Publications by authors named "Kauppi P"
Article Synopsis
- Aspergillus species are linked to various conditions in bronchiectasis, including ABPA, AS, and increased IgG levels indicating exposure or infection.
- A study of nearly 10,000 bronchiectasis patients revealed 6.1% with ABPA, 5.7% with AS, and 8.1% with elevated Aspergillus-specific IgG levels, with these conditions associated with more severe lung issues and exacerbations.
- Long-term follow-up showed that those with raised IgG levels faced more frequent and severe exacerbations, particularly affecting patients not on inhaled corticosteroids.
The uptake of carbon dioxide (CO) by terrestrial ecosystems is critical for moderating climate change. To provide a ground-based long-term assessment of the contribution of forests to terrestrial CO uptake, we synthesized in situ forest data from boreal, temperate and tropical biomes spanning three decades. We found that the carbon sink in global forests was steady, at 3.
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- International guidelines emphasize the importance of airway clearance management in treating bronchiectasis, yet its actual usage across Europe remains unclear.
- A study involving 16,723 patients from 28 countries showed that 52% reported using regular airway clearance, with significant variation in techniques and usage between countries.
- Patients using airway clearance tended to have more severe disease and symptoms, and access to specialized respiratory physiotherapy was notably low, especially in Eastern Europe.
Article Synopsis
- - The study utilized a 4-point sputum colour chart to assess airway inflammation in bronchiectasis patients, analyzing data from 13,484 individuals across 31 countries in the EMBARC registry.
- - Findings revealed that more purulent sputum correlates with worse lung function, a higher severity of the disease, increased frequency of exacerbations, and greater risk of hospitalizations and mortality.
- - The research concluded that sputum colour serves as an effective, straightforward indicator for predicting clinical outcomes and disease severity in bronchiectasis patients.
Background: Asthma is commonly reported in patients with a diagnosis of bronchiectasis.
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether patients with bronchiectasis and asthma (BE+A) had a different clinical phenotype and different outcomes compared with patients with bronchiectasis without concomitant asthma.
Methods: A prospective observational pan-European registry (European Multicentre Bronchiectasis Audit and Research Collaboration) enrolled patients across 28 countries.
COPD and bronchiectasis are commonly reported together. Studies report varying impacts of co-diagnosis on outcomes, which may be related to different definitions of disease used across studies. To investigate the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) associated with bronchiectasis and its relationship with clinical outcomes.
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- Environmental particulate matter (PM) exposure is linked to higher mortality rates from various diseases, prompting a study on the impact of occupational exposure to vapors, gasses, dusts, and fumes (VGDF).
- Using data from the FinEsS study in Helsinki, researchers analyzed a 24-year follow-up of mortality rates, comparing those with high VGDF exposure to those with no exposure.
- Results indicated that individuals with high VGDF exposure had significantly increased risks of dying from cardiovascular issues, respiratory diseases, and dementia, highlighting the importance of reducing such occupational exposures.
Background: There is limited evidence on the pathways leading to severe asthma and we are presently unable to effectively predict the progression of the disease. We aimed to describe the longitudinal trajectories leading to severe asthma and to describe clinical events preceding disease progression in a nationwide population of patients with severe asthma.
Methods: We conducted an observational study based on Swedish data from the NORdic Dataset for aSThmA Research (NORDSTAR) research collaboration platform.
Article Synopsis
- A study examined medication-related problems (MRPs) in asthma vs. allergy patients, finding that 24% of asthma patients and 12% of allergy patients reported at least one MRP during self-management.
- The most common issues for asthma patients involved timing of medication (16%), administration technique (7%), and inhaler use (4%), while allergy patients mainly struggled with remembering to take their medications on time (10%).
- The study concluded that severe cases increase the risk for MRPs, and health professionals should focus on education for younger, older, and less-educated patients to help manage these issues.*
Article Synopsis
- Digital health technology (DHT) shows promise in managing chronic conditions like asthma, with some studies indicating it can enhance adherence, self-management, and overall quality of life.
- A study tracked adult asthma patients on a web-based platform from December 2018 to May 2021, comparing active users to inactive users to assess the impact on asthma exacerbations and healthcare visits.
- Results revealed that active users significantly reduced exacerbation events and asthma-related healthcare visits compared to their pre-registration levels, while inactive users did not experience significant changes.
Article Synopsis
- The study focused on the prevalence and management of severe asthma using nationwide data from Sweden, Norway, and Finland, highlighting limited real-life evidence on the condition.
- Researchers utilized the Nordic Dataset for Asthma Research (NORDSTAR) to identify severe asthma cases in adults and children, finding prevalence rates across the countries in 2018.
- Results revealed that while severe asthma was relatively rare in children, a significant number of patients, especially adults, were not managed by respiratory specialists, indicating a need for better awareness and management in primary care settings.
Article Synopsis
- There is currently no consensus on how to define and categorize the severity of food allergies, despite the existence of various scoring systems for anaphylactic reactions.
- The aim of this study was to develop a global scoring system, called DEFASE, that comprehensively assesses food allergy severity using input from international experts.
- The results showed strong agreement among experts on key components of the DEFASE score through a structured survey, marking it as the first comprehensive grading that considers the overall disease spectrum, not just individual reactions.
Article Synopsis
- A study was conducted on Finnish adults to examine the link between asthma, COPD, and the overlap between the two (ACO) with mortality rates over an 18-year period.
- The study involved nearly 6,000 participants who underwent health examinations, including spirometry, and were tracked for various mortality causes until 2018.
- Results showed that both asthma and COPD were significantly associated with higher overall and cardiovascular mortality, while ACO had mixed results depending on inflammation levels in participants.
Real-Life Experience of Biologic Treatment for Asthma on Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Finnish Cohort.
Int Arch Allergy Immunol
February 2023
Article Synopsis
- * A study conducted from 2009-2020 reviewed patient records, finding that treatment improved nasal polyp scores and sinonasal outcomes, particularly in those with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP).
- * Despite the benefits, the study noted a high discontinuation rate of 37.7% among patients using biologics, indicating that while they help manage symptoms, adherence remains a challenge.
Article Synopsis
- - The study aimed to investigate how mortality rates are influenced by different obstructive lung diseases (like asthma and COPD) and workplace exposures in a large group of participants.
- - Researchers categorized participants based on their lung disease diagnoses and exposure levels, using a statistical model to evaluate the impact compared to those without these factors.
- - Results indicated that high occupational exposure and the coexistence of asthma and COPD both significantly increased the risks of overall mortality, with even higher risks for respiratory-related deaths.
Article Synopsis
- Anaphylaxis cases have risen in Europe, with a prevalence of 0.3% and an incidence of 1.5-7.9 per 100,000 person-years, and the link between allergic multimorbidity and anaphylaxis in adults is being explored.
- A study used Finnish population data showing that adults with multiple allergic conditions had a higher risk of experiencing anaphylaxis, particularly when food allergy and asthma were involved.
- The findings indicate that the risk of anaphylaxis increases with the number of allergic diseases, suggesting that individuals with multiple allergies, especially food allergies combined with asthma, should be monitored closely for anaphylaxis risk.
Purpose: Patients with bronchiectasis (BE) who suffer frequent exacerbations are likely to experience negative effects on quality of life (QoL) and require more healthcare utilization. We aimed to discover, in a cohort of Finnish BE patients, those risk factors that influence QoL.
Methods: Non-cystic fibrosis BE patients of a Helsinki University Hospital cohort were examined with high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest.
Article Synopsis
- * Findings reveal that a considerable percentage of patients (35% had restrictive ventilatory defects and 52% had impaired diffusing capacity), along with 78% showing abnormal chest X-rays at the 6-month mark.
- * Although many had persistent lung function issues, reduced exercise capacity was less common, affecting only 7% of patients surveyed.
Article Synopsis
- Guided self-management for asthma is well-supported, but there's less guidance for allergy patients; this study analyzed the differences in how both groups receive support.
- A survey of Finnish pharmacies found that 73% of asthma patients and 61% of anaphylaxis patients received written action plans, with variability among other allergy patients.
- Community pharmacists were the primary source of treatment information for both groups, but older males and less-educated patients received less information overall.
Article Synopsis
- Asthma and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) are common, with COPD linked to higher mortality rates, while asthma's impact varies; this study investigates their combined effect on mortality over 24 years.
- Data from 6,062 participants in the FinEsS Helsinki Study categorized individuals by their respiratory conditions and smoking status, revealing that those with both asthma and COPD had the highest mortality hazard ratio of 2.4.
- The study found that participants with combined asthma and COPD faced significant mortality risks from both lower respiratory tract diseases and coronary artery diseases, emphasizing the severe impact of these chronic conditions together.