Project description:RationaleIn developing countries, poor and rural areas have a high burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and environmental pollutants and indoor burning of biomass have been implicated as potential causal exposures. Less is known about the prevalence of COPD in the United States with respect to urban-rural distribution, poverty, and factors that uniquely contribute to COPD among never-smokers.ObjectivesTo understand the impact of urban-rural status, poverty, and other community factors on COPD prevalence nationwide and among never-smokers.MethodsWe studied a nationally representative sample of adults in the National Health Interview Survey 2012-2015, with data linkage between neighborhood data from the U.S. Census's American Community Survey and the National Center for Health Statistics Urban-Rural Classification Scheme. The main outcome was COPD prevalence.Measurements and main resultsThe prevalence of COPD in poor, rural areas was almost twice that in the overall population (15.4% vs. 8.4%). In adjusted models, rural residence (odds ratio [OR], 1.23; P < 0.001) and census-level poverty (OR, 1.12; P = 0.012) were both associated with COPD prevalence, as were indicators of household wealth. Among never-smokers, rural residence was also associated with COPD (OR, 1.34; P < 0.001), as was neighborhood use of coal for heating (OR, 1.09; P < 0.001).ConclusionsIn a nationally representative sample, rural residence and poverty were risk factors for COPD, even among never-smokers. The use of coal for heating was also a risk factor for COPD among never-smokers. Future disparities research to elucidate contributors to COPD development in poor and rural areas, including assessments of heating sources and environmental pollutants, is needed.
Project description:RationaleCured meats are high in nitrites. Nitrites generate reactive nitrogen species that may cause nitrative and nitrosative damage to the lung resulting in emphysema.ObjectiveTo test the hypothesis that frequent consumption of cured meats is associated with lower lung function and increased odds of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).MethodsCross-sectional study of 7,352 participants in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 45 years of age or more, who had adequate measures of cured meat, fish, fruit, and vegetable intake, and spirometry.ResultsAfter adjustment for age, smoking, and multiple other potential confounders, frequency of cured meat consumption was inversely associated with FEV(1) and FEV(1)/FVC but not FVC. The adjusted differences in FEV(1) between individuals who did not consume cured meats and those who consumed cured meats 1 to 2, 3 to 4, 5 to 13, and 14 or more times per month were -37.6, -11.5, -42.0, and -110 ml, respectively (p for trend < 0.001). Corresponding differences for FEV(1)/FVC were -0.91, -0.54, -1.13, and -2.13% (p for trend = 0.001). These associations were not modified by smoking status. The multivariate odds ratio for COPD (FEV(1)/FVC <or= 0.7 and FEV(1) < 80% predicted) was 1.78 (95% confidence interval, 1.29-2.47) comparing the highest with the lowest category of cured meat consumption. The corresponding odds ratios for mild, moderate, and severe COPD were 1.11, 1.46, and 2.41, respectively.ConclusionsFrequent cured meat consumption was associated independently with an obstructive pattern of lung function and increased odds of COPD. Additional studies are required to determine if cured meat consumption is a causal risk factor for COPD.
Project description:BackgroundGlobal Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines recommend triple therapy (TT) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients based on severity. TT utilization by severity is infrequently studied in real-world settings and may deviate significantly from current clinical recommendations. This study describes prescribing pathways to TT among patients with COPD in the United States.MethodsThis study analyzed Geisinger Health System electronic medical records from 1 January 2004 to 30 November 2016. Two retrospective cohorts of COPD patients were included: (1) incident COPD, and (2) incident TT users. COPD treatment patterns, including time to TT, were summarized. Time to TT was estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods. Predictors of the relative hazard for TT among incident COPD patients were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regressions.ResultsIncident COPD and TT cohorts included 57,141 and 8173 patients, respectively. TT was used by 9.6% of incident COPD patients. In the year before TT, 34.3% of incident TT patients received treatment combinations recommended before TT according to GOLD recommendations, which mainly included: long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs), long-acting beta agonists (LABAs) + LAMAs, and inhaled corticosteroids + LABAs. Among incident TT patients, median time from COPD diagnosis to TT exceeded 2 years. The hazard for TT over time was associated with lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s values, more frequent exacerbations, current/previous smoking, and comorbid lung conditions such as pulmonary vascular disease, acute respiratory failure, and lung cancer. About 15-20% of the incident TT patients stepped down to a one- or two-drug regimen. Median time to TT discontinuation or step-down were 2 and 9 months, respectively.ConclusionThe study has revealed discrepancies in the treatment of COPD patients between GOLD guidelines and actual clinical practices in the United States. Pathways to TT differed from recommended therapy regimes. Further studies are needed to understand barriers to the use of guideline-recommended TTs by healthcare providers.The reviews of this paper are available via the supplemental material section.
Project description:There are associations between tobacco retailer density and smoking behaviors, but little is known about whether places with more tobacco retailers have more smoking-related health problems. Using cross-sectional data from 2014, we investigated the relationships between tobacco retailer density and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) related outcomes in a sample of 1510 counties across the United States. Higher retailer density was associated with a 19% (IRR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.12-1.27) higher COPD-related hospital discharge rate and 30% (IRR, 1.30; 95% CI 1.21-1.39) higher total COPD-related hospital costs per population. The tobacco retailer environment may be an important target for reducing smoking-related health burdens and costs.
Project description:Diaphragm muscles in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients undergo an adaptive fast to slow transformation that includes cellular adaptations. This project studies the signaling mechanisms responsible for this transformation. Keywords: other
Project description:Lyme disease (LD) is the most common vector-borne disease in the USA. Beyond its tick-borne nature, however, risk factors for LD are poorly understood. We used an online questionnaire to compare LD patients and non-LD counterparts and elucidate factors associated with LD. We investigated demographic, lifestyle, and household characteristics and use of prevention measures. Associations with LD were modeled using logistic regression, and average marginal effects were estimated. In total, 185 active or past LD patients and 139 non-patients participated. The majority of respondents were white (95%) and female (65%). Controlling for age, sex, and type of residential area, pet ownership was associated with an 11.1% (p = 0.038) increase in the probability of LD. This effect was limited to cat owners (OR: 2.143, p = 0.007; dog owners, OR: 1.398, p = 0.221). Living in rural areas was associated with a 36% (p = 0.001) increase in the probability of LD compared to living in an urban area. Participants who reported knowing someone with Lyme Disease were more likely to wear insect repellant and perform tick checks. This study suggests opportunities for improved LD prevention, including advising cat owners of their increased risk. Although patterns in adoption of LD prevention methods remain poorly understood, concern about LD risk does motivate their use.
Project description:An obesity paradox in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), whereby overweight/obese individuals have improved survival, has been well-described. These studies have generally included smokers. It is unknown whether the paradox exists in individuals with COPD arising from factors other than smoking. Nonsmoking COPD is understudied yet represents some 25%-45% of the disease worldwide. To determine whether the obesity paradox differs between ever- and never-smokers with COPD, 1,723 adult participants with this condition were examined from 2 iterations of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994, 2007-2010), with mortality outcomes followed through December 2011. Using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusted for sociodemographic factors, lung function, and survey cycle, ever/never-smoking was found to modify the association between body mass index and hazard of death. Compared with normal-weight participants, overweight/obese participants had lower hazard of death among ever-smokers (for overweight, adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 0.56, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.43, 0.74; for obesity, aHR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.48, 0.92), but never-smokers did not (overweight, aHR = 1.41, 95% CI: 0.66, 3.03; obesity, aHR = 1.29, 95% CI: 0.48, 3.48). An obesity paradox appeared to be absent among never-smokers with COPD. This, to our knowledge, novel finding might be explained by pathophysiological differences between smoking-related and nonsmoking COPD or by smoking-associated methodological biases.
Project description:RationaleThe patterns and outcomes of noninvasive, positive-pressure ventilation (NIPPV) use in patients hospitalized for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) nationwide are unknown.ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence and trends of noninvasive ventilation for acute COPD.MethodsWe used data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Inpatient Sample to assess the pattern and outcomes of NIPPV use for acute exacerbations of COPD from 1998 to 2008.Measurements and main resultsAn estimated 7,511,267 admissions for acute exacerbations occurred from 1998 to 2008. There was a 462% increase in NIPPV use (from 1.0 to 4.5% of all admissions) and a 42% decline in invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) use (from 6.0 to 3.5% of all admissions) during these years. This was accompanied by an increase in the size of a small cohort of patients requiring transition from NIPPV to IMV. In-hospital mortality in this group appeared to be worsening over time. By 2008, these patients had a high mortality rate (29.3%), which represented 61% higher odds of death compared with patients directly placed on IMV (95% confidence interval, 24-109%) and 677% greater odds of death compared with patients treated with NIPPV alone (95% confidence interval, 475-948%). With the exception of patients transitioned from NIPPV to IMV, in-hospital outcomes were favorable and improved steadily year by year.ConclusionsThe use of NIPPV has increased significantly over time among patients hospitalized for acute exacerbations of COPD, whereas the need for intubation and in-hospital mortality has declined. However, the rising mortality rate in a small but expanding group of patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation after treatment with noninvasive ventilation needs further investigation.
Project description:RationaleCurrent practice guidelines recommend pulmonary rehabilitation as an adjunct to standard pharmacologic therapy for individuals with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Whether pulmonary rehabilitation benefits all subjects with COPD independent of baseline disease burden is not known.ObjectivesTo test whether pulmonary rehabilitation benefits patients with COPD independent of baseline exercise capacity, dyspnea, and lung function.MethodsData from a prospectively maintained database of participants with COPD enrolled in pulmonary rehabilitation at the University of Alabama at Birmingham from 1996 to 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Subjects were divided into four quartiles based on their baseline level of dyspnea as assessed by the San Diego Shortness of Breath Questionnaire at the initial visit. Similar quartiles were assessed for FEV1 percent predicted as well as the 6-minute-walk distance (6MWD). The primary outcome was the change in quality of life as measured by the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Secondary outcomes were change in dyspnea, 6MWD, and depression scores assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II. Differences between baseline and final scores were compared using paired t tests and across quartiles using analysis of variance.Measurements and main resultsA total of 229 subjects were included. Their mean age was 66.5 (SD, 9) years. Ninety-one (40%) were female, and 42 (18%) were African American. The mean FEV1 percent predicted was 46.3% (20.0%). On completion of pulmonary rehabilitation, clinically significant improvements were seen in most components of SF-36: physical function, 11.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.4-15.5; P < 0.001); health perception, 2.1 (95% CI, -0.7 to 4.8; P = 0.12); physical role, 16.7 (95% CI, 10.3-23.1; P < 0.001); emotional role, 14.7 (95% CI, 7.1-22.3; P < 0.001); social function, 16.4 (95% CI, 11.3-21.5; P < 0.001); mental health, 5.4 (95% CI, 2.6-8.3; P < 0.001); pain, 5 (95% CI, 1-9.1; P = 0.02); vitality, 12.4 (95% CI, 8.8-16.1; P < 0.001); and depression, 0.01 (95% CI, -0.11 to 0.07; P = 0.54). There was no difference in improvement in SF-36 across quartiles of San Diego Shortness of Breath Questionnaire, 6MWD, and FEV1 percent predicted.ConclusionsPulmonary rehabilitation results in significant improvement in quality of life, dyspnea, and functional capacity independent of baseline disease burden.