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BMC Pulmonary Medicine Aug 2023Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is a clinical syndrome with various causes. It is not uncommon that COPD patients presenting with... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is a clinical syndrome with various causes. It is not uncommon that COPD patients presenting with dyspnea have multiple causes for their symptoms including AECOPD, pneumonia, or congestive heart failure occurring concurrently.
METHODS
To identify clinical, radiographic, and laboratory characteristics that might help distinguish AECOPD from another dominant disease in patients with a history of COPD, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of hospitalized patients with admitting diagnosis of AECOPD who were screened for a prospective randomized controlled trial from Sep 2016 to Mar 2018. Clinical characteristics, course in hospital, and final diagnosis at discharge were reviewed and adjudicated by two authors. The final diagnosis of each patient was determined based on the synthesis of all presenting signs and symptoms, imaging, and laboratory results. We adhered to AECOPD diagnosis definitions based on the GOLD guidelines. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify any associated features of AECOPD with and without other acute processes contributing to dyspnea.
RESULTS
Three hundred fifteen hospitalized patients with admitting diagnosis of AECOPD were included. Mean age was 72.5 (SD 10.6) years. Two thirds (65.4%) had spirometry defined COPD. The most common presenting symptom was dyspnea (96.5%), followed by cough (67.9%), and increased sputum (57.5%). One hundred and eighty (57.1%) had a final diagnosis of AECOPD alone whereas 87 (27.6%) had AECOPD with other conditions and 48 (15.2%) did not have AECOPD after adjudication. Increased sputum purulence (OR 3.35, 95%CI 1.68-6.69) and elevated venous pCO2 (OR 1.04, 95%CI 1.01 - 1.07) were associated with a diagnosis of AECOPD but these were not associated with AECOPD alone without concomitant conditions. Radiographic evidence of pleural effusion (OR 0.26, 95%CI 0.12 - 0.58) was negatively associated with AECOPD with or without other conditions while radiographic evidence of pulmonary edema (OR 0.31; 95%CI 0.11 - 0.91) and lobar pneumonia (OR 0.13, 95%CI 0.07 - 0.25) suggested against the diagnosis of AECOPD alone.
CONCLUSION
The study highlighted the complexity and difficulty of AECOPD diagnosis. A more specific clinical tool to diagnose AECOPD is needed.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Dyspnea; Cough; Disease Progression; Acute Disease
PubMed: 37580731
DOI: 10.1186/s12890-023-02587-1 -
Revista Espanola de Enfermedades... Nov 2023.We present the case of a 46-year-old female with dysphagia to solids and retrosternal pain that worsened after eating. Due to mediastinal lymphadenopathies, she...
.We present the case of a 46-year-old female with dysphagia to solids and retrosternal pain that worsened after eating. Due to mediastinal lymphadenopathies, she underwent endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) 3 weeks before, mentioning the complaints started afterwards. On physical examination she had fever (38.3ÂșC). Gastroscopy revealed three 10-20mm fistulous orifices with purulent discharge at 26-32cm from the incisors and another four partially covered by fibrin in the distal esophagus. EBUS-TBNA report was reviewed, mentioning 6 needle passes through the esophagus, due to failed endotracheal intubation, without immediate complications. A cervicothoracic CT scan identified 2 mediastinal abscesses, the largest with 9cm, communicating with the esophageal fistulas. She was admitted, underwent intravenous antibiotics and endoscopy-guided nasogastric tube placement. The histopathological analysis diagnosed Castleman's disease. There was clinical and imagological improvement during admission. After 16 days she was released. Upper endoscopy was repeated one month later showing complete closure of the fistulous orifices.
PubMed: 37929957
DOI: 10.17235/reed.2023.10025/2023