Search

Chronic airflow limitation (CAL) can be defined as fixed ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1 )/forced vital capacity (FVC) < 0.70 after bronchodilation. It is unclear which is the most optimal ratio in relation to respiratory morbidity. The aim was to investigate to what extent different ratios of FEV1 /FVC were associated with any respiratory symptom. In a cross-sectional general population study, 15,128 adults (50-64 years of age), 7,120 never-smokers and 8,008 ever-smokers completed a respiratory questionnaire and performed FEV1 and FVC after bronchodilation. We calculated different ratios of FEV1 /FVC from 0.40 to 1.0 using 0.70 as reference category. We analysed odds ratios (OR) between different ratios and any respiratory symptom using adjusted multivariable logistic regression. Among all subjects, regardless of smoking habits, the lowest odds for any respiratory symptom was at FEV1 /FVC = 0.82, OR 0.48 (95% CI 0.41-0.56). Among never-smokers, the lowest odds for any respiratory symptom was at FEV1 /FVC = 0.81, OR 0.53 (95% CI 0.41-0.70). Among ever-smokers, the odds for any respiratory symptom was lowest at FEV1 /FVC = 0.81, OR 0.43 (95% CI 0.16-1.19), although the rate of inclining in odds was small in the upper part, that is FEV1 /FVC = 0.85 showed similar odds, OR 0.45 (95% CI 0.38-0.55). We concluded that the odds for any respiratory symptoms continuously decreased with higher FEV1 /FVC ratios and reached a minimum around 0.80-0.85, with similar results among never-smokers. These results indicate that the optimal threshold associated with respiratory symptoms may be higher than 0.70 and this should be further investigated in prospective longitudinal studies.

Introduction Growing populations of elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or heart failure (HF) require more healthcare. A four-year telehealth intervention - the Health Diary system based on digital pen technology - was implemented. We hypothesized that study patients with advanced COPD or HF would have lower rates of hospitalization when using the Health Diary. The aim was to investigate the effects of the intervention on healthcare costs and the number of hospitalizations, as well as other care required in COPD and HF patients. Methods Patients were introduced to the telemonitoring system which was supervised by a specialized hospital-based home care (HBHC) unit. Staff associated with this unit were responsible for the healthcare provided. The study included patients with COPD or HF, aged amp;gt;= 65 years who were frequently hospitalized due to exacerbations - at least two inpatient episodes within the last 12 months. Observed number of hospitalizations and total healthcare costs were compared with the expected values, which were calculated using the generalized estimating equations (GEE) method. Results A total of 36 COPD and 58 HF patients with advanced stages of disease were included. The number of hospitalizations was significantly reduced for both HF and COPD patients participating in telemonitoring. Accordingly, hospitalization costs were significantly reduced for both groups, but the total healthcare cost was not significantly different from the expected costs. Conclusion A telemonitoring system, the Health Diary, combined with a specialized HBHC unit significantly decreases the need for hospital care in elderly patients with advanced HF or COPD without increasing total healthcare costs.

To assess pulmonary function and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) development over time in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS), as well as the association between pulmonary function, radiographic findings, respiratory symptoms, and clinical features of pSS, taking cigarette consumption into account., Funding agencies: ALF-Skåne, the Internal Research Funds of Skåne University Hospital, the Swedish Rheumatism Association, and the Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation.

The Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) has recently published international reference values for diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO). Lower limit of normal (LLN), i.e. the 5th percentile, usually defines impaired DLCO. We examined if the GLI LLN for DLCO differs from the LLN in a Swedish population of healthy, never-smoking individuals and how any such differences affect identification of subjects with respiratory burden. Spirometry, DLCO, chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and questionnaires were obtained from the first 15 040 participants, aged 50–64 years, of the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS). Both GLI reference values and the lambda-mu-sigma (LMS) method were used to define the LLN in asymptomatic never-smokers without respiratory disease (n=4903, of which 2329 were women). Both the median and LLN for DLCO from SCAPIS were above the median and LLN from the GLI (p<0.05). The prevalence of DLCO GLI LLN but GLI LLN but GLI LLN and >SCAPIS LLN). No differences were found with regard to physician-diagnosed asthma. The GLI LLN for DLCO is lower than the estimated LLN in healthy, never-smoking, middle-aged Swedish adults. Individuals with DLCO above the GLI LLN but below the SCAPIS LLN had, to a larger extent, an increased respiratory burden. This suggests clinical implications for choosing an adequate LLN for studied populations.

Background The diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is based on the presence of persistent respiratory symptoms and chronic airflow limitation (CAL). CAL is based on the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity (FEV1:FVC) after bronchodilation, and FEV1:FVC less than the fifth percentile is often used as a cut-off for CAL. The aim was to investigate if increasing percentiles of FEV1:FVC were associated withany respiratory symptom(cough with phlegm, dyspnoea or wheezing) in a general population sample of never-smokers and ever-smokers. Methods In a cross-sectional study comprising 15 128 adults (50-64 years), 7120 never-smokers and 8008 ever-smokers completed a respiratory questionnaire and performed FEV(1)and FVC after bronchodilation. We calculated theirz-scores for FEV1:FVC and defined the fifth percentile using the Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) reference value, GLI(5)and increasing percentiles up to GLI(25). We analysed the associations between different strata of percentiles and prevalence ofany respiratory symptomusing multivariable logistic regression for estimation of OR. Results Among all subjects, regardless of smoking habits, the odds ofany respiratory symptomwere elevated up to the GLI(15-20)strata. Among never-smokers, the odds ofany respiratory symptomwere elevated at GLI(<5)(OR 3.57, 95% CI 2.43 to 5.23) and at GLI(5-10)(OR 2.57, 95% CI 1.69 to 3.91), but not at higher percentiles. Among ever-smokers, the odds ofany respiratory symptomwere elevated from GLI(<5)(OR 4.64, 95% CI 3.79 to 5.68) up to GLI(>= 25)(OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.75). Conclusions The association between percentages of FEV1:FVC and respiratory symptoms differed depending on smoking history. Our results support a higher percentile cut-off for FEV1:FVC for never-smokers and, in particular, for ever-smokers.

Although patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) often experience psychological distress, psychosocial aspects are not an integral part of their treatment and care. The aim is to describe the adaptation of Coping Effectiveness Training for patients with CHF and the participants? reported experiences. The intervention workbook and manual were translated into Swedish and adapted for patients with CHF. Patient-reported experience from 33 of 35 participants, that had completed the psychosocial intervention, was measured with an evaluation form consisting of closed and open-ended questions. Most participants thought they benefited from the intervention, were pleased with the structure and did not want to add anything to the program. The benefits experienced were learning how to cope with the illness and meeting other people to share and discuss experiences. There was a variation concerning the group process of how much direction should be given during the discussions. Overall, unique data from patient-reported experience measure showed that the participants were satisfied with the psychosocial intervention, applied for the first time to patients with CHF., This study was supported by the Swedish Heart and Lung Association, Solstickan foundation, Department of Cardiology Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden, Karolinska Institutet Department of Clinical Sciences Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm County Council (ALF), Sophiahemmet Research Foundation, and Mats Kleberg Foundation.

Background: Elderly, multimorbid patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and/or chronic heart failure (CHF) exhibit poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Telemonitoring, based on digital pen technology, supported by hospital-based home care (HBHC) significantly reduces the number of hospitalizations. We hypothesized that the same intervention would prevent the deterioration of HRQoL that follows upon disease progression. Methods: Elderly computer-illiterate subjects with amp;gt;= 2 hospitalizations the previous year were included. HRQoL was assessed at inclusion (baseline) and at 1, 6 and 12 months employing EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) and RAND-36 for general HRQoL, and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) and St. Georges Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) for disease-specific HRQoL. Healthcare contacts, hospitalizations, as-needed medications, prescription changes and healthcare costs were registered. Results: Ninety-four patients were enrolled of which 53 subjects completed the 12-month study period. Compared to baseline, most domains of RAND-36 were improved significantly at 1 time-point or more. Only among COPD subjects, the disease-specific HRQoL was worsened at the 12 month evaluation. Measures of healthcare dependency were associated with poor HRQoL. Conclusion: The Health Diary system and HBHC together improve general HRQoL, and measures of healthcare dependency are associated with HRQoL variables., Funding Agencies|county council of Ostergotland (Region Ostergotland); E-care@home: a "SIDUS -Strong Distributed Research Environment" project - Swedish Knowledge Foundation; European Regional Development Fund through the NovaMedTech venture; RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB

Hans Lennart Persson,1,2 Apostolos Sioutas,1,2 Petra Jacobson,1,2 Linda K Vainikka3,4 1Department of Respiratory Medicine in Linköping, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; 2Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; 3Department of Experimental Pathology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; 4Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, SwedenCorrespondence: Hans Lennart PerssonDepartment of Respiratory Medicine in Linköping, Linköping University, Linköping SE-581 85, SwedenTel +46 010 1033621Email lennart.persson@liu.seBackground: The lung macrophage (LM) is involved in most inflammatory processes of the human lung by clearance of dying cells and by wound repair. Upon cellular stress by oxidant challenge in vivo lysosomes may rupture in LMs and leakage of cellular content and cell debris may trigger airway inflammation and fibrosis, which may lead to chronic airflow limitation (CAL).Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) in LMs challenged to oxidants ex vivo is associated with airway inflammation and CAL, the latter assessed as the reduced forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) expressed as % of predicted.Materials and Methods: Twenty-eight subjects were investigated; 13 lung-healthy subjects and 15 subjects with a variety of inflammatory disorders, demonstrating CAL on dynamic spirometry (defined as an FEV1/FVC ratio < 0.70). LMs were harvested by broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) and challenged ex vivo by oxidants. LMP in oxidant-exposed LMs was assessed as the emitted acridine orange (AO) green fluorescence from oxidant-exposed LMs (using macrophage-like murine J774 cells as positive controls). Inflammatory cells in BAL were counted and lung volumes were recorded.Results: Oxidant-induced LMP in

Aims The aim of this study is to validate a diagnosis of heart failure (HF) according to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines among patients hospitalized at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden, between 2000 and 2012. Methods and results In Sweden, it is mandatory to report all hospital discharge diagnoses to the Swedish national inpatient register. In total, 27 517 patients were diagnosed with HF at the Sahlgrenska University hospital between 2000 and 2012. Altogether, 1100 records with a primary (n = 550) or contributory (n = 550) diagnosis of HF were randomly selected. The diagnosis was validated according to the ESC guidelines from 1995, 2001, 2005, and 2008, and cases were divided into three groups: definite, probable, and miscoded. In total, 965 cases were validated, while 135 records were excluded for various reasons. Of the 965 records, the diagnosis was validated as definite in 601 (62.3%) and as probable in 310 (32.1%); only 54 (5.6%) of cases had been miscoded. Echocardiography, as an objective evidence of cardiac dysfunction, had been performed in 581 (96.7%) of the definite, 106 (34.2%) of the probable, and 31 (57.4%) of the miscoded cases. Among the probable cases, the main reason they had not been classified as a definitive diagnosis of HF was lack of examination by echocardiography (63.8%). Conclusions The overall validity of HF diagnosis at Sahlgrenska University Hospital is high. This may reflect a high diagnostic validity at the time of diagnosis in the national Swedish patient register, supporting the continued use of this register in epidemiological research., Funding Agencies|Swedish Research CouncilSwedish Research Council [340-2013-5187, 521-2013-4236]; Swedish Heart and Lung FoundationSwedish Heart-Lung Foundation [20110155, 2015-0438]; Vastra Gotaland Region; Goteborg Medical Society [GLS-331961]; [ALFGBG-427301]; [ALFGBG136761]

Hans Lennart Persson,1,2 Johan Lyth,3,4 Leili Lind5,6 1Department of Respiratory Medicine in Linköping, Linköping University, Linköping SE-581 85, Sweden; 2Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping SE-581 85, Sweden; 3Research and Development Unit in Region Östergötland, Linköping University, Linköping SE-581 85, Sweden; 4Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping SE-581 85, Sweden; 5Department of Biomedical Engineering/Health Informatics, Linköping University, Linköping SE-581 85, Sweden; 6Digital Systems Division, Department of Industrial Systems, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Linköping University, Linköping, S-581 83, SwedenCorrespondence: Hans Lennart PerssonDepartment of Respiratory Medicine in Linköping, Linköping University, Linköping SE-581 85, SwedenTel +46 13 10 1033621Email lennart.persson@liu.seBackground: Elderly, multimorbid patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and/or chronic heart failure (CHF) exhibit poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Telemonitoring, based on digital pen technology, supported by hospital-based home care (HBHC) significantly reduces the number of hospitalizations. We hypothesized that the same intervention would prevent the deterioration of HRQoL that follows upon disease progression.Methods: Elderly computer-illiterate subjects with ≥ 2 hospitalizations the previous year were included. HRQoL was assessed at inclusion (baseline) and at 1, 6 and 12 months employing EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) and RAND-36 for general HRQoL, and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) and St. Georges Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) for disease-specific HRQoL. Healthcare contacts, hospitalizations, as-needed medications, prescription changes and