BACKGROUND: Constipation is highly prevalent in older adults and may be associated with greater frequency of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). We investigated the prevalence of lower defecation frequency (DF) and risk factors (including AECOPD) associated with lower DF among hospitalized elderly patients. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case-control study in a community hospital of Southeast Ohio. Adults aged 65 years or older admitted during 2004 and 2006 were reviewed (N = 1288). Patients were excluded (N = 212) if their length of stay was less than 3 days, discharge diagnosis of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea, death or ventilator- dependent respiratory failure during hospitalization. Lower DF was defined as either an average DF of 0.33 or less per day or no defecation in the first three days of hospitalization; cases (N = 406) and controls (N = 670) were included for the final analysis. RESULTS: Approximately 38% had lower DF in this patient population. Fecal soiling/smearing of at least two episodes was documented in 7% of the patients. With the adjustment of confounders, AECOPD (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =1.47, 95% confidence interval [CI] =1.01-2.13) and muscle relaxant use (AOR =2.94; 95% CI =1.29-6.69) were significantly associated with lower DF. Supplementation of potassium and antibiotic use prior to hospitalization was associated with lower risk of lower DF. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 38% of hospitalized older adults had lower DF. AECOPD and use of muscle relaxant were significantly associated with lower DF; while supplementation of potassium and antibiotic use were protective for lower DF risk after adjusting for other variables.

Orientador: Suzana Erico Tanni Minamoto / Resumo: Introdução: A exacerbação aguda é uma importante causa de perda de função em pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC). Afeta negativamente a qualidade de vida, a função pulmonar, a fraqueza muscular, o uso de recursos de saúde e a sobrevivência. Acredita-se que o exercício físico realizado durante a exacerbação pode melhorar a qualidade de vida e a capacidade física do paciente sem aumento do processo inflamatório. Objetivo: Avaliar a influência do exercício físico aeróbico de curta duração durante a internação em marcadores inflamatórios, qualidade de vida e capacidade física, além de re-hospitalização e taxas de mortalidade seis meses após a alta hospitalar em pacientes com DPOC exacerbada. Pacientes e Métodos: 26 pacientes foram avaliados 24 horas após a hospitalização por características demográficas, história de tabagismo, índice de Charlson, qualidade de vida, marcadores inflamatórios sistêmicos e composição corporal. Após 48 horas de internação, todos os pacientes realizaram o teste de caminhada de 6 minutos e um novo teste de espirometria, sendo calculado o índice BODE. Após 72 horas de internação, os pacientes do grupo de intervenção foram submetidos a exercícios aeróbicos em esteira por 15 minutos, duas vezes ao dia. Por fim, um mês após a alta hospitalar, todos os pacientes foram reavaliados segundo a qualidade de vida, marcadores inflamatórios sistêmicos, composição corporal, espirometria, teste de caminhada de 6 minutos e índice BODE. Resultados: O... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Introduction: Acute exacerbation is an important cause of loss of function in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It negatively affects the quality of life, lung function, muscle weakness, use of health resources and survival. It is believed that the physical exercise performed during the exacerbation can improve the quality of life and the physical capacity of the patient without an increase in the inflammatory process. Objective: To evaluate the influence of short-term aerobic physical exercise during hospitalization on inflammatory markers, quality of life and physical capacity, as well re-hospitalization and mortality rates six months after hospital discharge in patients with exacerbated COPD. Patients and Methods: 26 patients were evaluated 24 hours after hospitalization for demographic characteristics, smoking history, Charlson index, quality of life, systemic inflammatory markers and body composition. After 48 hours hospitalization, all patients performed a 6-minute walk test and a new spirometry test, and BODE index was calculated. After 72 hours of hospitalization, patients in the intervention group underwent aerobic exercise on a treadmill for 15 minutes twice daily. Finally, a month after hospital discharge, all patients were re-evaluated according to quality of life, systemic inflammatory markers, body composition, spirometry, 6-minute walk test and BODE index. Results: Patients in the intervention and control group did not differ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(社会健康医学) / 甲第24808号 / 社医博第132号 / 新制||社医||12(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科社会健康医学系専攻 / (主査)教授 川上 浩司, 教授 西浦 博, 教授 平井 豊博 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Public Health / Kyoto University / DFAM

Background: The opioid epidemic in the United States has been on the rise. Acute exacerbations of chronic pancreatitis (AECP) patients are at higher risk for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). Evidence on OUD's impact on healthcare utilization, especially hospital re-admissions is scarce. We measured the impact of OUD on 30-day readmissions, in patients admitted with AECP from 2010 to 2014. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study which included patients with concurrently documented CP and acute pancreatitis as first two diagnoses, from the National Readmissions Database (NRD). Pancreatic cancer patients and those who left against medical advice were excluded. We compared the 30-day readmission risk between OUD-vs.-non-OUD, while adjusting for other confounders, using multivariable exact-matched [(EM); 18 confounders; n = 28,389] and non-EM regression/time-to-event analyses. Results: 189,585 patients were identified. 6589 (3.5%) had OUD. Mean age was 48.7 years and 57.5% were men. Length-of-stay (4.4 vs 3.9 days) and mean index hospitalization costs ($10,251 vs. $9174) were significantly higher in OUD-compared to non-OUD-patients (p < 0.001). The overall mean 30-day readmission rate was 27.3% (n = 51,806; 35.3% in OUD vs. 27.0% in non-OUD; p < 0.001). OUD patients were 25% more likely to be re-admitted during a 30-day period (EM-HR: 1.25; 95%CI: 1.16–1.36; p < 0.001), Majority of readmissions were pancreas-related (60%), especially AP. OUD cases’ aggregate readmissions costs were $23.3 ± 1.5 million USD (n = 2289). Conclusion: OUD contributes significantly to increased readmission risk in patients with AECP, with significant downstream healthcare costs. Measures against OUD in these patients, such as alternative pain-control therapies, may potentially alleviate such increase in health-care resource utilization.

Lėtinė obstrukcinė plaučių liga (LOPL) – šiuo metu pasaulyje viena svarbiausių didelį sergamumą ir mirtingumą sąlygojančių ligų. Pacientams, kuriems pasunkėja kasdieniai LOPL simptomai pasireiškia LOPL paūmėjimas. Šio tyrimo tikslas – įvertinti nespecifinį uždegimą paūmėjus lėtinei obstruk¬cinei plaučių ligai. Nustatyti periferinio kraujo ir indukuotų skreplių ląstelių sudėties skirtumai ir įvertintos sąsajos su plaučių funkcijos rodikliais bakterinio ir nebakterinio lėtinės obstrukcinės plaučių ligos paūmėji¬mo metu. Tirtos sergančiųjų bakterinės kilmės lėtinės obstrukcinės plaučių li¬gos paūmėjimo indukuotų skreplių neutrofilų ir makrofagų funkcijos (apoptozė, fagocitozė ir reaktyvių deguonies formų susidarymas) bei palygintos su nebakteriniu paūmėjimu. Įvertinti sergančiųjų bakterinės ir nebakterinės kilmės lėtinės obs¬trukcinės plaučių ligos paūmėjimo periferinio kraujo neutrofilų ir monocitų apoptozė ir chemotaksis, bei periferinio kraujo neutrofilų fagocitozė ir reaktyvių deguonies formų susidarymas. Ištirta sergančiųjų bakterinės ir nebakterinės kilmės lėtinės obstruk¬cinės plaučių ligos paūmėjimu interleukino-8 koncentracija ir sąsajos su periferinio kraujo neutrofilų chemotaksiu bei C reaktyviojo baltymo koncentracijos periferinio kraujo serume sąsajos su plaučių funkcija ir rūkymo intensyvumu. / Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – a common preventable and treatable disease, is characterized by persistent airflow limitation that is usually progressive and associated with an enhanced chronic inflammatory response in the airways and the lung to noxious particles or gases. An acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) is an acute event characterized by a worsening of the patient’s respiratory symptoms that is beyond normal day-to-day variations and leads to a change in medication. The aim of this study was to evaluate the non-specific inflammation during acute exacerbation of COPD to investigate change of cellular activity (apoptosis, chemotaxis, phagocytosis and production of reactive oxygen species) during AECOPD depending on infection agent. Subjects with AECOPD and the same in remission were investigated. Increased count of induced sputum neutrophils and macrophages as well peripheral blood neutrophils and monocytes during bacterial and non-bacterial AECOPD was related with impaired pulmonary function and smoking history. Induced sputum neutrophils and macrophage apoptosis and phagocytosis were weaker, but production of reactive oxygen species was strongly activated during bacterial acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease than non-bacterial AECOPD. This study showed differences of peripheral blood neutrophil and monocyte apoptosis, chemotaxis, as well as peripheral blood neutrophil phagocytosis and the production of reactive oxygen species... [to full text]

Background: Air pollution has been associated with adverse health effects for all-cause and specific respiratory morbidity and mortality outcomes. Acute exacerbations of COPD (AE-COPD) accelerate the decline in pulmonary function and are associated with greater mortality, morbidity, health care utilization, and reduced quality of life. Since the 1970 Clean Air Act was implemented, important reductions in air pollution have been achieved, but no safe threshold has been identified. Objectives: The study was planned to evaluate associations between exposure to ambient concentrations of five criteria air pollutants (CO, SO2/, NO2/, ozone, PM2.5/) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and visits to Temple University Hospital for AE-COPD, from January 1, 2005 through March 31, 2007. To identify subgroups with greater susceptibility to air pollution, associations were examined according to age, gender, race, residence, and antibiotic prescription. Methods: Average daily air pollutant concentrations were obtained from the EPA's Air Quality Services Data Mart. Air pollutant exposures were evaluated for the day of the visit (lag0), one and two days preceding the visit (lag1 and lag2), and the average concentration over three days (lag012). Poisson regression provided rate ratios (RRs) to estimate associations between air pollution exposures and AE-COPD hospital visits. Results: Of 1546 hospital visits for AE-COPD, 43% were from persons 65 years or older, 50% of each gender, and 90% from Philadelphia. In single pollutant models, increased RRs were present at all lags for NO2/ (e.g., RR = 2.27 [95%CI: 1.52, 3.38] at lag012) and SO2/ (e.g., RR = 1.70 [95%CI: 1.38, 2.08] at lag012). For PM2.5/, the direct effect was present only during the winter at lag1, lag2, and lag012 (RR = 1.79 [95%CI: 1.08, 2.96]). Inverse associations were present for ozone at all lags (e.g., RR = 0.64 [95%CI: 0.53, 0.76] at lag012). Compared to the cohort as a whole, those ≥ 65 years of age were at greater risk of an AE-COPD hospital visit associated with PM2.5/ and CO at lag012, with NO2/ and SO2/ at lag0 and lag012, but there was no difference in ozone effect. Conclusions: Primary gaseous air pollution exposures (SO2/, CO, NO2/) were associated with increased AE-COPD hospital visits among COPD patients at Temple University Hospital. The effects of SO2/, CO, NO2/, and PM2.5 were greater for the subgroup ≥ 65 years of age compared to the cohort as a whole. Inverse associations with ozone were consistent across subgroups. These results suggest that air quality during the study period was insufficient to protect the health of COPD patients, especially those ≥ 65 years old. Further study is needed to understand generalizability to other populations and to evaluate lower ranges of exposure from current levels of air pollution. / Public Health

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been recognized as a leading cause of mortality in older adults involving acute exacerbations as life-threatening events that lead to frequent hospitalization for care. Informal caregivers have been essential to helping older adults with COPD during an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). A lack of empirical knowledge exists regarding the experience of informal caregivers of older adults with AECOPD in situation awareness for recognizing, understanding, and responding to an AECOPD in an emergent situation. This qualitative descriptive study explored situation awareness and its components of perception, comprehension and projection of next steps, including the caregiver’s confidence level during the AECOPD event. Fifteen informal caregivers, ages 31-77 years (mean age 48), who provided care for older adults with COPD were interviewed from an underserved community health center. The overarching theme derived from this study was something was wrong and something needed to be done. Subthemes emerged as a heightened sense of awareness, caregiver tipping point, planning next steps, caregiver confidence, and caregiver commitment. This study utilized situation awareness theory as a relevant guiding framework in exploring the experience of lay informal caregivers caring for older adults with AECOPD events. Study findings provided a description of the complex processes involved, including confidence level, for informal caregiver’s in situation awareness to recognize and respond to an AECOPD event in the older adult. Future targeted interventions need to address strategies to enhance individualized care for older adults with AECOPD events for managing care at home.

Abstract The purpose of this work was to determine on the basis of the national hospital discharge register and cause-of-death statistics the extent of the hospital treatment required for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Finland over the period 1972–2001, i.e. the use made of hospital services, factors affecting the length of stay in hospital and the correlation of length of stay with the prognosis. Different intervals within this period were taken for study according to the themes of the individual papers. The results suggest that the length of stay in hospital varies both geographically and seasonally in Finland, the shortest times being recorded in Northern Finland in summer. The main explanations for this would appear to lie in regional differences in health care resources and treatment practises and in climatic variations. The mean length of stay in hospital in the total material in 1987–1998 was nine days. The longest periods applied to cases with concurrent pneumonia or a cerebrovascular disorder. The duration of treatment for the exacerbation stage of COPD decreased by two days between 1993 and 2001, with the longest periods of treatment observed in the case of elderly women. One week of treatment with current modalities may be regarded as optimal, as this was associated with the longest interval before the next exacerbation, just over six months. About 3% of all emergency admissions ended in death, most commonly on a Friday in winter or spring. Patients admitted at a weekend died within the first 24 hours more frequently than did those admitted on a weekday. The mean duration of treatment and frequency of hospitalization increased towards the terminal stage. About one fourth of the patients had died within a year of the first admission for COPD and about a half within five years. Hospital treatment for COPD intensified in Finland during the 1990s as the numbers of hospital beds decreased. Treatment times became shorter and deaths in hospital during exacerbation became less frequent. It will be necessary from now onwards, however, to anticipate the ageing of the population and to develop treatment modalities to replace hospitalization, in order to reduce the costs accruing from this disease. Early diagnosis and outpatient rehabilitation should be developed, and special attention should be paid to appropriate treatment at the terminal stage. / Tiivistelmä Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli selvittää valtakunnallisen hoitoilmoitusrekisterin ja kuolemansyytilaston avulla keuhkoahtaumataudista (KAT) aiheutunutta sairaalahoitoa Suomessa 1972–2001: sairaalapalvelujen käyttöä, hoitojakson pituuteen vaikuttavia tekijöitä sekä hoitoajan yhteyttä ennusteeseen. Lähdeaineistosta valittiin erilaisia ajanjaksoja tutkimusasetelman mukaan. Tulokset viittaavat siihen, että hoitoajan pituus vaihtelee Suomessa maantieteellisesti ja vuodenaikojen mukaan: lyhyin hoitoaika on Pohjois-Suomessa kesällä. Ilmiötä selittänevät pääosin terveydenhuollon resurssien ja hoitokäytäntöjen alueelliset erot sekä ilmasto-olosuhteiden vaihtelu. Vuosina 1987–1998 keskimääräinen hoitoaika koko aineistossa oli yhdeksän vuorokautta. Jos potilaalla oli samanaikaisina sairauksina keuhkokuume tai aivoverenkiertohäiriö, nämä johtivat pisimpiin hoitoaikoihin. KAT:n pahenemisvaiheen hoitoaika lyheni kaksi vuorokautta vuodesta 1993 vuoteen 2001. Iäkkäitten naisten hoitoajat olivat pisimmät. Viikon pituinen hoitoaika nykyisillä hoitomuodoilla oli optimaalinen, sillä tällöin aika seuraavan pahenemisvaiheen hoitojakson alkuun oli pisin: vähän yli puoli vuotta. Kaikista päivystyshoitojaksoista potilaan kuolemaan päättyi kolmisen prosenttia. Yleisimmin tällainen hoitojakso päättyi potilaan kuolemaan perjantaisin ja todennäköisimmin talvella tai keväällä. Viikonloppuna sairaalaan tulleista potilaista kuoli ensimmäisen vuorokauden aikana enemmän kuin arkipäivinä tulleista. Keskimääräinen hoitoaika oli pisin ja sairaalahoito runsainta sairauden loppuvaiheessa kuoleman lähestyessä. Ensimmäisen KAT:n aiheuttaman hoitojakson jälkeen noin neljännes potilaista oli kuollut vuoden sisällä ja viiden vuoden kuluessa noin puolet. Keuhkoahtaumataudin sairaalahoito on tehostunut Suomessa 1990-luvulla sairaansijojen vähentyessä. Hoitoajat ovat lyhentyneet ja pahenemisvaiheiden sairaalakuolleisuus on vähäistä. Väestön ikääntyminen on kuitenkin ennakoitava ja sairaalaa korvaavia hoitomuotoja kehitettävä taudista aiheutuneiden kustannusten hillitsemiseksi. Varhaisdiagnostiikkaa ja avokuntoutusta on kehitettävä ja erityinen huomio kiinnitettävä sairauden loppuvaiheen asianmukaiseen hoitoon.