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Covid-19 pandemic affects heavily different health care systems. The most important factor/aspect is high number of hospitalized patients in countries with low level of infrastructure. Because of this, many therapeutic methods reducing the risk of more severe course of disease are now under development. The key part of this review is the STOIC trial, which is the largest, randomized trial assessing the effect of inhaled glucocorticoid treatment on the risk of hospitalization due to covid-19.

Systemic rheumatoid diseases form a large group of entities with variable clinical picture and different involvement and degree of organ impairment. Respiratory tract represents major site of damage, with lung interstitium, pleura, pulmonary vasculature and airways possibly affected. In systemic sclerodermia and rheumatoid arthritis, lung disease is the most significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Breathing difficulties may either present as first symptoms of underlying rheumatoid disease or may appear at any time during the course of the disease. Rheumatologists should routinely screen their patients for possible lung impairment. Similarly, extrapulmonal signs should be assessed by pulmonologists in patients referred for dyspnea. Currently, novel antifibrotic therapy is available not only for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), but also for selected group of patients with non-IPF progressive fenotype associated interstitial lung disease having solid evidence-based background. Interdisciplinary approach in terms of collaboration between pulmonologist and rheumatologist is of key importance as proper identification of possible candidates and early onset of therapy is crucial.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are commonly interconnected, and this coincidence negatively influences patients' mortality and morbidity. On the basis of the current available data originating mainly from cardiovascular studies epicardial fat (EF) has been proposed as a marker of cardiovascular risk. This review is focused on a potential role of epicardial fat as a new biomarker for risk stratification of COPD patients. Epicardial fat may present an important link between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiovascular diseases, mainly coronary artery disease.

A case report concerning patient diagnosed with a rare carcinoid showing typical symptoms is presented. Although essentially a cancer disease, this condition usually shows slow progression and tends to follow a favorable course with good prognosis if treated properly, assuming patients reasonable compliance. We intend to highlight its typical clinical picture as well as the rarely occurring cardial manifestation leading to rapid progression and ultimately fatal outcome in a non-compliant patient who preferred alternative to evidence based medicine.