COVID19

Let’s Read an Article a Month – May 2023

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The cropped screenshot of the first page of the article. It also includes the URL or link to the article.

Every month I try to read an open-access article. Then, I share the title and associated link with my followers. This is to encourage clinicians to read articles, stay up-to-date, and continue to grow.

The objective of this month’s paper is to ”find out the correlation, if any, between DLCO and severity of radiological abnormality on high-resolution-CT (HRCT) scan chest among silicosis patients” (p353). 

Measurement of diffusion lung capacity (DLCO) in silicosis patients: Correlation with radiographic abnormalities on high-resolution CT scan chest. Lung India. 

By: Dixit R, Jalutharia J, Gupta A, Mathur R, Goyal M, Gupta N, Chaudhary P, and Tiwari T. 

2022 Jul-Aug;39(4):352-356. doi: 10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_280_21. PMID: 35848668; PMCID: PMC9390300.

Link to the article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9390300/pdf/LI-39-352.pdf

  • n=56

“… simple silicosis (category 0, 1) does not produce significant impairment in lung function; however, impairment in lung function on spirometry or DLCO or a combination of these two was observed in patients with advanced simple silicosis (category 3).”

page 355

“…in patients presenting with large opacities, there is a progressive decrease in DLCO with increasing extent of radiological abnormality on HRCT (r > −0.8, P < 0.001). “

page 355

“… HRCT chest is the most sensitive tool to assess deterioration in DLCO at the earliest. This study also suggests that functional damage of lungs correlates more strongly with the extent of larger opacities compared to small opacities.

page 356

As always, take the time to study the article and learn about all the results and findings. 

Happy reading and learning,

Farzad Refahi

May 2nd, 2023

Let’s Read an Article a Month – May 2023

Let’s Read an Article a Month – April 2023

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The cropped screenshot of the first page of the article. It also includes the URL or link to the article.

Every month I try to read an open-access article. Then, I share the title and associated link with my followers. This is to encourage clinicians to read articles, stay up-to-date, and continue to grow.

The objective of this month’s paper is to “to assess survivors’ short-term (month 3 (M3)), intermediate-term (month 6 (M6)) and long-term (month 12 (M12)) trajectories of lung function recovery after severe-to-critical COVID-19, and their determinants” (p2).

Respiratory recovery trajectories after severe-to-critical COVID-19: a 1-year prospective multicentre study

Frédéric Schlemmer, Simon Valentin, Laurent Boyer, Anne Guillaumot, François Chabot, Clairelyne Dupin, Pierre Le Guen, Gwenael Lorillon, Anne Bergeron, Damien Basille, Julia Delomez, Claire Andrejak, Valentine Bonnefoy, Hélène Goussault, Jean-Baptiste Assié, Pascaline Choinier, Anne-Marie Ruppert, Jacques Cadranel, Maria Chiara Mennitti, Mehdi Roumila, Charlotte Colin, Sven Günther, Olivier Sanchez, Thomas Gille, Lucile Sésé, Yurdagul Uzunhan, Morgane Faure, Maxime Patout, Capucine Morelot-Panzini, Pierantonio Laveneziana, Maeva Zysman, Elodie Blanchard, Chantal Raherison-Semjen, Violaine Giraud, Etienne Giroux-Leprieur, Stéfanie Habib, Nicolas Roche, Anh Tuan Dinh-Xuan, Islem Sifaoui, Pierre-Yves Brillet, Camille Jung, Emmanuelle Boutin, Richard Layese, Florence Canoui-Poitrine, Bernard Maitre on behalf of the RE2COVERI Study Group

European Respiratory Journal 2023 61: 2201532; DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01532-2022

Link to the article: https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/erj/61/4/2201532.full.pdf

N=485

“ Most patients with prolonged follow-up had progressive lung function, exercise capacity and radiological improvements, with greater progress made during the first 6 months post-hospital discharge than thereafter. ”

page 11

“PFT results frequently remained abnormal at M6 and M12, with restriction and markedly impaired DLCO persisting in ∼40% and almost half of patients with prolonged follow-up, respectively. While the decreased 6MWT distance reflected initial disease severity, no significant difference among groups was observed for the number of repetitions during the 1MSST or the peripheral oxygen saturation change during both exercise capacity tests.”

page 7

As always, take the time to study the article and learn about all the results and findings. 

Happy reading and learning,

Farzad Refahi

April 26, 2023

https://respiratory.blog/lets-read-an-article-a-month-april-2023/

Let’s read an article a month – June 2022

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The cropped screenshot of the first page of the article. It also includes the URL or link to the article.

Every month I read an open-access article. I share the title and associated link with my followers to encourage clinicians to read more articles, stay up to date, and continue to grow.

The objective of this month’s paper is “to compare the impact of wearing different masks during a 6MWT on respiratory symptoms, SpO2, and functional capacity” (p86).

Effects of wearing different facial masks on respiratory symptoms, oxygen saturation, and functional capacity during six-minute walk test in healthy subjects

By Sauwaluk Dacha, Busaba Chuatrakoon, Kanphajee Sornkaew, Kamonchanok Sutthakhun, Putsamon Weeranorapanich, Vanesa Bellou, Ioanna Tzoulaki, Maarten van Smeden, Karel G.M. Moons, Evangelos Evangelou and Lazaros Belbasis

Can J Respir Ther Vol 58

Link to the article: https://www.cjrt.ca/wp-content/uploads/cjrt-2022-014.pdf

Wearing different masks while performing submaximal functional activities results in no difference in oxygen saturation and functional exercise performance. However, wearing cloth masks and N95 masks results in increased dyspnea and breathing effort.

p89

It is important to note that this is a small study of 29 young and healthy subjects who did not have any cardiopulmonary disease or limitations (p86).

Happy reading and learning,

Farzad Refahi

June 27, 2022

https://respiratory.blog/lets-read-an-article-a-month-june-2022/

Let’s read an article a month – May 2022

by
The cropped screenshot of the first page of the article. It also includes the URL or link to the article.

Every month I read an open-access article. I share the title and associated link with my followers to encourage clinicians to read more articles, stay up to date, and continue to grow.

The objective of this month’s paper is to “to conduct a nationwide cohort study of the effect of exposure to immunosuppressants on the risk of hospital admission, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and death among all SARS-CoV-2 test-positive patients in Denmark from February 2020 to October 2020” (p2).

The effect of immunosuppressants on the prognosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection

By: Daniel Ward, Sanne Gørtz, Martin Thomson Ernst, Nynne Nyboe Andersen, Susanne K. Kjær, Jesper Hallas, Steffen Christensen, Christian Fynbo Christiansen, Simone Bastrup Israelsen, Thomas Benfield, Anton Pottegård, and Tine Jess.

European Respiratory Journal 2022 59: 2100769; DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00769-2021

Link to the article: https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/erj/59/4/2100769.full.pdf

Just a few quotes from the article to get you thinking and started:

“A composite immunosuppressant exposure was associated with a significantly increased risk of death, which was mainly driven by a doubling of risk associated with systemic glucocorticoids. Glucocorticoids were also associated with a 34% increased risk of hospital admission, while the risk of ICU admission was not significantly increased”.

Page 6

 “Glucocorticoids were associated with increased risk of ICU admission or death in patients with comorbid inflammatory bowel diseases; glucocorticoids were associated with greater risk of hospital admission in patients with comorbid rheumatic diseases”.

Page 6

“While other pharmacological interventions remain relevant research candidates, evidence from multiple sources indicates the importance of glucocorticoids on prognosis, the effect of which may depend on timing in the disease course. Our findings that other immunosuppressants were not significantly associated with severe outcomes are tentative, but in context they support the continued use of steroid-sparing immunosuppressants for a broad patient population with ongoing healthcare needs during the pandemic.” (pp 7-8).

Pages 7 to 8

Happy reading and learning,

Farzad Refahi

March 27, 2022

https://respiratory.blog/lets-read-an-article-a-month-may-2022/

Let’s read an article a month – October 2021

by
The cropped screenshot of the first page of the article. It also includes the URL or link to the article.

Every month I try to read an open-access article. After reading the article, I share the title and associated link with my followers. This is to encourage clinicians to read articles, stay up to date, and continue to grow.

The objective of this paper is to “evaluate respiratory function 4 months after diagnosis in patients who survive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and the difference between patients with or without initial lung involvement” (p1).

Medium-term impact of COVID-19 on pulmonary function, functional capacity and quality of life

By: Fabio Anastasio, Sarah Barbuto, Elisa Scarnecchia, Paolo Cosma, Alessandro Fugagnoli, Giulio Rossi, Mirco Parravicini, and Pierpaolo Parravicini.

European Respiratory Journal 2021 58: 2004015; DOI: 10.1183/13993003.04015-2020

Link to the article: https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/58/3/2004015?etoc

Reasons I liked this article

  • The age range for this study was 18 to 80 years old (p2).  Also, a detailed assessment was attained from the subjects, of course post infection, which included SF-12 and IPAQ questionnaires, 6MWT,  and a comprehensive PFT (p2).
  • This study shows “a reduction of respiratory function and exercise capacity secondary to SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, mostly in patients who developed ARDS during the acute phase” (p9). 
  • The authors suggest that the data may indicate that “respiratory evaluation does not appear to be necessary in patients without pneumonia and without symptoms. DLCO, 6MWT and plethysmography could be avoided in patients without pneumonia, performing only spirometry with bronchodilator responsiveness testing…In contrast, in patients who developed ARDS, DLCO, 6MWT and complete spirometry could uncover presence of residual pulmonary and functional impairment, with need for respiratory rehabilitation and gradual physical activity “ (p10). 

As always, take the time to read this study. There is a lot of information and data covered in the study which I cannot cover here.  As a disclaimer, continue to follow guidelines for ordering PFTs and providing patient care as recommended by your employer and regulatory body.

Happy reading and learning,

Farzad Refahi

October 6th, 2021

https://respiratory.blog/lets-read-an-article-a-month-october-2021/