ERS/ATS Global Lung Function Initiative normal values and classifying severity based on z-scores instead of per cent predicted.

Among the most discussed issues in the field of pulmonary function testing are reference equations and standardised methods of interpreting pulmonary function test (PFT) results. The Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI) task force gathered information from multiple countries with diverse ethnicities to create a multi-ethnic reference formula suitable for a broad age range. Their first output was the GLI-2012 spirometry reference equations.

Clinical correlates of respiratory disorders in patients with severe multiple sclerosis: A cross-sectional cohort.

Background: Respiratory disorders remain incompletely described in multiple sclerosis (MS), even though they are a frequent cause of death.

Methods: The objective was to describe respiratory disorders in MS patients with Expanded Disability Status Score (EDSS) ⩾ 6.5.

Intrapulmonary distribution of blood flow during exercise in pulmonary hypertension assessed by a new combination technique.

Background: Hyperventilation and inadequate cardiac output (CO) increase are the main causes of exercise limitation in pulmonary hypertension (PH). Intrapulmonary blood flow partitioning between ventilated and unventilated lung zones is unknown. Thoracic impedance cardiography and inert gas rebreathing have been both validated in PH patients for non-invasive measurement of CO and pulmonary blood flow (PBF), respectively.

What to expect from the ERS International Congress 2023.

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Respiratory recovery trajectories after severe-to-critical COVID-19: a 1-year prospective multicentre study.

Background: Survivors of severe-to-critical coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may have functional impairment, radiological sequelae and persistent symptoms requiring prolonged follow-up. This pragmatic study aimed to describe their clinical follow-up and determine their respiratory recovery trajectories, and the factors that could influence them and their health-related quality of life.

Methods: Adults hospitalised for severe-to-critical COVID-19 were evaluated at 3 months and up to 12 months post-hospital discharge in this prospective, multicentre, cohort study.

A glimpse of the ERS International Congress 2022.

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International consensus on lung function testing during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has negatively affected the delivery of respiratory diagnostic services across the world due to the potential risk of disease transmission during lung function testing. Community prevalence, reoccurrence of COVID-19 surges and the emergence of different variants of SARS-CoV-2 have impeded attempts to restore services. Finding consensus on how to deliver safe lung function services for both patients attending and for staff performing the tests are of paramount importance.

Health-related quality of life of COVID-19 two and 12 months after intensive care unit admission.

Purpose: To describe health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and dyspnea of COVID-19, 2 and 12 months after an intensive care unit (ICU) stay.

Methods: Patients discharged from the ICU between April and June 2020 and subsequently transferred to an inpatient rehabilitation facility were assessed 2 months and 12 months after ICU admission. HRQoL was assessed by the EuroQoL EQ-5D-3L (visual analog scale and time trade-off normalized to the French population algorithm) and dyspnea was assessed by the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale.

Pathophysiology of pulmonary function anomalies in COVID-19 survivors.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease caused by a new coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-​2), and the predisposing and protecting factors have not been fully elucidated. COVID-19 primarily impacts the respiratory system, and can result in mild illness or serious disease leading to critical illness requiring admission to the intensive care unit due to respiratory failure. After hospital discharge, the more commonly described pulmonary function anomalies are alterations in diffusing capacity and the loss of lung volume.

Ventilatory efficiency and its clinical and prognostic value in adults with cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis, due to the absence or abnormal function of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, is the most common life-limiting autosomal recessive genetic disorder among the Caucasian population. The lungs are particularly affected due to thick and tenacious mucus causing parenchymal anomalies ranging from bronchiectasis, progressive airflow limitation, respiratory infections, lung destruction and ultimately respiratory failure. Despite the remarkable advances in treatment that have greatly improved survival, most patients experience progressive exercise curtailment, with the consequence that a growing number of patients with cystic fibrosis will be referred for exercise-based evaluations in the forthcoming years.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in interstitial lung diseases and the value of ventilatory efficiency.

Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) are diverse parenchymal pulmonary disorders, primarily characterised by alveolar and interstitial inflammation and/or fibrosis, and sharing pathophysiological similarities. Thus, patients generally harbour common respiratory symptoms, lung function abnormalities and modified exercise adaptation. The most usual and disabling complaint is exertional dyspnoea, frequently responsible for premature exercise interruption.

How to get the most out of the ERS International Congress 2021 and an overview of the Early Career Member session.

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Ventilatory efficiency in pulmonary vascular diseases.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is a frequently used tool in the differential diagnosis of dyspnoea. Ventilatory inefficiency, defined as high minute ventilation ( ) relative to carbon dioxide output ( ), is a hallmark characteristic of pulmonary vascular diseases, which contributes to exercise intolerance and disability in these patients. The mechanisms of ventilatory inefficiency are multiple and include high physiologic dead space, abnormal chemosensitivity and an altered carbon dioxide (CO) set-point.

How and to What Extent Immunological Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Shape Pulmonary Function in COVID-19 Patients.

COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, primarily impacting the respiratory system. COVID-19 can result in mild illness or serious disease leading to critical illness and requires admission to ICU due to respiratory failure. There is intense discussion around potential factors predisposing to and protecting from COVID-19.

Residual ground glass opacities three months after Covid-19 pneumonia correlate to alteration of respiratory function: The post Covid M3 study.

Introduction: Lung function in survivors of SARS-Co-V2 pneumonia is poorly known, but concern over the possibility of sequelae exists.

Methods: Retrospective study on survivors with confirmed infection and pneumonia on chest-CT. Correlations between PFT and residual radiologic anomalies at three months taking into account initial clinical and radiological severity and steroid use during acute phase.

Importance of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing amongst Subjects Recovering from COVID-19.

The cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) provides an objective assessment of ventilatory limitation, related to the exercise minute ventilation (V) coupled to carbon dioxide output (V) (V/V); high values of V/V define an exercise ventilatory inefficiency (EV). In subjects recovered from hospitalised COVID-19, we explored the methodology of CPET in order to evaluate the presence of cardiopulmonary alterations. Our prospective study (RESPICOVID) has been proposed to evaluate pulmonary damage's clinical impact in post-COVID subjects.

The ventilatory efficiency and its clinical and prognostic value in cardiorespiratory disorders.

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The clinical value of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in the modern era.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) has long been used as diagnostic tool for cardiac diseases. During recent years CPET has been proven to be additionally useful for 1) distinguishing between normal and abnormal responses to exercise; 2) determining peak oxygen uptake and level of disability; 3) identifying factors contributing to dyspnoea and exercise limitation; 4) differentiating between ventilatory (respiratory mechanics and pulmonary gas exchange), cardiovascular, metabolic and peripheral muscle causes of exercise intolerance; 5) identifying anomalies of ventilatory (respiratory mechanics and pulmonary gas exchange), cardiovascular and metabolic systems, as well as peripheral muscle and psychological disorders; 6) screening for coexistent ischaemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease and arterial hypoxaemia; 7) assisting in planning individualised exercise training; 8) generating prognostic information; and 9) objectively evaluating the impact of therapeutic interventions. As such, CPET is an essential part of patients' clinical assessment.

Screening for pulmonary arterial hypertension in adults carrying a mutation.

Background: Heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is most commonly due to heterozygous mutations of the gene. Based on expert consensus, guidelines recommend annual screening echocardiography in asymptomatic mutation carriers. The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the characteristics of asymptomatic mutation carriers, assess their risk of occurrence of PAH and detect PAH at an early stage in this high-risk population.

Pulmonary Vascular Disease and Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is of great interest and utility for clinicians dealing Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) in several ways, including: helping with differential diagnosis, evaluating exercise intolerance and its underpinning mechanisms, accurately assessing exertional dyspnea and unmasking its underlying often non-straightforward mechanisms, generating prognostic indicators. Pathophysiologic anomalies in PH can range from reduced cardiac output and aerobic capacity, to inefficient ventilation, dyspnea, dynamic hyperinflation, and locomotor muscle dysfunction. CPET can magnify the PH-related pathophysiologic anomalies and has a major role in the management of PH patients.