Publications by authors named "Mafalda Van Zeller"
Article Synopsis
- Wolfram syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that is inherited in an autosomal-recessive manner.
- A case study highlights a patient with WS who had undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea, leading to serious sleep-related problems like prolonged apnea and low oxygen levels.
- Treating sleep-disordered breathing in individuals with WS may enhance their quality of life and increase their lifespan.
Article Synopsis
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is linked to various health issues, and recent research suggests it may also impact cancer outcomes, particularly through its severity and associated nocturnal hypoxia.
- A retrospective study examined patients with OSA diagnosed after any cancer type over ten years, finding higher rates of nocturnal hypoxia particularly in lung cancer patients, which correlated with worse disease progression and survival rates.
- The study concluded that severe OSA and significant hypoxia are associated with increased cancer mortality, independent of other factors like age and treatment, highlighting the need for better management of OSA in cancer patients.
Article Synopsis
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common and requires accurate diagnosis; this study compares the effectiveness of in-person vs. video instructions for type III sleep studies.
- One hundred patients were divided into two groups, receiving either face-to-face or video instructions, and the technical quality of their sleep studies was evaluated.
- Results showed that while both instruction methods produced valid studies, the video group had better oximetry signal quality, making it a viable option for OSA diagnosis without increasing errors.
Introduction: Sleep has important effects on breathing and gas exchange that may have negative consequences in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are highly prevalent and may coexist, which is referred to as the overlap syndrome.
Areas Covered: The probability of OSA-COPD overlap represents the balance of protective and promoting factors such as hyperinflation and fluid retention; thus, different clinical COPD phenotypes influence the likelihood of comorbid OSA.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the effects of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) overlapping with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), known as OVS, on sleep quality and cardiovascular health.
- Researchers compared clinical data of patients with OVS to those with only OSA, finding that OVS patients had worse sleep quality and higher rates of heart disease.
- Results showed OVS leads to more severe nocturnal hypoxia and poorer sleep efficiency, significantly increasing the risk for conditions like hypertension and heart failure.
Background: The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is growing as the population is ageing. However, data on the clinical characteristics of elderly patients with OSA and their adherence to positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment are scarce.
Methods: Data from 23 418 30-79-year-old OSA patients prospectively collected into the ESADA database during 2007-2019 were analysed.
Introduction: Although long-term home non-invasive ventilation (H-NIV) has been used among chronic hypercapnic COPD patients, its clinical benefit is still on debate. We aim to assess the impact of H-NIV in chronic hypercapnic COPD patients.
Methods: COPD patients who initiated H-NIV between January 2010 and December 2017 were included.
Introduction And Objectives: Severe asthma management during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a challenge and will continue to be, at least in the next few months, as herd immunity is still a mirage. A lot has to be learned about how COVID-19 affects underlying diseases, and severe asthma is no exception.
Methods: Narrative review of papers available until February 2021 in PubMed and Google Scholar, relating severe asthma and COVID-19.
Dear Editor, Practising evidence-based medicine in an ageing population is challenging. Nevertheless, using age as a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure contraindication is less and less common. Domiciliary non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in chronic respiratory failure patients has been largely used; however, data from older people is scarce.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Due to the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) disease outbreak, social distancing measures were imposed to control the spread of the pandemic. However, isolation may affect negatively the psychological well-being and impair sleep quality. Our aim was to evaluate the sleep quality of respiratory patients during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Portuguese Severe Asthma Registry ( RAG) was developed by an open collaborative network of asthma specialists. RAG collects data from adults and pediatric severe asthma patients that despite treatment optimization and adequate management of comorbidities require step 4/5 treatment according to GINA recommendations. In this paper, we describe the development and implementation of RAG, its features, and data sharing policies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn Portugal, a medical degree takes 6 years, including a master's degree, ever since the Bologna Agreement of 2009. After this, and according to the Ordem dos Médicos (), one must complete 2 years of fully supervised clinical practice to be able to practice medicine. During this period, junior doctors rotate through several different medical and chirurgical specialties, after which and according to their grade on a national examination, they chose a specialty and location.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Treatment adherence is widely recognized as a critical problem in long-term oxygen therapy, particularly in ambulatory liquid oxygen (LOX) systems. Adherence-monitoring strategies may be helpful in managing patients. We evaluated subjects' adherence to LOX using VisionOx and compared these results with the subjects' own adherence diaries and self-reported perceptions of use.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Objective: Reliable markers of disease progression or stability to assist in management decisions are lacking in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis and Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection.
Methods: Data from 52 adults with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis and coexisting MAC infection managed at our institution over a 5-year period were retrospectively analysed. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans were scored using a scoring system that focused on findings associated with MAC infection.
Background: Although continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is effective in treating obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), inadequate adherence remains a major cause of treatment failure. This study aimed to determine long term adherence to auto adjusting-CPAP (APAP) and its influencing factors including the role of initial compliance.
Methods: Eighty-eight male patients with newly diagnosed moderate/severe OSA were included.
Background: Information regarding the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) on pulmonary function (PF), arterial blood gases (ABG), and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) in patients with bronchiectasis is scant in the literature.
Methods: To evaluate the effects of PR on these indices in this population, a retrospective evaluation of those who attended PR from 2007 to 2010, was made. Pulmonary rehabilitation lasted a mean of 12 weeks and included cycle ergometer exercise for 30 minutes, 3 times per week, with additional upper limbs and quadriceps training.