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Objective: The frequency of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is high. The clinical course of non-IPF interstitial lung disease (ILD) can be similar to that of IPF. We sought to assess the frequency and predictors of OSA in patients with non-IPF fibrotic ILD, as well as the impact of positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy on the quality of life of such patients. Methods: This was a prospective study in which non-IPF fibrotic ILD patients underwent a home sleep apnea test. The patients with and without OSA were compared, and a multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify independent predictors of OSA. At 3 months after initiation of PAP therapy, we evaluated the participating patients for respiratory events, nocturnal hypoxemia, and changes in quality of life. Results: Of a total of 50 patients, 50% were male, and 76% were diagnosed with OSA. The mean age was 67.8 ± 8.3 years. The patients with OSA had significantly lower TLC (p = 0.033) and awake SpO2 (p = 0.023) than did those without OSA. In the multivariate logistic regression model, SpO2 (OR = 0.46; p = 0.016) and TLC (OR = 0.95; p = 0.026) remained significantly associated with OSA risk. A total of 12 patients received PAP therapy. At 3 months after initiation of PAP therapy, 91.7% were well controlled, Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores decreased significantly (p = 0.006), and emotional well-being tended to improve (p = 0.068). PAP therapy corrected nocturnal hypoxemia in all patients. Conclusions: We found a high frequency of OSA in patients with non-IPF fibrotic ILD. A low TLC was an independent predictor of a higher risk of OSA. PAP therapy can correct nocturnal hypoxemia. There should be a low threshold for suspicion of OSA and initiation of PAP therapy in patients with non-IPF fibrotic ILD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influenza virus is a common agent of acute respiratoty infections during epidemic periods. It is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and represent a significant burden on the healthcare system. We aimed to evaluate predictors of severity and of in-hospital mortality in patients hospitalized with influenza infection. We performed a retrospective cohort study of hospitalized, laboratory confirmed cases of influenza disease in Centro Hospitalar de São João between October 2016-May 2017 and October 2017-May 2018. The endpoints being analysed were severity and in-hospital mortality. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine independent predictors of severity and of in-hospital mortality. We studied 221 hospitalized influenza infection cases. Mean age 66±16 years, 57.9% were male, thirty-seven patients (16.7%) died in-hospital and 101 patients (45.7%) met severity criteria. C-reactive protein (CRP) was the only independent predictor of severity as well as the only independent predictor of higher in-hospital mortality in patients admitted due to influenza infection. Multivariate-adjusted CRP OR for severity was 1.10, 95% CI 1.06-1.15 per each 10 mg/L increase in CPR and for inhospital mortality risk the OR was of 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.09, p=0.01, per each 10 mg/L increase. Concluding, in patients' hospital-admitted due to influenza infection CRP was the only predictor of severity with a 10% increased risk of inotropic support/ventilatory support/prolonged hospitalization needs and a 5% increased risk of in-hospital death per each 10 mg/l increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]