Gravedad de los pacientes ingresados por EPOC agudizada en el ensayo clínico SLICE / Severity of patients admitted for acute COPDin the SLICE clinical trial

Introducción: Hay poca información actualizada sobre las características clínicas y la gravedad de los pacientes con EPOC que ingresan por una agudización. Nuestro objetivo fue caracterizar a los pacientes que ingresan por agudización de EPOC según la limitación al flujo aéreo: obstrucción leve (Volumen Espiratorio Forzado en el primer segundo [VEF1] ≥ 80%); moderada (VEF1 50 - 79%); grave (VEF1 30 - 49%); o muy grave (VEF1 <3 0%).Métodos: Realizamos un análisis post-hoc del ensayo clínico multicéntrico SLICE (Significance of Pulmonary Embolism in COPD Exacerbations), que reclutó pacientes consecutivos con agudización de EPOC que requirieron ingreso en 18 hospitales españoles en el periodo comprendido entre septiembre de 2014 y julio de 2020.Resultados: Incluimos 737 pacientes, con una edad media (DE) de 70,2 ± 9,9 años, y un predominio de hombres (73,5%). La espirometría clasificó a los pacientes con obstrucción leve, moderada, grave o muy grave en el 8%, 31,5%, 45% y el 15,5%, respectivamente. Al comparar a los pacientes de acuerdo al grado de obstrucción, observamos que los pacientes con mayor obstrucción al flujo aéreo eran más jóvenes (leve: 71,7 ± 8,8, moderada: 72,4 ± 10, grave: 70,2 ± 9,8, muy grave: 66,6 ± 9,2; p < 0,001), presentaban más insuficiencia respiratoria crónica (37,3% vs. 30,2% vs. 44,9% vs. 64,3%; p < 0,001), presentaban más cianosis (5,8% vs. 5,9% vs. 8,5% vs. 15,3%; p < 0,001), presentaron mayor porcentaje de agudizaciones y estaban más taquicárdicos a su llegada al centro hospitalario (92 ± 16 latidos por minuto [lpm] vs. 94 ± 18 vs. 96 ± 18 lpm vs. 99 ± 18 lpm; p < 0,001). Además, la gasometría arterial al ingreso mostraba un pH menor y una pCO2 mayor cuanto más grave era la obstrucción al flujo aéreo (p < 0,001). Conclusión: La gravedad de la obstrucción al flujo aéreo se asocia con la forma de presentación y el resultado de la gasometría arterial del paciente con agudización de EPOC que requiere ingreso hospitalario. (AU)

Introduction: There is little up-to-date information on the clinical characteristics and severity of COPD patients admitted for an exacerbation. Our objective was to characterize patients admitted due to COPD exacerbation according to airflow limitation: mild obstruction (Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second [FEV1] ≥ 80%); moderate (FEV1 50 - 79%); severe (FEV1 30 - 49%); or very severe (FEV1 <3 0%).Methods: We performed a post-hoc analysis of the multicenter clinical trial SLICE (Significance of Pulmonary Embolism in COPD Exacerbations), which recruited consecutive patients with COPD exacerbation who required admission to 18 Spanish hospitals in the period between September 2014 and July 2020.Results: We included 737 patients, with a mean (SD) age of 70.2 ± 9.9 years, and a predominance of men (73.5%). Spirometry classified patients with mild, moderate, severe, or very severe obstruction in 8%, 31.5%, 45%, and 15.5%, respectively. When comparing the patients according to the degree of obstruction, we observed that the patients with greater airflow obstruction were younger (mild: 71.7 ± 8.8, moderate: 72.4 ± 10, severe: 70.2 ± 9.8, very severe: 66.6 ± 9.2; p < 0.001), had more chronic respiratory failure (37.3% vs. 30.2% vs. 44.9% vs. 64.3%; p < 0.001), had more cyanosis (5.8% vs. 5.9% vs. 8.5% vs. 15.3%; p < 0.001), had a higher percentage of exacerbations and were more tachycardic on arrival at the center hospital (92 ± 16 beats per minute [bpm] vs. 94 ± 18 vs. 96 ± 18 bpm vs. 99 ± 18 bpm; p < 0.001). In addition, arterial blood gases on admission showed a lower pH and a higher pCO2 the more severe the airflow obstruction was (p < 0.001).Conclusion: The severity of the airflow obstruction is associated with the form of presentation and the result of the arterial blood gases of the patient with COPD exacerbation who requires hospital admission. (AU)

Palliative care nurses' experiences of training in cognitive behaviour therapy and taking part in a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: This article describes the experiences of clinical nurse specialists in a palliative homecare team who took part in a cluster randomized controlled study. The study aimed to determine whether palliative care nurses given basic training in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) were able to use core components of this training when treating advanced cancer patients with anxiety or depression. METHOD: Fifteen nurses were randomly allocated to either receive training in cognitive behavioural techniques or to continue their practice as usual. Nurses were interviewed following the CBT training and after the research study. RESULTS: The CBT group reported a positive change in their approach to patients. Nurses felt empowered, more skilled and effective not only to assess and support patients with symptoms of anxiety and depression but also to facilitate change. In addition, nurses placed considerable value on being given a psychological model and set of interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses found taking part in the study demanding in terms of time and commitment; however, the authors conclude that research in the community palliative care setting is feasible.

A cluster randomized controlled trial of cognitive behaviour therapy for common mental disorders in patients with advanced cancer.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) has been shown to reduce psychological morbidity in people with cancer, but no randomized controlled trial (RCT) exists in palliative care. We aimed to determine whether home care nurses could be taught to deliver basic cognitive behavioural techniques and so reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. METHOD: Clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) at St Christopher's Hospice were randomly allocated to receive training in CBT or continue their usual practice. At the end of the trial, nurses were rated on the Cognitive Therapy First Aid Rating Scale (CTFARS) for CBT competence. Home care patients who scored as possible cases on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) entered the trial. Participants received home care nursing visits. Assessments were carried out at baseline, 6, 10 and 16 weeks. RESULTS: Eight nurses received CBT training and seven continued practice as usual. The mean CTFARS scores were 35.9 for the CBT nurses and 19.0 for the controls (p=0.02). A total of 328 patients (54%) were possible cases and 80 entered the trial; most of those excluded were too ill to participate. There was an interaction between group and time: individuals receiving CBT had lower anxiety scores over time [coefficient -0.20, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.35 to -0.05, p=0.01]. No effect of the training was found for depression. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to conduct a randomized trial of psychological interventions in palliative care but there is considerable attrition from physical morbidity and mortality. Nurses can learn to integrate basic CBT methods into their clinical practice. This training may be associated with better outcomes for symptoms of anxiety.

An initial exploration of community mental health nurses' attitudes to and experience of sexuality-related issues in their work with people experiencing mental health problems.

Human sexuality is a complex dynamic concept that escapes simple definition. Within nursing there seems to be a preference for broad holistic definitions that emphasize sexuality as an aspect of the unique human character. Whilst the nursing literature mostly portrays sexuality as wholesome and good, it also notes that sexuality can be a vehicle for the expression of power, hostility or hatred. In this study, the authors did not prescribe or limit the definition of 'sexuality'. Rather the term 'sexuality' was used in a broad sense in order to embrace the range of variables within the concept and allow respondents to consider the issues according to their own perspective. Despite broad acceptance of sexuality as a legitimate focus of health care, clinicians remain ambivalent about actively broaching sexual issues and there is a potential for clients' needs to go unmet. A number of intertwining variables can influence sexuality-related nursing practice. Nurses' attitudes are regarded as major barriers that prevent open discussion on the topic. This study aims to explore a sample of community mental health nurses' views on the topic of sexuality in relation to their work with clients. The authors adapted a sexual ideology scale previously used for the purposes of teaching students and promoting discussion. The questionnaire was distributed to nurse delegates at an annual CPNA conference. Two of the authors were available throughout the conference to discuss the study. Delegates were asked to recruit CMHN colleagues following the conference in order to increase the sample. The data are described and analysed using SPSS for Windows. Respondent characteristics have been cross-tabulated with item responses and analysed using chi-square and other statistical tests of association. The respondents (n = 122) confirmed sexuality as a relevant clinical issue and there was an overwhelming affirmation of people with mental health problems as sexual beings. Sixty-three per cent (n = 77) of respondents anticipated that people with mental health problems who are in relationships might experience sexual problems, and 52.4% (n = 64) agreed that a sexual history should be routinely included in assessment. Seventeen per cent (n = 21) had encountered clients becoming sexually aroused during the administration of a depot injection in the community. The authors identify this as an area of concern that warrants further investigation. The results indicate that although awareness of sexuality issues may be high there may be less agreement as to how such awareness should translate into CMHN practice.

An immunohistological study of cytokeratin 20 in human and mammalian oral epithelium.

Cytokeratin (CK) 20 is a low molecular-weight intermediate filament reportedly expressed only by benign and malignant gastrointestinal epithelium, urothelium and Merkel cells. The main aims here were to map its expression in normal oral mucosa of humans and other mammals, and to determine whether it was expressed by abnormal human oral epithelium. Salivary and odontogenic epithelium were also analysed. An immunoperoxidase method was used on wax-embedded and cryostat sections. In addition, double-labelling experiments were undertaken to determine the association between CK 20 expression and that of CK 8/18 or S100 protein. Normal human oral mucosa from four sites, together with abdominal skin, was studied in autopsy samples from 32 individuals. CK 20-positive, basally situated, round or angular cells, consistent with Merkel cells, were recorded in 24/32 (75.0%) samples of mandibular gingiva, 25/32 (78.1%) samples of hard palate, 7/32 (21.9%) samples of buccal mucosa, 0/32 samples of lateral border of tongue, and 2/32 (6.3%) samples of abdominal skin. Double-labelling showed that all CK 20-positive Merkel cells also expressed CK 8/18 and S100. The only other cells to express CK 20 were human taste buds. There was no expression by dysplastic or invasive oral epithelium from biopsy samples. Colonic mucosa showed luminal-cell positivity in man, marmoset, ferret, rabbit and guinea-pig, but oral mucosa was universally negative in non-human species. It is concluded that in oral mucosa CK 20 is a specific marker of Merkel cells and taste buds, that Merkel cells are more frequently present in keratinized than non-keratinized oral mucosa, that CK 20-positive Merkel cells are also S100-positive, that there may be interspecies variations in CK 20 polypeptide composition and that, by contrast to urothelium, CK 20 has no value in the diagnosis of oral epithelial dysplasia.

Nurses' attitudes to sexuality in caring for cancer patients.

The attitudes of hospice nurses towards psychosexual issues in palliative care were surveyed. Sexuality was acknowledged to be both important and relevant in hospice nursing. A high level of awareness of sexual and relationship issues was apparent, reflecting broadly liberal attitudes.