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Background: Calcium channel blocker (CCB) is a common antihypertensive agent for the treatment of hypertension. There are inconsistent data of an association of CCB and lung cancer in the literature. This study aimed to evaluate this association by a case-control design. Methods: The inclusion criteria were adult patients 18 years or over, diagnosed with hypertension, lung cancer or pulmonary tuberculosis, and presenting with one of the suggestive symptoms of lung cancer. Those who were pregnant or had a diagnosis of lung cancer or pulmonary tuberculosis prior to the diagnosis of hypertension were excluded. Diagnosis of lung cancer was made pathologically, while tuberculosis was made by positive acid-fast bacilli on sputum examination, sputum culture positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, or polymerase chain reaction positive for M. tuberculosis with a chest x-ray compatible with tuberculosis. Cases were those diagnosed with lung cancer, while controls were those diagnosed with tuberculosis. Factors associated with lung cancer were calculated by logistic regression analysis. Results: There were 178 patients who met the study criteria. Of those, 69 patients (38.8%) were in the case group. The lung cancer group had EGFR gene mutation in 21 patients (52.5%) and adenocarcinoma was the most common cell type of lung cancer (55 patients; 79.7%). There were two factors independently associated with lung cancer including dyslipidemia and family history of lung cancer. Conclusions: CCB was not associated with lung cancer in patients with hypertension but dyslipidemia and family history of lung cancer were independently associated with lung cancer in this setting.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common respiratory disease. The appropriate treatment according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guideline was 19-60%. However, there are limited data on predictors of appropriate treatment in patients with COPD. This study aimed to evaluate risk factors of appropriate treatment in patients with COPD according to the GOLD guideline in a real-world community setting. Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted at a community hospital. Inclusion criteria were adult patients diagnosed as COPD treated at a COPD clinic. The primary outcome was the appropriate treatment, defined by correct pharmacological treatment by the GOLD guideline according to the ABCD severity assessment. Clinical predictors of appropriate treatment were executed by stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: 136 patients with COPD met the study criteria. Of those, 100 patients had inappropriate treatment according to the GOLD guideline. Three factors were independently associated with the appropriate treatment including number of admissions, modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) score, and CAT score. These factors had adjusted odds ratio of 3.11, 2.86, and 1.26, respectively. Causes of inappropriate treatment were unavailability of long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) (51 patients; 79.69%), treated by inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) alone (12 patients; 18.75%), and treated with only bronchodilator (1 patient; 1.56%). Conclusions: Appropriate COPD patients’ treatment according to the GOLD guideline was 26.47% in community setting. Factors associated with severity of COPD were associated with prescribing appropriate treatments.

Puthachad Namwaing,1 Seksan Chaisuksant,1 Rakfan Sawadpanich,1 Thitima Anukunananchai,1 Akkaranee Timinkul,2 Waraporn Sakaew,3 Bundit Sawunyavisuth,4 Watchara Boonsawat,2 Sittichai Khamsai,2 Kittisak Sawanyawisuth2 1Khon Kaen Regional Hospital, Khon Kaen, Thailand; 2Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand; 3Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand; 4Department of Marketing, Faculty of Business Administration and Accountancy, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, ThailandCorrespondence: Sittichai Khamsai; Kittisak SawanyawisuthDepartment of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, 123 Mitraparp Road, Khon Kaen, 40002, ThailandTel +66-43-363664Fax +66-43-348399Email sittikh@kku.ac.th; kittisak@kku.ac.thPurpose: Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is an urgent/emergency condition. Treatment with intercostal chest drainage (ICD) is necessary, particularly in symptomatic patients or those with tension. A previous study found that systematic breathing exercise significantly reduced ICD duration when compared with controls. This study aimed to evaluate if pulmonary rehabilitation can reduce the duration of ICD treatment in patients with PSP.Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients diagnosed with PSP treated with ICD. Duration of ICD treatment was recorded from patients’ medical charts. Factors associated with ICD duration were calculated using linear regression analysis.Results: There were 66 patients who met the study criteria, with average (SD) age and body mass index of 31.68 (13.53) years and 20.94 (2.72) kg/m2. The majority of the patients were male (72.73%), and average (SD) duration of ICD treatment was 9.90 (7.83) days. Three factors remained in the final model: body mass index, systolic blood pressure, and recurrent PSP. Two factors were independently associated with longer ICD duration: systolic blood pressure and recurrent PSP, with adj

Panita Limpawattana,1 Siraphong Putraveephong,2 Pratchaya Inthasuwan,2 Watchara Boonsawat,3 Daris Theerakulpisut,4 Jarin Chindaprasirt5 1Division of Geriatric Medicine, 2Department of Internal Medicine, 3Division of Respiratory System, Department of Internal Medicine, 4Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology, 5Division of Oncology Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand Abstract: Frailty is a state of increased risk of unfavorable outcomes when exposed to stressors, and COPD is one of the several chronic illnesses associated with the condition. However, few studies have been conducted regarding the prevalence of COPD and its related factors in Southeast Asia. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of frailty in COPD patients and to identify the associated factors in these populations. A cross-sectional study of COPD patients who attended a COPD clinic was conducted from May 2015 to December 2016. Baseline characteristics were collected, and the diagnosis of frailty was based on the FRAIL (fatigue, resistance, ambulation, illnesses, and loss of weight) scale. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze baseline data. Factors associated with frailty were analyzed using univariate and multivariate regression analyses. The results showed that the prevalence rates of frailty and pre-frailty were 6.6% (eight out of 121 cases) and 41.3% (50 out of 121 cases), respectively, among COPD patients. Fatigue was the most common component of the FRAIL scale that was found more frequently in frail patients than in non-frail patients (odds ratio [OR] 91.9). Factors associated with frailty according to multivariate analyses were comorbid cancer (adjusted OR [AOR] 45.8), at least two instances of nonelective admission over the past 12 months (AOR 112.5), high waist circumference (WC) (AOR 1.3), and presence of sarcopenia (AOR 29.5). In conclusion, frailty affected 6.6% of stable COPD