after its application (from March 18, 2010, to August 5, 2010). Individuals in the postalert group received contrast-induced AKI prophylaxis more often than those in the prealert group (55% vs 25% for total prophylaxis; P < 0.001). The incidence of contrast-induced AKI was lower in the postalert group than in the prealert group (3% vs 10%; P = 0.02). Limitations Observation bias; only 61.5% of participants were evaluated for contrast-induced AKI. Conclusions Implementation of a computerized alert program in hospitalized patients was followed by increased use of prophylaxis and decreased risk of contrast-induced AKI.
This study assessed epidemiologic data and clinical outcomes, including venous thromboembolism (VTE) recurrence and bleeding events, in patients with cancer-associated VTE, and assessed factors ...associated with clinical outcomes. Data were extracted from retrospective medical-chart review of adult patients diagnosed with cancer-associated deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism who received anticoagulation treatment for ≥3 months. Patients were classified by: low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), and other anticoagulants. First VTE recurrence and bleeding events, and factors associated with their occurrence, were assessed during the initial 6 months of treatment. Overall, 623 patients (age: 63.7 ± 11.3 years, 49.3% male) were included (119, 132, and 372 patients in LMWH, DOACs and other anticoagulants groups, respectively). The cumulative 6-month incidence of VTE recurrence was 16.6% (total), 8.3% (LMWH), 16.7% (DOACs), and 20.7% (other); respective bleeding events were 22.5%, 11.0%, 12.3%, and 30.7%). VTE recurrence and bleeding rates differed only between LMWH and other anticoagulants (HR 2.4, 95% CI: 1.2-5.0 and 3.6, 1.9-6.8, respectively). These results highlight the importance of initial VTE treatment choice for preventing VTE recurrence and bleeding events. LMWH or DOACs for ≥3 months can be considered for effective VTE management in cancer patients.
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