Symptom variability over the course of the day in patients with stable COPD in Brazil: a real-world observational study / Variabilidade dos sintomas diários de pacientes com DPOC estável no Brasil: um estudo observacional de vida real

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze symptoms at different times of day in patients with COPD. Methods: This was a multicenter, cross-sectional observational study conducted at eight centers in Brazil. We evaluated morning, daytime, and nighttime symptoms in patients with stable COPD. Results: We included 593 patients under regular treatment, of whom 309 (52.1%) were male and 92 (15.5%) were active smokers. The mean age was 67.7 years, and the mean FEV1 was 49.4% of the predicted value. In comparison with the patients who had mild or moderate symptoms, the 183 (30.8%) with severe symptoms were less physically active (p = 0.002), had greater airflow limitation (p < 0.001), had more outpatient exacerbations (p = 0.002) and more inpatient exacerbations (p = 0.043), as well as scoring worse on specific instruments. The most common morning and nighttime symptoms were dyspnea (in 45.2% and 33.1%, respectively), cough (in 37.5% and 33.3%, respectively), and wheezing (in 24.4% and 27.0%, respectively). The intensity of daytime symptoms correlated strongly with that of morning symptoms (r = 0.65, p < 0.001) and that of nighttime symptoms (r = 0.60, p < 0.001), as well as with the COPD Assessment Test score (r = 0.62; p < 0.001), although it showed only a weak correlation with FEV1 (r = −0.205; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Dyspnea was more common in the morning than at night. Having morning or nighttime symptoms was associated with greater daytime symptom severity. Symptom intensity was strongly associated with poor quality of life and with the frequency of exacerbations, although it was weakly associated with airflow limitation.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar os sintomas em diferentes momentos do dia em pacientes com DPOC. Métodos: Estudo observacional multicêntrico de corte transversal em oito centros brasileiros. Foram avaliados os sintomas matinais, diurnos e noturnos em pacientes com DPOC estável. Resultados: Foram incluídos 593 pacientes em tratamento regular, sendo 309 (52,1%) do sexo masculino e 92 (15,5%) fumantes ativos. A média de idade foi de 67,7 anos, e a média de VEF1 foi de 49,4% do valor previsto. Os pacientes com sintomas mais graves (n = 183; 30,8%), em comparação com aqueles com sintomas leves e moderados, apresentaram pior nível de atividade física (p = 0,002), maior limitação ao fluxo aéreo (p < 0,001), exacerbações ambulatoriais (p = 0,002) e hospitalares (p = 0,043) mais frequentemente e piores resultados em instrumentos específicos. Os sintomas matinais e noturnos mais frequentes foram dispneia (em 45,2% e 33,1%, respectivamente), tosse (em 37,5% e 33,3%, respectivamente) e chiado (em 24,4% e 27,0%, respectivamente). Houve forte correlação da intensidade dos sintomas diurnos com sintomas matinais (r = 0,65, p < 0,001), sintomas noturnos (r = 0,60, p < 0,001), bem como com o escore do COPD Assessment Test (r = 0,62; p < 0,001); porém, houve uma correlação fraca com VEF1 (r = −0,205; p < 0,001). Conclusões: A dispneia foi mais frequente no período matinal do que no período noturno. Ter sintomas matinais e/ou noturnos foi associado à pior gravidade dos sintomas diurnos. A intensidade dos sintomas foi fortemente associada a pior qualidade de vida e frequência de exacerbações, mas fracamente associada à limitação ao fluxo aéreo.

Immune reconstitution syndrome in patients treated for HIV and tuberculosis in Rio de Janeiro

We made a retrospective longitudinal study from January 2000 to January 2003 to examine cases of immune reconstitution syndrome (IRS) and its incidence rate in tuberculosis (TB)-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infected patients. The incidence rate (IR) was calculated using a Poisson regression. The confidence interval (CI) that was stipulated was 95 percent. IRS occurred in 10/84 HIV and TB-positive patients; nine of them were on highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) during a mean of 61.7 (±59) days following the introduction of antiretrovirals. Lymph-node enlargement was the sole clinical manifestation. CD4 counts were <100 cells/mm³in 50 percent of the patients, at the time of TB diagnosis. All but two patients were treated with prednisone, and recovered from TB within a mean of 91 days (±30 days). One relapse of TB was observed, but there were no IRS-related deaths. The incidence rate was higher (IR=11.18; CI, 1.41-88.76) in patients that had superficial lymph node enlargement at the moment of TB diagnosis (not associated with TB), extrapulmonary TB (IR=1.97; CI, 0.44-8.79), were antiretroviral naive (IR=1.85; CI, 0.48-7.16), and CD4 counts <100 cells/mm³ (IR=1.50; CI, 0.40-5.59), although with a wide CI. IRS was frequent in our sample, occurred more frequently in HIV-naive patients with lymph-node enlargement and extrapulmonary TB. No cases of new pulmonary lesions or worsening of pulmonary infiltrates were observed.