Tracheostomy in patients with COVID-19: predictors and clinical features.

Background: Around 20% of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 need mechanical ventilation (MV). MV may be prolonged, thus warranting tracheostomy.

Methods: Observational cohort study enrolling patients admitted due to COVID-19.

The HIPARCO-2 study: long-term effect of continuous positive airway pressure on blood pressure in patients with resistant hypertension: a multicenter prospective study.

Introduction: Short-term treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) produces a clinically significant reduction in blood pressure (BP) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and resistant hypertension. However, it is unknown whether this effect continues over the long-term. Our objective was to assess the effect of long-term CPAP on BP in patients with OSA and resistant hypertension.

C-Reactive Protein Concentration in Steady-State Bronchiectasis: Prognostic Value of Future Severe Exacerbations. Data From the Spanish Registry of Bronchiectasis (RIBRON).

Background: Both systemic inflammation and exacerbations have been associated with greater severity of bronchiectasis. Our objective was to analyze the prognostic value of the peripheral concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP) for the number and severity of exacerbations in patients with bronchiectasis.

Methods: Patients from the Spanish Bronchiectasis Registry (RIBRON) with valid data on their CRP value (in a clinically stable phase) and valid data on exacerbations during the first year of follow-up were included.

Treatment with CPAP in Elderly Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.

The population pyramid is changing as a result of the ever-increasing life expectancy, which makes it crucial to acquire an in-depth understanding of the diseases that most often affect the elderly. Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) affects 15%-20% of the population aged over 65 years. Despite this prevalence, there have been very few specific studies on the management of OSA in this age group, even though over 60% of the patients aged over 65-70 years who attend sleep units with suspicion of OSA receive treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), on the basis of an extrapolation of the positive results achieved by CPAP in clinical trials involving middle-aged males.

Long-term Effect of CPAP Treatment on Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Resistant Hypertension and Sleep Apnea. Data From the HIPARCO-2 Study.

Background: There is some controversy about the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on the incidence of cardiovascular events (CVE). However, the incidence of CVE among patients with both obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) ans resistant hypertension (HR) has not been evaluated. Our objective was to analyze the long-term effect of CPAP treatment in patients with RH and OSA on the incidence of CVE.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Arterial Hypertension: Implications of Treatment Adherence.

Purpose Of Review: This review seeks to present an overview of the recent literature on the importance of CPAP and antihypertensive treatment adherence in blood pressure control of hypertensive patients, especially those with obstructive sleep apnea.

Recent Findings: Although it is unquestionable that a good adherence to CPAP and antihypertensive drugs is crucial to improvements in sleep-related symptoms, blood pressure levels (even the modest reductions of 2-2.5 mmHg achieved by CPAP treatment) and future cardiovascular risk, this adherence decreases over time, despite efforts made toward behavioral intervention and monitoring.

Resistant/Refractory Hypertension and Sleep Apnoea: Current Knowledge and Future Challenges.

Hypertension is one of the most frequent cardiovascular risk factors. The population of hypertensive patients includes some phenotypes whose blood pressure levels are particularly difficult to control, thus putting them at greater cardiovascular risk. This is especially true of so-called resistant hypertension (RH) and refractory hypertension (RfH).

Initial Inflammatory Profile in Community-acquired Pneumonia Depends on Time since Onset of Symptoms.

Rationale: Assessment of the inflammatory response can help the decision-making process when diagnosing community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), but there is a lack of information about the influence of time since onset of symptoms.

Objectives: We studied the impact of the number of days since onset of symptoms on inflammatory cytokines and biomarker concentrations at CAP diagnosis in hospitalized patients.

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis in two prospective cohorts including 541 patients in the derivation cohort and 422 in the validation cohort.

Factors associated with hospitalization in bronchiectasis exacerbations: a one-year follow-up study.

Background: Bronchiectasis (BE) is a chronic structural lung disease with frequent exacerbations, some of which require hospital admission though no clear associated factors have been identified. We aimed to evaluate factors associated with hospitalization due to exacerbations during a 1-year follow-up period.

Methods: A prospective observational study was performed in patients recruited from specialized BE clinics.