Related Articles

Prevalence and risk factors associated with wheezing in the first year of life.

J Pediatr (Rio J). 2013 Dec 19;

Authors: Bessa OA, Leite AJ, Solé D, Mallol J

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: to investigate the prevalence and risk factors associated with wheezing in infants in the first year of life.
METHODS: this was a cross-sectional study, in which a validated questionnaire (Estudio Internacional de Sibilancias en Lactantes - International Study of Wheezing in Infants - EISL) was applied to parents of infants aged between 12 and 15 months treated in 26 of 85 primary health care units in the period between 2006 and 2007. The dependent variable, wheezing, was defined using the following standards: occasional (up to two episodes of wheezing) and recurrent (three or more episodes of wheezing). The independent variables were shown using frequency distribution to compare the groups. Measures of association were based on odds ratio (OR) with a confidence interval of 95% (95% CI), using bivariate analysis, followed by multivariate analysis (adjusted OR [aOR]).
RESULTS: a total of 1,029 (37.7%) infants had wheezing episodes in the first 12 months of life; of these, 16.2% had recurrent wheezing. Risk factors for wheezing were family history of asthma (OR=2.12; 95% CI: 1.76-2.54) and six or more episodes of colds (OR=2.38; 95% CI: 1.91-2.97) and pneumonia (OR=3.02; 95% CI: 2.43-3.76). For recurrent wheezing, risk factors were: familial asthma (aOR=1.73; 95% CI 1.22-2.46); early onset wheezing (aOR=1.83; 95% CI: 1.75-3.75); nocturnal symptoms (aOR=2.56; 95% CI: 1.75-3.75), and more than six colds (aOR=2.07; 95% CI 1.43- .00).
CONCLUSION: the main risk factors associated with wheezing in Fortaleza were respiratory infections and family history of asthma. Knowing the risk factors for this disease should be a priority for public health, in order to develop control and treatment strategies.

PMID: 24361293 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

[Lung and pregnancy].

Rev Med Suisse. 2013 Nov 20;9(407):2142-4, 2146-9

Authors: Daccord C, Fitting JW

Abstract
During pregnancy several adaptations develop in response to the enhanced maternal and fetal metabolic needs. This review summarizes the major cardiorespiratory modifications of pregnancy as well as their consequences in chronic respiratory diseases such as restrictive ventilatory defects (post-tuberculosis pneumonectomy, kyphoscoliosis, neuromuscular disorders), asthma, cystic fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension. It is important to recognize early the cardiorespiratory situations for which pregnancy is contraindicated or associated with a high risk of respiratory complications. Clinical management by an expert and often pluridisciplinary team is recommended.

PMID: 24354248 [PubMed - in process]

Related Articles

Pulmonary hypertension due to left heart diseases.

J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013 Dec 24;62(25 Suppl):D100-8

Authors: Vachiéry JL, Adir Y, Barberà JA, Champion H, Coghlan JG, Cottin V, De Marco T, Galiè N, Ghio S, Gibbs JS, Martinez F, Semigran M, Simonneau G, Wells A, Seeger W

Abstract
Pulmonary hypertension (PH), a common complication of left heart diseases (LHD), negatively impacts symptoms, exercise capacity, and outcome. Although the true prevalence of PH-LHD is unknown, a subset of patients might present significant PH that cannot be explained by a passive increase in left-sided filling pressures. The term "out-of-proportion" PH has been used to identify that population without a clear definition, which has been found less than ideal and created confusion. We propose a change in terminology and a new definition of PH due to LHD. We suggest to abandon "out-of-proportion" PH and to distinguish "isolated post-capillary PH" from "post-capillary PH with a pre-capillary component" on the basis of the pressure difference between diastolic pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary artery wedge pressure. Although there is no validated treatment for PH-LHD, we provide insights into management and discuss completed and randomized trials in this condition. Finally, we provide recommendations for future clinical trials to establish safety and efficacy of novel compounds to target this area of unmet medical need.

PMID: 24355634 [PubMed - in process]

Related Articles

Pulmonary hypertension in chronic lung diseases.

J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013 Dec 24;62(25 Suppl):D109-16

Authors: Seeger W, Adir Y, Barberà JA, Champion H, Coghlan JG, Cottin V, De Marco T, Galiè N, Ghio S, Gibbs S, Martinez FJ, Semigran MJ, Simonneau G, Wells AU, Vachiéry JL

Abstract
Chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) and diffuse parenchymal lung diseases (DPLD), including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and sarcoidosis, are associated with a high incidence of pulmonary hypertension (PH), which is linked with exercise limitation and a worse prognosis. Patients with combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) are particularly prone to the development of PH. Echocardiography and right heart catheterization are the principal modalities for the diagnosis of COPD and DPLD. For discrimination between group 1 PH patients with concomitant respiratory abnormalities and group 3 PH patients (PH caused by lung disease), patients should be transferred to a center with expertise in both PH and lung diseases for comprehensive evaluation. The task force encompassing the authors of this article provided criteria for this discrimination and suggested using the following definitions for group 3 patients, as exemplified for COPD, IPF, and CPFE: COPD/IPF/CPFE without PH (mean pulmonary artery pressure [mPAP] <25 mm Hg); COPD/IPF/CPFE with PH (mPAP ≥25 mm Hg); PH-COPD, PH-IPF, and PH-CPFE); COPD/IPF/CPFE with severe PH (mPAP ≥35 mm Hg or mPAP ≥25 mm Hg with low cardiac index [CI <2.0 l/min/m(2)]; severe PH-COPD, severe PH-IPF, and severe PH-CPFE). The "severe PH group" includes only a minority of chronic lung disease patients who are suspected of having strong general vascular abnormalities (remodeling) accompanying the parenchymal disease and with evidence of an exhausted circulatory reserve rather than an exhausted ventilatory reserve underlying the limitation of exercise capacity. Exertional dyspnea disproportionate to pulmonary function tests, low carbon monoxide diffusion capacity, and rapid decline of arterial oxygenation upon exercise are typical clinical features of this subgroup with poor prognosis. Studies evaluating the effect of pulmonary arterial hypertension drugs currently not approved for group 3 PH patients should focus on this severe PH group, and for the time being, these patients should be transferred to expert centers for individualized patient care.

PMID: 24355635 [PubMed - in process]