Impact of the metabolic syndrome on cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality in individuals with lung function impairment: a prospective cohort study of the Danish general population.

Background: Whether the metabolic syndrome plays a role for the prognosis of individuals with lung function impairment (preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm) or airflow limitation) is unclear. We hypothesised that the metabolic syndrome in individuals with lung function impairment is associated with increased cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality.

Methods: The Copenhagen General Population Study was initiated in 2003 based on a random sample of white men and women aged 20-100 years drawn from the Danish general population.

The airway microbiota and exacerbations of COPD.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the compositionality of the lower airway microbiota predicts later exacerbation risk in persons with COPD in a cohort study.

Materials And Methods: We collected lower airways microbiota samples by bronchoalveolar lavage and protected specimen brushes, and oral wash samples from 122 participants with COPD. Bacterial DNA was extracted from all samples, before we sequenced the V3-V4 region of the 16S RNA gene.

Complications and discomfort after research bronchoscopy in the MicroCOPD study.

Background: Data on discomfort and complications from research bronchoscopy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma is limited. We present complications and discomfort occurring within a week after bronchoscopy, and investigate personal and procedural risk factors.

Methods: 239 subjects with COPD, asthma or without lung disease underwent research bronchoscopies as part of a microbiome study of the lower airways (the MicroCOPD study).

Risk factors for lung cancer in COPD - results from the Bergen COPD cohort study.

Background: COPD patients have an increased risk of developing lung cancer, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We aimed to identify risk factors for lung cancer in patients from the Bergen COPD Cohort Study.

Methods: We compared 433 COPD patients with 279 healthy controls, all former or current smokers.

Complications and discomfort of bronchoscopy: a systematic review.

Objective: To identify bronchoscopy-related complications and discomfort, meaningful complication rates, and predictors.

Method: We conducted a systematic literature search in PubMed on 8 February 2016, using a search strategy including the PICO model, on complications and discomfort related to bronchoscopy and related sampling techniques.

Results: The search yielded 1,707 hits, of which 45 publications were eligible for full review.

Diffusion capacity and CT measures of emphysema and airway wall thickness - relation to arterial oxygen tension in COPD patients.

Background: Decreased diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) is associated with emphysema. DLCO is also related to decreased arterial oxygen tension (PaO2), but there are limited data on associations between PaO2 and computed tomography (CT) derived measures of emphysema and airway wall thickness.

Objective: To examine whether CT measures of emphysema and airway wall thickness are associated with level of arterial oxygen tension beyond that provided by measurements of diffusion capacity and spirometry.

Oxygen desaturation in 6-min walk test is a risk factor for adverse outcomes in COPD.

The 6-min walk test (6MWT) is an exercise test that measures functional status in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and provides information on oxygen desaturation. We investigated oxygen desaturation during 6MWT as a risk factor for important COPD outcomes: mortality, frequency of exacerbations, decline in lung function and decline in lean body mass.433 COPD patients were included in the Bergen COPD Cohort Study 2006-2009, and followed-up for 3 years.

Participation in research bronchoscopy: a literature review.

Bronchoscopy is the preferred method for collecting biological samples from the lower airways of subjects in clinical research. However, ensuring participation in clinical research can be challenging when the research includes an invasive procedure. For this report we reviewed the literature to look for information on participation in research bronchoscopy studies to better design our own study, the Bergen COPD Microbiome study (MicroCOPD).

Predictors of health-related quality of life changes after lifestyle intervention in persons at risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Purpose: To assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of subjects at risk of type 2 diabetes undergoing lifestyle intervention, and predictors for improved HRQOL.

Methods: The Finnish Diabetes Risk Score was used by general practitioners to identify individuals at risk. Low-intensity interventions with an 18-month follow-up were employed.

Increased prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a general population.

Background: Prevalence of COPD is increasing worldwide, and there is need for regularly updated estimates of COPD prevalence and risk factors.

Methods: In the Norwegian Hordaland County Cohort Study (HCCS), 1664 subjects aged 35-90 yrs answered questionnaires and performed spirometry in 2003-05. We estimated COPD prevalence and analysed risk factors for COPD with logistic regression.

Reference values for within-breath pulmonary impedance parameters in asymptomatic elderly.

Introduction: A new application for the forced oscillation technique (FOT) has been described by Dellaca et al. using sinusoidal pressure variations at 5 Hz to detect expiratory flow limitation by measuring the within-breath reactance [termed difference between inspiratory and expiratory X5 (DX5)]. Few studies have been performed on respiratory phase differences in the elderly.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is associated with low levels of vitamin D.

Introduction: COPD patients may be at increased risk for vitamin D (25(OH)D) deficiency, but risk factors for deficiency among COPD patients have not been extensively reported.

Methods: Serum 25(OH)D levels were measured by liquid chromatography double mass spectrometry in subjects aged 40-76 years from Western Norway, including 433 COPD patients (GOLD stage II-IV) and 325 controls. Levels <20 ng/mL defined deficiency.

Explained variance for blood gases in a population with COPD.

Introduction: Variation of blood gas levels in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients has not been extensively reported and there is limited knowledge about predictors of chronic respiratory failure in COPD patients.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify predictors of hypoxemia, hypercapnia and increased alveolar-arterial oxygen difference in COPD patients. We hypothesized that prediction of arterial blood gases will be improved in multivariate models including measurements of lung function, anthropometry and systemic inflammation.

Excessive costs of COPD in ever-smokers. A longitudinal community study.

Aim: We aimed to estimate the societal treatment-related costs of COPD in hospital- and population-based subjects with spirometry defined COPD, relative to a control group.

Methods: 81 COPD cases and 132 controls without COPD were randomly recruited from a general population, as were 205 COPD patients from a hospital register. All participants were ever-smokers of at least 40 years of age, followed for 12 months.

HRQoL changes, mood disorders and satisfaction after treatment in an unselected population of patients with lung cancer.

Objectives: This study intended to explore the impact of the first treatment modality on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), mood disorders and mastery in an unselected population of patients with primary lung cancer and to judge patient satisfaction with treatment.

Materials And Methods: An unselected group of 479 patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer in Southern Norway (Agder counties) were included prospectively from June 2002 to June 2005, collecting data on histology, treatment options, HRQoL, mood disorders and mastery at baseline as well as satisfaction with treatment, and changes in HRQoL and mood disorders after finishing the first treatment modality.

Results: After finishing the first treatment modality, patients experienced a worsening of nine HRQoL parameters and an improvement in one.

Case-control studies on risk factors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: how does the sampling of the cases and controls affect the results?

Introduction: Sampling is regarded as crucial to the validity of case-control studies. Ideally, cases and controls should be selected from the same source population, but deviations from this approach are often seen.

Objective: Our objective was to examine how exposure-disease relationships in a study on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were affected by the sampling sources of cases and controls.

Relationships between hand-rolled cigarettes and primary lung cancer: a Norwegian experience.

Introduction: Detailed smoking history of patients developing lung cancer is rarely known, especially not for users of hand-rolled cigarettes. In Norway, smoking hand-rolled tobacco is still popular, accounting for one-third of the total tobacco consume.

Methods: A questionnaire-based study revealing detailed information about tobacco consume with consecutive inclusion of all persons developing lung cancer in Southern Norway 2002-2005.

Aspects of healthcare utilisation in self-reported obstructive lung disease.

Introduction: Utilisation of healthcare resources because of pulmonary diseases have previously been presented according to lung function or symptom severity. We aimed to compare the associations of symptoms and lung function to healthcare and social service utilisation in subjects with self-reported obstructive lung diseases (OLDs) (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, emphysema).

Materials And Methods: Of 2819 participants aged 27-82 years in the Hordaland County Respiratory Health Survey, 200 subjects (7.

Hospital doctors' attitudes toward giving their patients smoking cessation help.

Background And Aims: While guidelines recommend all doctors to ask their patients about their smoking habits and, in case they smoke, offer cessation advice, limited data are available about hospital doctors' attitudes toward these recommendations. We aimed to examine hospital doctors' attitudes toward asking their patients about their smoking habits, informing about the health benefits of stopping, and offering help to quit smoking.

Materials And Methods: A random sample (n = 1025) of Norwegian hospital doctors was mailed a questionnaire on this topic.

Bronchodilator response to adrenergic beta2-agonists: relationship to symptoms in an adult community.

Background: Wheeze and chest tightness has traditionally been associated with enhanced bronchial responsiveness. However, no community studies are available on the associations between bronchodilator response and respiratory symptoms among adults.

Aim: To examine how respiratory symptoms predict bronchodilator response.

[Instructing patients in the correct use of inhalation devices].

Background: Limited knowledge is available on to what extent doctors and nurses know the correct use of various inhalation devices. We wanted to examine this skill among 25 doctors and 25 nurses randomly selected from the departments of pulmonology, internal medicine and surgery at a university hospital.

Design: Two technicians asked them to demonstrate the correct use of a metered-dose inhaler (MDI), Turbuhaler and Diskus.

Bronchodilator reversibility testing in an adult general population; the importance of smoking and anthropometrical variables on the response to a beta2-agonist.

Normative cut-off values for the bronchodilator reversibility test are published neglecting factors that may influence the test result other than disease. The objective of this cross-sectional study of a general population was to examine how a salbutamol reversibility test response is depending on anthropometrical variables and smoking. An age and gender stratified random sample of all adults aged 47-48 and 71-73 years living in Bergen, Norway, was invited.