UK National COPD Resources and Outcomes Project 2008: Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations Who Present with Radiological Pneumonia Have Worse Outcome Compared to Those with Non-Pneumonic Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations.

Respiration. 2011 May 20;

Authors: Myint PK, Lowe D, Stone RA, Buckingham RJ, Roberts CM

Background: Limited comparative data exist on the outcomes of patients presenting with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations with or without radiological pneumonia. Objective: To examine the outcome differences amongst these patients. Methods: We analysed 2008 UK National COPD audit data to examine the characteristics, management and outcomes, inpatient- and 90-day mortality and length of stay of patients admitted with COPD exacerbations. Results: Of 9,338 admissions, 16% (1,505) had changes consistent with pneumonia indicated on the admission chest X-ray. They tended to be older (mean ages 75 vs. 72 years), male (53 vs. 50%), more likely to come from care homes, with more disability, higher BMI and co-morbidity, lower albumin but higher urea levels, and less likely to be current smokers. COPD exacerbations with pneumonia were associated with worse outcomes: inpatient mortality was 11 and 7% and 90-day mortality was 17 and 13% for pneumonia and non-pneumonia patients, respectively (p < 0.001). After adjusting for factors that are significantly different between the 2 groups, including age, sex, place of residence, level of disability, co-morbidity, albumin and urea levels, estimated risk ratios for inpatient and 90-day mortality for pneumonia compared to non-pneumonia cases in this series were 1.19 (1.01,1.42) and 1.09 (0.96,1.23), respectively. The adjusted risk ratio of a prolonged acute hospital stay of more than 7 days was 1.15 (1.07, 1.23). Conclusions: Patients who present with radiological pneumonia have worse outcomes compared to those admitted without pneumonia in exacerbation of COPD.

PMID: 21597277 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Earlier detection of COPD.

Prim Care Respir J. 2011 Jun;20(2):222

Authors: Jones R

PMID: 21597659 [PubMed - in process]

Viral and atypical bacterial detection in acute respiratory infection in children under five years.

PLoS One. 2011;6(4):e18928

Authors: Bezerra PG, Britto MC, Correia JB, Duarte Mdo C, Fonceca AM, Rose K, Hopkins MJ, Cuevas LE, McNamara PS

Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide. This study aimed to determine the viral and atypical bacterial causes of different severities and clinical manifestations of ARI in preschool children from low-income families in North-East Brazil.

PMID: 21533115 [PubMed - in process]

Which symptoms and clinical features correctly identify serious respiratory infection in children attending a paediatric assessment unit?

Arch Dis Child. 2011 May 17;

Authors: Blacklock C, Mayon-White R, Coad N, Thompson M

Objective Parent-reported symptoms are frequently used to triage children, but little is known about which symptoms identify children with serious respiratory infections. The authors aimed to identify symptoms and triage findings predictive of serious respiratory infection, and to quantify agreement between parent and nurse assessment. Design Prospective diagnostic cohort study. Setting Paediatric Assessment Unit, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust. Patients 535 children aged between 3 months and 12 years with suspected acute infection. Methods Parents completed a symptom questionnaire on arrival. Children were triaged by a nurse, who measured routine vital signs. The final diagnosis at discharge was used as the outcome. Symptoms and triage findings were analysed to identify features diagnostic of serious respiratory infection. Agreement between parent and triage nurse assessment was measured and kappa values calculated. Results Parent-reported symptoms were poor indicators of serious respiratory infection (positive likelihood ratio (LR+) 0.56-1.93) and agreed poorly with nurse assessment (kappa 0.22-0.56). The best predictor was clinical assessment of respiratory distress (LR+ 5.04). Oxygen saturations <94% were highly specific (specificity 95.1%) but had poor sensitivity (35.6%). Tachypnoea (defined by current Advanced Paediatric Life Support standards) offered little discriminatory value. Conclusion Parent-reported symptoms were unreliable discriminators of serious respiratory infection in children with suspected acute infection, and did not correlate well with nurse assessment. Using symptoms to identify higher risk children in this setting is unreliable. Nurse triage assessment of respiratory distress and some vital signs are important predictors.

PMID: 21586436 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]