Relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Introduction: The association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and glucose metabolism remains controversial. This study investigates the relationship between OSA and incident type 2 diabetes (DM) and prediabetes (preDM), as well as the effect of long-term CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) treatment.

Methods: Follow-up study in a retrospective clinical cohort of patients with OSA and randomly selected controls.

Evolution of smoking prevalence in Spain and its 17 autonomous regions (1987-2020).

Background And Objectives: Continuous monitoring of smoking prevalence is essential to understand the evolution of the tobacco epidemic in a population. The objective of this study was to analyze the evolution of smoking prevalence in Spain and its 17 Autonomous Regions (ARs) in population ≥15 years during the period 1987-2020.

Methods: Tobacco consumption data were derived from the National Health Survey of Spain and the European Health Survey in Spain.

Frequency and characteristics of asthma in smokers attending smoking cessation units in Spain.

Introduction: The interaction between smoking and asthma impairs lung function and increases airflow obstruction severity. The identification of smoking patterns in smokers with and without asthma is crucial to provide the best care strategies. The aims of this study are to estimate asthma frequency, describe asthma features, and characterize smoking in smokers attending smoking cessation units.

Usefulness of a predictive model to hospitalize patients with low-risk community-acquired pneumonia.

Introduction: A high proportion of patients with low-risk community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) (classes I-III of the Pneumonia Severity Index) are hospitalized. The purpose of this study was to determine whether validated severity scales are used in clinical practice to make admission decisions, identify the variables that influence this decision, and evaluate the potential predictive value of these variables.

Materials And Methods: A prospective, observational study of patients ≥ 18 years of age with a diagnosis of low-risk CAP hospitalized or referred from the Emergency Department to outpatient consultations.

Diabetes and obstructive sleep apnoea: A case-control study.

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are very prevalent diseases frequently associated. Their coexistence is independently associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities. As this association is underdiagnosed, it is necessary to optimise clinical suspicion by studying independent predictors of DM or prediabetes (preDM) in patients with OSA.

Characteristics of pleural effusion due to amyloidosis.

The characteristics of patients with pleural amyloidosis (PA) are poorly known. A systematic review was performed of studies reporting clinical findings, pleural fluid (PF) characteristics, and the most effective treatment of PA. Case descriptions and retrospective studies were included.

Cost-Effectiveness of a New Outpatient Pulmonology Care Model Based on Physician-to-Physician Electronic Consultation.

Introduction: This study assesses the impact of an electronic physician-to-physician consultation program on the waiting list and the costs of a Pulmonology Unit.

Materials And Methods: A prepost intervention study was conducted after a new ambulatory pulmonary care protocol was implemented and the capacity of the unit was adopted. In the new model, physicians at all levels of healthcare send electronic consultations to specialists.

Sarcoidosis. Disease progression based on radiological and functional course: Predictive factors.

Background: Sarcoidosis is a multiorgan granulomatous disease with a variable course.

Oobjectives: The purpose of this study is to identify the patients that are more likely to experience disease progression.

Methods: A retrospective study in patients ≥18 years.

Risk Factors of Mortality in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19 Applying a Machine Learning Algorithm.

Introduction: Risk stratification of patients with COVID-19 can be fundamental to support clinical decision-making and optimize resources. The objective of our study is to identify among the routinely tested clinical and analytical parameters those that would allow us to determine patients with the highest risk of dying from COVID-19.

Material And Methods: We carried out a retrospective cohort multicentric study by consecutively, including hospitalized patients with COVID-19 admitted in any of the 11 hospitals in the healthcare network of HM Hospitals-Spain.

Effect of high low dose of dexamethasone on clinical worsening in patients hospitalised with moderate or severe COVID-19 pneumonia: an open-label, randomised clinical trial.

Background: Low-dose dexamethasone demonstrated clinical improvement in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) needing oxygen therapy; however, evidence on the efficacy of high-dose dexamethasone is limited.

Methods: We performed a randomised, open-label, controlled trial involving hospitalised patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia needing oxygen therapy. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive low-dose dexamethasone (6 mg once daily for 10 days) or high-dose dexamethasone (20 mg once daily for 5 days, followed by 10 mg once daily for an additional 5 days).

Evaluation of the impact of an integrated care pathway for pulmonary embolism: a quasi-experimental pre-post study.

Background: An integrated care pathway (ICP) is intended to improve the management of prevalent resource-consuming, life-threatening diseases. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the quality of patient care improved with the establishment of a dedicated unit for pulmonary embolism (PE).

Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-post study (pre: years 2010-2013; post: 2015-2020; year 2014, "washing" period) of PE patients ≥18 years (January 2010-June 2020).

Impact of cardiovascular risk factors on the clinical presentation and survival of pulmonary embolism without identifiable risk factor.

Background: The nature of pulmonary embolism (PE) without identifiable risk factor (IRF) remains unclear. The objective of this study is to investigate the potential relationship between cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) and PE without IRF (unprovoked) and assess their role as markers of disease severity and prognosis.

Methods: A case-control study was performed of patients with PE admitted to our hospital [2010-2019].

Development and validation of a clinical score to estimate progression to severe or critical state in COVID-19 pneumonia hospitalized patients.

The prognosis of a patient with COVID-19 pneumonia is uncertain. Our objective was to establish a predictive model of disease progression to facilitate early decision-making. A retrospective study was performed of patients admitted with COVID-19 pneumonia, classified as severe (admission to the intensive care unit, mechanic invasive ventilation, or death) or non-severe.

Discordance of physician clinical judgment . pneumonia severity index (PSI) score to admit patients with low risk community-acquired pneumonia: a prospective multicenter study.

Background: The relationship between clinical judgment and the pneumonia severity index (PSI) score in deciding the site of care for patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) has not been well investigated. The objective of the study was to determine the clinical factors that influence decision-making to hospitalize low-risk patients (PSI ≤2) with CAP.

Methods: An observational, prospective, multicenter study of consecutive CAP patients was performed at five hospitals in Spain.

Urinothorax: a systematic review.

Background: The characteristics of patients with urinothorax (UT) are poorly defined.

Methods: A systematic review was performed searching for studies reporting clinical findings, pleural fluid (PF) characteristics, and the most effective treatment of UT. Case descriptions and retrospective studies were included.

Predictive models of malignant transudative pleural effusions.

Background: There are no firm recommendations when cytology should be performed in pleural transudates, since some malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) behave biochemically as transudates. The objective was to assess when would be justified to perform cytology on pleural transudates.

Methods: Consecutive patients with transudative pleural effusion (PE) were enrolled and divided in two groups: malignant and non-MPE.

Characteristics of patients with pseudochylothorax-a systematic review.

Background: Pseudochylothorax (PCT) (cholesterol pleurisy or chyliform effusion) is a cholesterol-rich pleural effusion (PE) that is commonly associated with chronic inflammatory disorders. Nevertheless, the characteristics of patients with PCT are poorly defined.

Methods: A systematic review was performed across two electronic databases searching for studies reporting clinical findings, PE characteristics, and the most effective treatment of PCT.

Predicting malignant and tuberculous pleural effusions through demographics and pleural fluid analysis of patients.

Introduction: The differential diagnosis of malignant and tuberculous pleural effusion is frequently difficult.

Objectives: The aim of our study is to determine the discrimination value of demographic parameters and different biological markers in pleural fluid.

Methods: In pleural fluid obtained from 106 patients with tuberculous, 250 with malignant and 218 with miscellaneous pleural effusion, clinical and analytical parameters were analysed, applying polytomous regression analysis and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.