Development and validation of reference equations for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry-derived measures of fat-free mass in adults aged 45-85 years: results from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

Reference equations for fat-free mass (FFM) and lean soft tissue mass (LM) measures obtained from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) are important for the interpretation of body composition. This study developed and validated reference equations for FFM and LM using DEXA from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. Reference equations were developed using data from a random population-based sample of ostensibly healthy and functionally independent adults aged 45-85 years.

Functional Recovery of Adults Following Acute COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the objective, functional recovery of patients more than 3 months after acute COVID-19 infection.

Methods: Comprehensive database searches of EMBASE, PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane COVID-19 Study Register, CINAHL, and Google Scholar in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement were carried out until October 19, 2022. Data were extracted and agreed in duplicate.

Do pulmonary rehabilitation programmes improve outcomes in patients with COPD posthospital discharge for exacerbation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Previous systematic reviews have provided heterogeneous and differing estimates for the efficacy of pulmonary rehabilitation following exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this review was to examine the efficacy of pulmonary rehabilitation programmes initiated within 3 weeks of hospital discharge following an exacerbation of COPD.

Methods: An update of a previous Cochrane review was undertaken using the Cochrane Airways Review Group Specialised Register.

A fully automated pipeline for the extraction of pectoralis muscle area from chest computed tomography scans.

Background: Computed tomography (CT)-derived pectoralis muscle area (PMA) measurements are prognostic in people with or at-risk of COPD, but fully automated PMA extraction has yet to be developed. Our objective was to develop and validate a PMA extraction pipeline that can automatically: 1) identify the aortic arch slice; and 2) perform pectoralis segmentation at that slice.

Methods: CT images from the Canadian Cohort of Obstructive Lung Disease (CanCOLD) study were used for pipeline development.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Adults with Chronic Respiratory Disease: An Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Practice Guideline.

Despite the known benefits of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) for patients with chronic respiratory disease, this treatment is underused. Evidence-based guidelines should lead to greater knowledge of the proven benefits of PR, highlight the role of PR in evidence-based health care, and in turn foster referrals to and more effective delivery of PR for people with chronic respiratory disease. The multidisciplinary panel formulated six research questions addressing PR for specific patient groups (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], interstitial lung disease, and pulmonary hypertension) and models for PR delivery (telerehabilitation, maintenance PR).

Efficacy of interventions to alter measures of fat-free mass in people with COPD: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Low fat-free mass (FFM) is linked to poor health outcomes in COPD, including impaired exercise tolerance and premature death. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesise evidence on the effectiveness of interventions for increasing FFM in COPD.

Methods: Searches of electronic databases (MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus) and trial registers (ClinicalTrials.

The Association between Fat-Free Mass and Exercise Test Outcomes in People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review.

People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) tend to have abnormally low levels of fat-free mass (FFM), which includes skeletal muscle mass as a central component. The purpose of this systematic review was to synthesise available evidence on the association between FFM and exercise test outcomes in COPD. MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched.

Patient-related outcomes in patients referred to a respiratory clinic with persisting symptoms following non-hospitalised COVID-19.

Survivors of COVID-19 can present with varied and persisting symptoms, regardless of hospitalisation. We describe the ongoing symptoms, quality of life and return to work status in a cohort of non-hospitalised COVID-19 survivors with persisting respiratory symptoms presenting to clinic, who consented and completed patient-reported outcome measures. We identified fatigue, reduced quality of life and dysregulated breathing alongside the breathlessness.

Efficacy of unsupervised exercise in adults with obstructive lung disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: The benefits of unsupervised exercise programmes in obstructive lung disease are unclear. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesise evidence regarding the efficacy of unsupervised exercise versus non-exercise-based usual care in patients with obstructive lung disease.

Methods: Electronic databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Physiotherapy Evidence Database) and trial registers (ClinicalTrials.

Questionnaires or Serum Immunoglobulin G Testing in the Diagnosis of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis among Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) results from exposure to a variety of stimuli, which are challenging to identify. Questionnaires and serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) testing are methods to identify potentially causative exposures. To perform a systematic review to determine the usefulness of questionnaires and serum IgG testing in identifying exposures that may have caused HP.

Inflammatory responses to acute exercise during pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with COPD.

Objective: Pulmonary rehabilitation is a cornerstone treatment in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Acute bouts of exercise can lead to short bursts of inflammation in healthy individuals. However, it is unclear how COPD patients respond to acute bouts of exercise.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Lymphocytes in the Diagnosis of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis among Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an interstitial lung disease (ILD) characterized by inflammation and/or fibrosis in response to an inhalational exposure. To determine the value of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid lymphocyte cellular analysis in the detection of HP among patients with newly detected ILD. This systematic review was undertaken in the context of development of an American Thoracic Society, Japanese Respiratory Society, and Asociación Latinoamericana del Tórax clinical practice guideline.

Coldzyme® Mouth Spray reduces duration of upper respiratory tract infection symptoms in endurance athletes under free living conditions.

Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) can compromise athlete preparation and performance, so countermeasures are desirable. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of ColdZyme® Mouth Spray (ColdZyme) on self-reported upper respiratory tract infection in competitive endurance athletes under free-living conditions. One hundred and twenty-three endurance-trained, competitive athletes (recruited across 4 sites in England, UK) were randomised to control (no treatment,  = 61) or ColdZyme ( = 62) for a 3-month study period (between December 2017 and March 2018; or December 2018 and April 2019).

Clinical Outcomes and Inflammatory Responses of the Frequent Exacerbator in Pulmonary Rehabilitation: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Frequent exacerbators of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a distinct clinical phenotype characterised by systemic inflammation. Study objectives were to determine clinical outcomes of pulmonary rehabilitation in frequent exacerbators and the impact this has on the key surrogate markers of this phenotype. Eighty-five mild-very severe COPD patients (FEV pred, 52 ± 18%) were categorised as frequent (≥2 exacerbations per year,  = 50) or infrequent exacerbators (≤1 exacerbation per year,  = 35).

Efficacy of supervised maintenance exercise following pulmonary rehabilitation on health care use: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: The clinical benefit of continued supervised maintenance exercise programs following pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD remains unclear. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the available evidence on the efficacy of supervised maintenance exercise programs compared to usual care following pulmonary rehabilitation completion on health care use and mortality.

Methods: Electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, and PEDro) and trial registers (ClinicalTrials.