Variability of the perception of dyspnea in healthy subjects assessed through inspiratory resistive loading.

OBJECTIVE: Few studies have evaluated the variability of the perception of dyspnea in healthy subjects. The objective of this study was to evaluate the variability of the perception of dyspnea in healthy subjects during breathing against increasing inspiratory resistive loads, as well as to assess the association between the level of perception of dyspnea and the level of physical activity. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving healthy individuals 16 years of age or older. Subjects underwent inspiratory resistive loading testing, in which the level of perception of dyspnea was quantified with the modified Borg scale. We also determined body mass indices (BMIs), assessed maximal respiratory pressures, performed pulmonary function tests, applied the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ)-long form, and conducted six-minute walk tests (6 MWTs). The level of perception of dyspnea was classified as low (Borg score < 2), intermediate (Borg score, 2-5), or high (Borg score > 5). RESULTS: We included 48 healthy subjects in the study. Forty-two subjects completed the test up to a load of 46.7 cmH2O/L/s. The level of perception of dyspnea was classified as low, intermediate, and high in 13, 19, and 10 subjects, respectively. The level of perception of dyspnea was not significantly associated with age, gender, BMI, IPAQ-long form score, maximal respiratory pressures, or pulmonary function test results. CONCLUSIONS: The scores for perceived dyspnea induced by inspiratory resistive loading in healthy subjects presented wide variability. The perception of dyspnea was classified as low in 31% of the subjects, intermediate in 45%, and high in 24%. There was no association between the level of perception of dyspnea and the level of physical activity (IPAQ or six-minute walk distance).

Variability of the perception of dyspnea in healthy subjects assessed through inspiratory resistive loading / Variabilidade da percepção da dispneia medida através de um sistema de cargas resistivas inspiratórias em indivíduos saudáveis

Objective: Few studies have evaluated the variability of the perception of dyspnea in healthy subjects. The objective of this study was to evaluate the variability of the perception of dyspnea in healthy subjects during breathing against increasing inspiratory resistive loads, as well as to assess the association between the level of perception of dyspnea and the level of physical activity. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving healthy individuals 16 years of age or older. Subjects underwent inspiratory resistive loading testing, in which the level of perception of dyspnea was quantified with the modified Borg scale. We also determined body mass indices (BMIs), assessed maximal respiratory pressures, performed pulmonary function tests, applied the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ)-long form, and conducted six-minute walk tests (6MWTs). The level of perception of dyspnea was classified as low (Borg score < 2), intermediate (Borg score, 2-5), or high (Borg score > 5). Results: We included 48 healthy subjects in the study. Forty-two subjects completed the test up to a load of 46.7 cmH2O/L/s. The level of perception of dyspnea was classified as low, intermediate, and high in 13, 19, and 10 subjects, respectively. The level of perception of dyspnea was not significantly associated with age, gender, BMI, IPAQ-long form score, maximal respiratory pressures, or pulmonary function test results. Conclusions: The scores for perceived dyspnea induced by inspiratory resistive loading in healthy subjects presented wide variability. The perception of dyspnea was classified as low in 31% of the subjects, intermediate in 45%, and high in 24%. There was no association between the level of perception of dyspnea and the level of physical activity (IPAQ or six-minute walk distance). .

Objetivo: Poucos estudos avaliaram a variabilidade da percepção da dispneia em indivíduos saudáveis. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a variabilidade da percepção da dispneia em indivíduos saudáveis através do uso de cargas resistivas inspiratórias crescentes, assim como avaliar a associação entre o nível de percepção da dispneia e o nível de atividade física. Métodos: Estudo transversal realizado em indivíduos saudáveis com idade ≥ 16 anos. Os indivíduos foram submetidos ao teste de cargas resistivas inspiratórias, no qual o nível de percepção da dispneia foi quantificado pela escala de Borg modificada. Foram também determinados os índices de massa corpórea (IMC), pressões respiratórias máximas, testes de função pulmonar, international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ)-long form, e testes de caminhada de seis minutos (TC6). Os indivíduos foram classificados em percepção baixa (Borg < 2), intermediária (Borg, 2-5) e alta (Borg > 5). Resultados: Foram incluídos no estudo 48 indivíduos saudáveis. Desses, 42 completaram o teste até a carga de 46,7 cmH2O/l/s. O nível de percepção da dispneia foi classificado como baixo, intermediário e alto em 13, 19 e 10 indivíduos, respectivamente. Não houve associações significativas do nível de percepção da dispneia com idade, sexo, IMC, IPAQ e testes de função pulmonar. Conclusões: Os escores da percepção da dispneia induzida por cargas resistivas inspiratórias em indivíduos saudáveis apresentaram uma ampla variabilidade. A percepção da dispneia foi classificada como baixa, intermediária e alta em 31%, 45% e 24%, respectivamente. Não houve associações entre o nível de percepção da dispneia e o nível de atividade física (IPAQ ou distância no TC6). .

Efeito da implantação de um protocolo assistencial de asma aguda no serviço de emergência de um hospital universitário / Effect of a clinical protocol on the management of acute asthma in the emergency room of a university hospital

INTRODUÇAO: Existe grande variabilidade de prática clínica no tratamento da asma aguda na sala de emergência, o que interfere na qualidade de atendimento. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito da implantação de um protocolo assistencial de asma aguda no Serviço de Emergência do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. MÉTODO: Estudo transversal, antes e após a implantação do protocolo assistencial de asma aguda no setor de adultos (idade > 12 anos) do referido serviço, avaliando o efeito das recomendações sobre a avaliação objetiva da gravidade, solicitações de exames, uso de terapêutica recomendada, uso de terapêutica não-recomendada e desfechos da crise. RESULTADOS: Na fase pré-implantação, foram estudados 108 pacientes e, na fase pós-implantação, 96 pacientes. Houve aumento na utilização da oximetria de pulso (de 8 por cento para 77 por cento, p < 0,001) e do pico de fluxo expiratório (de 5 por cento para 21 por cento, p < 0,001). Ocorreu aumento na utilização de recursos radiológicos (de 33 por cento para 66 por cento, p < 0,001) e de hemograma (de 11 por cento para 25 por cento, p = 0,016). Houve aumento no número de pacientes que receberam as três nebulizações preconizadas para a primeira hora de tratamento (de 22 por cento para 36 por cento, p=0,04). Embora a utilização geral de corticóide não se tenha modificado, houve aumento no uso de corticóide oral (de 8,3 por cento para 28 por cento, p < 0,001). Não houve alteração significativa na utilização de medidas terapêuticas não-preconizadas, no tempo de permanência na sala de emergência, nem nas taxas de internações e de altas. CONCLUSAO: A aplicação do protocolo assistencial de asma aguda na sala de emergência obteve efeito positivo, com maior utilização de medidas objetivas na avaliação da gravidade e de medidas terapêuticas recomendadas, porém não teve repercussão sobre tratamento e desfechos.

Characteristics of acute asthma patients attended frequently compared with those attended only occasionally in an emergency department.

Asthma patients that depend on emergency department (ED) services are generally considered to have extremely poor disease control and prognosis. It is important to identify characteristics related to poor disease control and frequent visits to the ED to apply appropriate clinical management. This study comprised a cross-sectional survey of consecutive patients with asthma exacerbation (age > or = 12 years) presenting at the adult ED of a large, tertiary care, university-affiliated hospital over a 2-month period. The frequent visitors (FV) were defined by > or = 3 visits to the ED in the preceding year, and the occasional visitors (OV) by < or = 2 visits. Eighty-six patients (61 females and 25 males) were included in the study (mean age 38 +/- 18 years). Of these patients, 51.2% were FV and 48.8% were OV. Sixty-nine percent had annual income lower than A dollar 3000 and 66.3% had < or = 8 years of the formal education. Only 18.6% had used inhaled corticosteroids, 79.1% identified the asthma attack severity, 70.9% increased or initiated inhaled beta-agonist, 20.9% increased or initiated steroid therapy, and 55.8% had an asthma action plan for attack. The number of hospital admissions in past year (OR 4.3, P = .02), use of home nebulizer (OR 3.6, P = .05) and the lack of a written asthma action plan (OR 3.3, P = .03) were independently associated with frequent visits to the ED. We conclude that a substantial proportion of the patients that visit the ED are FV. These patients are more likely to have hospital admission in the past year, to use a home nebulizer, and to lack a written asthma action plan. They should be considered the most important target for asthma education.

Relationship between functional and X-ray alterations in patients with cystic fibrosis

BACKGROUND: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a disease marked by airway inflammation and airflow obstruction, resulting in air trapping in the lungs. OBJECTIVE: To assess the associations between airflow limitation, pulmonary volume and X-ray findings in patients with cystic fibrosis. METHOD: A cross-sectional retrospective study. Review of spirometric, plethysmographic, and chest X-ray findings of outpatients (age 16 years). The airflow findings were classified as within normal limits or as airflow obstruction: mild, moderate or severe obstructive alteration. RESULTS: A total of 23 patients (15 male and eight female; mean age, 21 ± 5.9 years) were studied. Six of them were within normal limits, four had a mild, five had a moderate, and eight had a severe obstructive alteration. There was an association between airflow limitation and the increase of residual volume (p = 0.006) and also with the Brasfield score (p = 0.001), but not with the total lung capacity (p = 0.33). There was a correlation between residual volume and Brasfield score (r = 0,73, p = 0,002), but not with the total pulmonary capacity. Moreover, according to X-ray criteria, the air trapping was correlated only with the residual volume (p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: In patients with cystic fibrosis (age 16 years), the progressive airflow limitation is accompanied by an increase in residual volume, while the total pulmonary capacity remains normal or tends to decrease. The X-ray score was associated with airflow limitation and residual volume, but not with total lung capacity.

Avaliação do atendimento da asma aguda em serviço de emergência de um hospital universitário / Assessment of acute asthma management in an emergency department at a teaching hospital

O aperfeiçoamento do atendimento a pacientes com asma aguda em serviço de urgência depende do reconhecimento de como realmente se trata a crise asmática na prática clínica. Objetivos: Avaliar padrão de atendimento da asma aguda no setor de adultos do departamento de emergência de um hospital universitário, utilizando como referência a conduta preconizada pelo III Consenso Brasileiro no Manejo da Asma. Pacientes e métodos: Estudo observacional conduzido durante um período de 3 meses, em 2001, no setor de adultos do departamento de emergência do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. Os dados coletados incluíram uso de medidas objetivas para avaliar a gravidade da asma, exames solicitados, uso de terapêutica recomendada e uso de terapêutica não-recomendada. Resultados: Foram estudados um total de 108 casos de asma aguda. Destes, 4,6 por cento tiveram registro de pico de fluxo expiratório e 8,3 por cento tiveram registro de oximetria de pulso. Exames radiológicos foram realizados em 33,4 por cento dos atendimentos, hemograma em 11,1 por cento e outros exames laboratoriais em 9,3 por cento. Oxigenoterapia foi utilizada em 18,5 por cento dos pacientes, Beta-agonistas por nebulização em 100 por cento, corticosteróides em 82,4 por cento (corticosteróides via oral em apenas 8,3 por cento) e brometo de ipratrópio em 67,6 por cento. Metilxantinas foram utilizadas em 18,5 por cento dos casos (uso intravenoso em 11,1 por cento), Beta-agonistas subcutâneo em 1,9 por cento e antibióticos em 28,7 por cento. Conclusão: Este estudo identificou utilização subótima do pico de fluxo expiratório e da oximetria de pulso como medidas objetivas para avaliar a gravidade da crise asmática, e solicitação demasiada de exames radiológicos. Estes aspectos identificados serão utilizados como metas principais a serem corrigidas pela futura implantação de um protocolo assistencial para o manejo da asma aguda na sala de emergência.

Acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome at the intensive care unit of a general university hospital in Brazil. An epidemiological study using the American-European Consensus Criteria.

OBJECTIVES: To determine: (1) the frequency of acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); (2) the mortality associated with these syndromes and (3) the influence of risk factors, comorbidities and organ system dysfunction in the mortality of ALI patients. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Intensive care unit (ICU) of a general university hospital in Brazil. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: All patients that remained in the ICU for more than 24 h were evaluated regarding the presence/development of ALI/ARDS according to the 1994 American-European Consensus Conference. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: One thousand three hundred and one patients were studied and analyzed regarding mortality, risk factors, comorbidities and organ system dysfunction(s). The frequency of ALI was 3.8% (50), of which ARDS was 2.3% (30) and ALI/non-ARDS 1.5% (20) (p=0.15). The ICU mortality of patients with ALI was 44.0%; in ALI/non-ARDS and ARDS patients it was 40.0% and 46.7%, respectively (p=0.43). The hospital mortality of ALI patients was 48.0%; in ALI/non-ARDS and ARDS patients it was 50.0% and 46.7%, respectively (p=0.21). A multivariate analysis demonstrated that renal (ICU and hospital: p=0.002) and hematological dysfunction (ICU: p=0.008; hospital: p=0.02) were independently associated with ICU and hospital mortality in ALI patients. CONCLUSIONS: (1) The frequency of ALI was 3.8%, of which the frequency of ARDS was 2.3% and of ALI/non-ARDS 1.5%; (2) The ICU and hospital mortality of ALI patients was 44.0% and 48.0%, respectively; mortality rates of ARDS and ALI/non-ARDS did not differ significantly; (3) Renal and hematological dysfunction were associated with mortality in ALI patients.