Project description:The information regarding bronchiectasis with RA (BROS) is limited in Asia. The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of BROS in Taiwan. This multi-institute cohort study included patients with BROS from January 2006 to December 2017. The clinical, functional and microbiological data of these patients were retrieved from the Chang Gung Research Database. Respiratory failure and mortality were the primary outcomes. Severe exacerbation was defined as bronchiectasis- related hospitalizations or emergency department visits. A total of 343 patients with BROS were identified. One hundred and eight patients had severe exacerbation and exhibited significantly more previous exacerbations, a lower FEV1 and higher BACI score (11.1 vs. 7.5) than patients without severe exacerbation. The most prevalent species in sputum were Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) (14.8 %), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14.2 %), and fungus (5.9%). 68.8% of BROS patients used disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD), 7.9% used biological DMARD. NTM and tuberculosis infection rates were higher in bDMARD group compared with nbDMARD group and others. Overall, the 3-year respiratory failure rate and mortality rate were 14.6 and 25.7% respectively. Patients with RA diagnosed before bronchiectasis had a significantly higher cumulative incidence of mortality in a 3-year follow-up than those with RA diagnosed after bronchiectasis. In Cox regression, age, higher RF value and systemic steroid use were independent risk factors for mortality in BROS. BROS patients with severe exacerbation had a high mortality rate in Taiwan. bDMARD is associated with a trend of increased risk of NTM and TB infections.
Project description:Purpose:COPD-OSA (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-obstructive sleep apnea) overlap syndrome is associated with more frequent COPD acute exacerbations than COPD without OSA. With the application of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in COPD, bronchiectasis is commonly detected and is associated with disease severity. Sleep respiratory disease is also associated with bronchiectasis; however, the correlation between OSA and coexisted bronchiectasis in COPD (COPD-Bx) has not been reported yet. Patients and Methods:A total of 124 consecutive patients with stable COPD were enrolled. All subjects completed the chest HRCT and nocturnal polysomnography (PSG). The scores of extent and severity in bronchiectasis were assessed based on the Smith method and the Bhalla scoring system. Clinical data, questionnaire, routine blood test data, blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and Immunoglobulin E, and the lymphocyte subtype were collected. Results:Among all enrolled patients, 56.45% (70/124) were diagnosed as COPD-OSA based on the results of PSG screening. Bronchiectasis was detected in 42.86% (30/70) of the patients with COPD-OSA, but in 18.52% (10/54) of the patients without OSA (?2=8.264, p=0.004). PSG screening revealed that COPD with OSA had a significantly higher apnea-hypopnea index and percent of time spent with oxygen saturation below 90% (T90). Higher values of CRP, T90, and lower CD4/CD8 in the COPD-Bx with OSA were detected compared to COPD-Bx without OSA. Correlation analysis showed that the Bhalla severity score was related to CD8 cell count (r=0.446, p<0.05) and CD4/CD8 (r=-0.357, p<0.05) in all the COPD-Bx patients. The Smith extent score was also associated with the values of CD8 count (r=0.388, p<0.05) and CD4/CD8 (r=-0.381, p<0.05). Conclusion:The comorbid bronchiectasis was more common in COPD-OSA overlap syndrome patient and may be related to more severe hypoxia and increased systemic inflammation.
Project description:Individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma are an important but poorly characterised group. The genetic determinants of COPD and asthma overlap have not been studied. The aim of this study was to identify clinical features and genetic risk factors for COPD and asthma overlap. Subjects were current or former smoking non-Hispanic whites or African-Americans with COPD. Overlap subjects reported a history of physician-diagnosed asthma before the age of 40 years. We compared clinical and radiographic features between COPD and overlap subjects. We performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in the non-Hispanic whites and African-American populations, and combined these results in a meta-analysis. More females and African-Americans reported a history of asthma. Overlap subjects had more severe and more frequent respiratory exacerbations, less emphysema and greater airway wall thickness compared to subjects with COPD alone. The non-Hispanic white GWAS identified single nucleotide polymorphisms in the genes CSMD1 (rs11779254, p=1.57 × 10(-6)) and SOX5 (rs59569785, p=1.61 × 10(-6)) and the meta-analysis identified single nucleotide polymorphisms in the gene GPR65 (rs6574978, p=1.18 × 10(-7)) associated with COPD and asthma overlap. Overlap subjects have more exacerbations, less emphysema and more airway disease for any degree of lung function impairment compared to COPD alone. We identified novel genetic variants associated with this syndrome. COPD and asthma overlap is an important syndrome and may require distinct clinical management.
Project description:Occupational exposure to vapours, gases, dusts or fumes (VGDF) increases the prevalence of asthma-COPD overlap (ACO) in adult-onset asthma. VGDF exposure is independently associated with ACO and an additive effect with smoking is proposed. http://bit.ly/2LiMiXW.
Project description:We investigated the effects of statins on tuberculosis (TB) and pneumonia risks in asthma?chronic pulmonary disease overlap syndrome (ACOS) patients. We extracted data of patients diagnosed as having ACOS during 2000?2010 from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database and divided them into statin users and nonusers. All study participants were followed up from the index date until death, withdrawal from insurance, or TB and pneumonia occurred (31 December 2011). The cumulative TB and pneumonia incidence was analyzed using Cox proportional regression analysis with time-dependent variables. After adjustments for multiple confounding factors including age, sex, comorbidities, and use of medications [statins, inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs), or oral steroids (OSs)], statin use was associated with significantly lower TB [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.34?0.70] and pneumonia (aHR 0.52, 95% CI 0.41?0.65) risks. Moreover, aHRs (95% CIs) for statins combined with ICSs and OSs were respectively 0.60 (0.31?1.16) and 0.58 (0.40?0.85) for TB and 0.61 (0.39?0.95) and 0.57 (0.45?0.74) for pneumonia. Thus, statin users had lower TB and pneumonia risks than did nonusers, regardless of age, sex, comorbidities, and ICS or OS use. Pneumonia risk was lower among users of statins combined with ICSs or Oss and TB risk was lower among the users of statins combined with OSs.
Project description:PurposeAsthma and bronchiectasis are common chronic respiratory diseases, and their coexistence is frequently observed but not well investigated. Our aim was to study the effect of comorbid bronchiectasis on asthma.MethodsA propensity score-matched cohort study was conducted using the National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort database. From 2005 to 2008, 8,034 participants with asthma were weighted based on propensity scores in a 1:3 ratio with 24,099 participants without asthma. From the asthma group, 141 participants with overlapped bronchiectasis were identified, and 7,892 participants had only asthma. Clinical outcomes of acute asthma exacerbation(s) and mortality rates were compared among the study groups.ResultsThe prevalence of bronchiectasis (1.7%) was 3 times higher in asthmatics than in the general population of Korea. Patients who had asthma comorbid with bronchiectasis experienced acute exacerbation(s) more frequently than non-comorbid patients (11.3% vs. 5.8%, P = 0.007). Time to the first acute exacerbation was also shorter in the asthmatics with bronchiectasis group (1,970.9 days vs. 2,479.7 days, P = 0.005). Although bronchiectasis was identified as a risk factor for acute exacerbation (adjusted odds ratio, 1.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-2.86), there was no significant relationship between bronchiectasis and all-cause or respiratory mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.17; 95% CI, 0.67-2.04 and aHR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.11-6.08).ConclusionsComorbid bronchiectasis increases asthma-related acute exacerbation, but it does not-raise the risk of all-cause or respiratory mortality. Close monitoring and accurate diagnosis of bronchiectasis are required for patients with frequent exacerbations of asthma.
Project description:Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) is common in humans. We sought to profile sputum pathogen spectrum and impact of URTI on acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis (AE). Between March 2017 and December 2021, we prospectively collected sputum from adults with bronchiectasis. We stratified AEs into events related (URTI-AE) and unrelated to URTI (non-URTI-AE). We captured URTI without onset of AE (URTI-non-AE). We did bacterial culture and viral detection with polymerase chain reaction, and explored the pathogen spectrum and clinical impacts of URTI-AE via longitudinal follow-up. Finally, we collected 479 non-AE samples (113 collected at URTI-non-AE and 225 collected at clinically stable) and 170 AE samples (89 collected at URTI-AE and 81 collect at non-URTI-AE). The viral detection rate was significantly higher in URTI-AE (46.1%) than in non-URTI-AE (4.9%) and URTI-non-AE (11.5%) (both P < 0.01). Rhinovirus [odds ratio (OR): 5.00, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.06-23.56, P = 0.03] detection was independently associated with URTI-AE compared with non-URTI-AE. URTI-AE tended to yield higher viral load and detection rate of rhinovirus, metapneumovirus and bacterial shifting compared with URTI-non-AE. URTI-AE was associated with higher initial viral loads (esp. rhinovirus, metapneumovirus), greater symptom burden (higher scores of three validated questionnaires) and prolonged recovery compared to those without. Having experienced URTI-AE predicted a greater risk of future URTI-AE (OR: 10.90, 95%CI: 3.60-33.05). In summary, URTI is associated with a distinct pathogen spectrum and aggravates bronchiectasis exacerbation, providing the scientific rationale for the prevention of URTI to hinder bronchiectasis progression.
Project description:The term asthma-COPD overlap (ACO) has been used to identify a heterogeneous condition in which patients present with airflow limitation that is not completely reversible and clinical and inflammatory features of both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ACO diagnosis may be difficult in clinical practice, while controversy still exists regarding its definition, pathophysiology, and impact. Patients with ACO experience a greater disease burden compared to patients with asthma or COPD alone, but in contrast they show better response to inhaled corticosteroid treatment than other COPD phenotypes. Current management recommendations focus on defining specific and measurable treatable clinical traits, according to disease phenotypes and underlying biological mechanisms for every single patient. In this publication, we review the current knowledge on definition, pathophysiology, clinical characteristics, and management options of ACO.
Project description:BackgroundMetformin is associated with improved respiratory outcomes in asthma; however, metformin in COPD and asthma-COPD overlap (ACO) remains unexplored.ObjectiveTo determine the association between metformin use and respiratory outcomes in COPD and ACO.Study design and methodsParticipants with COPD (FEV1/FVC < 0.70) in the Genetic Epidemiology of COPD study (COPDGene®) were categorized as ACO (n = 510), defined as concurrent physician-diagnosed asthma before age 40 years, or COPD alone (n = 3459). We estimated the association of baseline metformin use with (1) rate of total and severe respiratory exacerbations during follow-up, (2) cross-sectional St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) score, six-minute walk distance (6MWD), and post-bronchodilator FEV1 percent predicted (FEV1pp), and (3) 5-year change in SGRQ, 6MWD, and FEV1pp. We also examined change in SGRQ, 6MWD and FEV1pp among participants who initiated metformin during follow-up (n = 108) compared to persistent metformin non-users (n = 2080). Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic factors, medications, and comorbidities.ResultsAmong participants with ACO, metformin use was associated with lower rate of total (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] 0.3; 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 0.11, 0.77) and severe exacerbations (aIRR 0.29; 95%CI 0.10, 0.89). Among participants with COPD alone, there was no association between metformin use with total (aIRR 0.98; 95%CI 0.62, 1.5) or severe exacerbations (aIRR 1.3; 95% CI 0.68, 2.4) (p-interaction < 0.05). Metformin use was associated with lower baseline SGRQ score (adjusted mean difference [aMD] - 2.7; 95%CI - 5.3, - 0.2) overall. Metformin initiation was associated with improved SGRQ score (aMD -10.0; 95% CI - 18.7, - 1.2) among participants with ACO but not COPD alone (p-interaction < 0.05). There was no association between metformin use and 6MWD or FEV1pp in any comparison.ConclusionsMetformin use was associated with fewer respiratory exacerbations and improved quality of life among individuals with ACO but not COPD alone. Results suggest a potential role for metformin in ACO which requires further prospective study.Trial registryNCT00608764.
Project description:The effects of forced vital capacity (FVC) on clinical outcomes of asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases overlap (ACO) are still unknown. We conducted this study to examine the association of FVC on clinical outcomes in ACO. Data from the Korean COPD Subgroup Study cohort were analyzed. Patients who fulfilled the ACO criteria were included and grouped according to FVC changes, such as FVC-incline and FVC-decline. No significant differences were observed between the FVC-incline and FVC-decline groups in baseline clinical characteristics. In a year after, FVC-decline group experienced more moderate (47.1% vs. 36.8%, p = 0.02) and moderate-to-severe (49.8% vs. 39.6%, p = 0.03) acute exacerbations (AEs), compared to FVC-incline group. The frequency of moderate AEs (1.3 ± 2.1 vs. 0.9 ± 1.7, p = 0.03) and moderate-to-severe AEs (1.5 ± 2.5 vs. 1.1 ± 1.9, p = 0.04) were higher in the FVC-decline group than in the FVC-incline groups. After adjusting for confounding factors, FVC-decline group was associated with moderate AEs (odds ratio [OR] = 1.58; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-2.44; p = 0.04), and moderate-to-severe AEs (OR = 1.56; 95% CI 1.01-2.41; p < 0.05) in ACO patients, which was not seen in FEV1 changes. FVC changes are associated with clinical outcomes in ACO.