Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019-Related Infection Prevention and Control Measures on the Occurrence of COPD Exacerbations During Inpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

Rationale: A significant reduction in hospitalizations for acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPDs) has been reported during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. It remains unclear whether this reduction is the result of health care avoidance by patients, or of infection prevention and control (IPC) measures.

Objectives: Our objective was to explore the impact of COVID-19-related IPC measures on the occurrence of AECOPD in a real-life inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) setting, thereby ruling out potential effects of health care avoidance.

Severe Fatigue in Long COVID: Web-Based Quantitative Follow-up Study in Members of Online Long COVID Support Groups.

Background: Fatigue is the most commonly reported symptom in patients with persistent complaints following COVID-19 (ie, long COVID). Longitudinal studies examining the intensity of fatigue and differentiating between physical and mental fatigue are lacking.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to (1) assess the severity of fatigue over time in members of online long COVID peer support groups, and (2) assess whether members of these groups experienced mental fatigue, physical fatigue, or both.

Understanding and Being Understood: Information and Care Needs of 2113 Patients With Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19.

To become a proactive and informed partner in postacute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) management, patients need to have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to self-manage COVID-19-related health challenges. Due to several restrictions and consequently social isolation, online platforms and forums where people can share information and experiences became more popular and influential. Therefore, this study aimed to identify perceived information needs and care needs of members of 2 Facebook groups for patients with COVID-19 and persistent complaints in the Netherlands and Belgium and patients with COVID-19 who registered at a website of the Lung Foundation Netherlands.

Recovery from COVID-19: a sprint or marathon? 6-month follow-up data from online long COVID-19 support group members.

Background: It remains unknown whether and to what extent members of online "long COVID" peer support groups remain symptomatic and limited over time. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate symptoms in members of online long COVID peer support groups up to 6 months after the onset of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related symptoms.

Methods: Demographics, symptoms, health status, work productivity, functional status and health-related quality of life were assessed about 3 and 6 months after the onset of COVID-19-related symptoms in members of online long COVID peer support groups.

Persistent symptoms 3 months after a SARS-CoV-2 infection: the post-COVID-19 syndrome?

Background: Many patients with COVID-19 did not require hospitalisation, nor underwent COVID-19 testing. There is anecdotal evidence that patients with "mild" COVID-19 may complain about persistent symptoms, even weeks after the infection. This suggests that symptoms during the infection may not resolve spontaneously.

An update on pulmonary rehabilitation techniques for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is one of the core components in the management of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In order to achieve the maximal level of independence, autonomy, and functioning of the patient, targeted therapies and interventions based on the identification of physical, emotional and social traits need to be provided by a dedicated, interdisciplinary PR team.: The review discusses cardiopulmonary exercise testing in the selection of different modes of training modalities.

A randomized study using functional respiratory imaging to characterize bronchodilator effects of glycopyrrolate/formoterol fumarate delivered by a metered dose inhaler using co-suspension delivery technology in patients with COPD.

Background: Functional respiratory imaging (FRI) uses high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans to assess changes in airway volume and resistance.

Patients And Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, 2-week, crossover, Phase IIIB study, patients with moderate-to-severe COPD received twice-daily glycopyrrolate/formoterol fumarate delivered by a metered dose inhaler (GFF MDI, 18/9.6 μg) and placebo MDI, formulated using innovative co-suspension delivery technology.

Changes in ventilation-perfusion during and after an COPD exacerbation: an assessment using fluid dynamic modeling.

Introduction: Severe exacerbations associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that require hospitalization significantly contribute to morbidity and mortality. Definitions for exacerbations are very broad, and it is unclear whether there is one predominant underlying mechanism that leads to them. Functional respiratory imaging (FRI) with modeling provides detailed information about airway resistance, hyperinflation, and ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) mismatch during and following an acute exacerbation.

Pathophysiological mechanism of long-term noninvasive ventilation in stable hypercapnic patients with COPD using functional respiratory imaging.

Introduction: Patients with severe COPD often develop chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure. Their prognosis worsens and they are more likely to develop exacerbations. This has major influence on the health-related quality of life.

Pulmonary vascular effects of pulsed inhaled nitric oxide in COPD patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Introduction: Severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is often associated with secondary pulmonary hypertension (PH), which worsens prognosis. PH can be lowered by oxygen, but also by inhaled nitric oxide (NO), which has the potential to improve the health status of these patients. NO is an important mediator in vascular reactions in the pulmonary circulation.

Efficacy of inhaled medications in asthma and COPD related to disease severity.

The administration of medication by inhalation has become the most important route in treating airway diseases. The efficacy of this route depends on several factors like correct inhalation techniques, compliance and the size of the particles. The flow properties and internal flow distribution contribute to the deposition pattern.

Functional respiratory imaging to assess the interaction between systemic roflumilast and inhaled ICS/LABA/LAMA.

Background: Patients with COPD show a significant reduction of the lobar hyperinflation at the functional residual capacity level in the patients who improved >120 mL in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) after 6 months of treatment with roflumilast in addition to inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs)/long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABAs)/long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs).

Methods: Functional respiratory imaging was used to quantify lobar hyperinflation, blood vessel density, ventilation, aerosol deposition, and bronchodilation. To investigate the exact mode of action of roflumilast, correlations between lobar and global measures have been tested using a mixed-model approach with nested random factors and Pearson correlation, respectively.

Functional respiratory imaging (FRI) for optimizing therapy development and patient care.

Functional imaging techniques offer the possibility of improved visualization of anatomical structures such as; airways, lobe volumes and blood vessels. Computer-based flow simulations with a three-dimensional element add functionality to the images. By providing valuable detailed information about airway geometry, internal airflow distribution and inhalation profile, functional respiratory imaging can be of use routinely in the clinic.