Beyond forced exhalation: impulse oscillometry as a promising tool for bronchial hyperresponsiveness evaluation.

Introduction: The multiple forced expiratory maneuvers that must be performed during methacholine test require a high degree of collaboration and can lead to fatigue. However, impulse oscillometry (IOS) is a noninvasive test, quick and easy to perform, that does not require effort-dependent maneuvers.Objectives: The primary endpoint was to evaluate the relationship between IOS and spirometry during the methacholine test. The secondary endpoint was to study the predictive value of baseline IOS in the development of bronchial hyperreactivity.Methods: Observational, prospective, cross-sectional study, with recruitment of consecutive patients from the pulmonology department with clinical suspicion of bronchial asthma with negative bronchodilator test and normal FeNO.Results: Twenty-five patients were included, with a mean age of 49 ± 18 years. Thirteen patients (52%) had a positive methacholine test. The correlation between IOS indices and FEV1 was significant (p < 0.05) in all cases. The indices with the highest predictive power were R5-20 and AX. The optimal cutoff points were an increase of greater than 32.96% in R5, greater than 120.83% for X5, an increase of 30.30 [kPa l-1s-1] in R5-20, and an increase of 1.01 [kPa l-1] for AX. Baseline oscillometry demonstrated a strong predictive value in the development of bronchial hyperreactivity, with a sensitivity of 61.5% and a specificity of 91.7%, using the cut-off point of 160.0% for R5.Conclusions: IOS may be a valuable alternative to forced spirometry in detecting bronchial hyperreactivity during the methacholine test, showing a good correlation between both tests.

Understanding Severe Asthma Through Small and Big Data in Spanish Hospitals: The PAGE Study.

BACKGROUND: Data on the prevalence of severe asthma (SA) are limited. Electronic health records (EHRs) offer a unique research opportunity to test machine learning (ML) tools in epidemiological studies. Our aim was to estimate the prevalence of SA among asthma patients seen in hospital asthma units, using both ML-based and traditional research methodologies. Our secondary objective was to describe patients with nonsevere asthma (NSA) and SA over a follow-up of 12 months. METHODS: PAGE is a multicenter, controlled, observational study conducted in 36 Spanish hospitals and split into 2 phases: a cross-sectional phase for estimation of the prevalence of SA and a prospective phase (3 visits in 12 months) for the follow-up and characterization of SA and NSA patients. A substudy with ML was performed in 6 hospitals. Our ML tool uses EHRead technology, which extracts clinical concepts from EHRs and standardizes them to SNOMED CT. RESULTS: The prevalence of SA among asthma patients in Spanish hospitals was 20.1%, compared with 9.7% using the ML tool. The proportion of SA phenotypes and the features of patients followed up were consistent with previous studies. The clinical predictions of patients' clinical course were unreliable, and ML found only 2 predictive models with discriminatory power to predict outcomes. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to estimate the prevalence of SA in hospitalized asthma patients and to predict patient outcomes using both standard and ML-based research techniques. Our findings offer relevant insights for further epidemiological and clinical research in SA.

Understanding Severe Asthma Through Small and Big Data in Spanish Hospitals: The PAGE Study

Background: Data on the prevalence of severe asthma (SA) are limited. Electronic health records (EHRs) offer a unique research opportunity to test machine learning (ML) tools in epidemiological studies. Our aim was to estimate the prevalence of SA among asthma patients seen in hospital asthma units, using both ML-based and traditional research methodologies. Our secondary objective was to describe patients with nonsevere asthma (NSA) and SA over a follow-up of 12 months. Methods: PAGE is a multicenter, controlled, observational study conducted in 36 Spanish hospitals and split into 2 phases: a cross-sectional phase for estimation of the prevalence of SA and a prospective phase (3 visits in 12 months) for the follow-up and characterization of SA and NSA patients. A substudy with ML was performed in 6 hospitals. Our ML tool uses EHRead technology, which extracts clinical concepts from EHRs and standardizes them to SNOMED CT. Results: The prevalence of SA among asthma patients in Spanish hospitals was 20.1%, compared with 9.7% using the ML tool. The proportion of SA phenotypes and the features of patients followed up were consistent with previous studies. The clinical predictions of patients’ clinical course were unreliable, and ML found only 2 predictive models with discriminatory power to predict outcomes. Conclusion: This study is the first to estimate the prevalence of SA in hospitalized asthma patients and to predict patient outcomes using both standard and ML-based research techniques. Our findings offer relevant insights for further epidemiological and clinical research in SA (AU)

Antecedentes: Los datos sobre la prevalencia del asma grave (SA) son limitados. La implantación de las historias clínicas electrónicas (EHR) ofrece una oportunidad única de investigación con tecnologías de aprendizaje máquina (ML) en los estudios epidemiológicos. El objetivo fue estimar la prevalencia del SA entre los pacientes atendidos en las unidades de asma hospitalarias, utilizando el ML como la metodología de investigación tradicional. Los objetivos secundarios fueron describir los pacientes con asma no grave (NSA) y con SA durante un período de seguimiento de 12 meses. Métodos: El estudio PAGE es un estudio multicéntrico, controlado y observacional realizado en 36 hospitales españoles y dividido en dos fases: una primera fase transversal para la estimación de la prevalencia de AS, y una segunda fase prospectiva (3 visitas en 12 meses) para el seguimiento y caracterización de los pacientes con SA y NSA. Se incluyó un subestudio con ML en 6 hospitales. Resultados: Se obtuvo una prevalencia de SA del 20,1% entre los pacientes asmáticos, frente al 9,7% de la herramienta ML. La proporción de fenotipos de SA y las características de los pacientes en seguimiento fueron consistentes con estudios anteriores. Las predicciones clínicas de la evolución de los pacientes fueron poco fiables, mientras que el ML sólo encontró dos modelos predictivos con potencial discriminatorio para predecir resultados. Conclusión: Este estudio es el primero en estimar la prevalencia del SA, en una población hospitalaria de pacientes con asma, y en predecir los resultados de los pacientes utilizando técnicas estándar y de ML (AU)

PAGE Study: Summary of a Study Protocol to Estimate the Prevalence of Severe Asthma in Spain Using Big Data Methods.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Background: The proposal and the initiative for the Prevalence of Severe Asthma in Hospital Units in Spain (PAGE) study came about because of the widespread implementation of electronic medical records and the limited data available on the prevalence of severe asthma in hospitals in our setting. Objectives: The primary objective was to determine the prevalence of severe asthma in the outpatient clinics of allergy and pulmonology departments in Spain. The secondary objectives were to describe the most prevalent characteristics and phenotypes of severe asthma, to evaluate the selection criteria for receiving approved biological treatments for this disease, and to estimate consumption of resources. Furthermore, digital technology and new data collection sources made it possible to reuse information stored in electronic medical records (Big Data). The study was performed using one such tool, Savana. METHODS: The PAGE study was a multicenter, nonexperimental, observational, cross-sectional study in the first phase and a prospective study in the second phase. The study was controlled and population-based, with 2-stage selection of patients by random sampling. The research was carried out in 40 hospitals selected using convenience sampling in order to ensure geographical representativeness in Spain. RESULTS: This manuscript describes the study design and protocol. CONCLUSIONS: Our study design was sufficiently robust to avoid bias and to establish the prevalence of patients with severe asthma in Spanish hospitals. It was also the first to incorporate new tools that can help in routine clinical practice and research, such as big data analysis software, and to evaluate the reliability and efficiency of these tools.

PAGE Study: Summary of a Study Protocol to Estimate the Prevalence of Severe Asthma in Spain Using Big Data Methods

Background: The proposal and the initiative for the Prevalence of Severe Asthma in Hospital Units in Spain (PAGE) study came about because of the widespread implementation of electronic medical records and the limited data available on the prevalence of severe asthma in hospitals in our setting. Objectives: The primary objective was to determine the prevalence of severe asthma in the outpatient clinics of allergy and pulmonology departments in Spain. The secondary objectives were to describe the most prevalent characteristics and phenotypes of severe asthma, to evaluate the selection criteria for receiving approved biological treatments for this disease, and to estimate consumption of resources. Furthermore, digital technology and new data collection sources made it possible to reuse information stored in electronic medical records (Big Data). The study was performed using one such tool, Savana. Methods: The PAGE study was a multicenter, nonexperimental, observational, cross-sectional study in the first phase and a prospective study in the second phase. The study was controlled and population-based, with 2-stage selection of patients by random sampling. The research was carried out in 40 hospitals selected using convenience sampling in order to ensure geographical representativeness in Spain. Results: This manuscript describes the study design and protocol. Conclusions: Our study design was sufficiently robust to avoid bias and to establish the prevalence of patients with severe asthma in Spanish hospitals. It was also the first to incorporate new tools that can help in routine clinical practice and research, such as big data analysis software, and to evaluate the reliability and efficiency of these tools (AU)

Novedades en las guías sobre el tratamiento del asma grave / The latest developments in the guidelines on severe asthma treatment

Las guías de práctica clínica (GPC) aparecieron con el fin de homogenizar el diagnóstico y tratamiento del asma; inicialmente como un consenso de expertos, y posteriormente incluyendo para sus afirmaciones y recomendaciones técnicas de medicina basada en la evidencia, e incorporar en sus actualizaciones frecuentes, los cambios en el conocimiento fisiopatológico y en el manejo de la enfermedad. En el 2019 se han realizado actualizaciones de las tres principales GPC incluyendo el tratamiento del paciente con asma grave no controlada, el uso de fármacos biológicos y otros procedimientos

The clinical practice guidelines (CPG) appeared with the intention to homogenize the asthma diagnosis and treatment, initially as an expert consensus, and afterwards including evidence based medicine data for its affirmations and technical recommendations incorporating advances in knowledge and management of the disease in their frequent updates. In 2019 the 3 principal CPG, have updates including the management of non-controlled severe asthma patients, biological treatments use and other procedures

20 años en asma / 20 years in asthma

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Autoimmune diseases and asthma

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Mepolizumab for the treatment of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: our experience

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Asma de control difícil: factores predisponentes y factores agravantes / Difficult to control asthma: predisposing and aggravating factors

El concepto de asma de control difícil engloba a todos aquellos pacientes con asma insuficientemente o mal controlada, a pesar de seguir una estrategia terap¨¦utica apropiada, una vez se ha comprobado el cumplimiento de esta, se han descartado otras enfermedades y controlados los factores agravantes de la enfermedad. Los factores que contribuyen a que el asma sea refractaria al tratamiento no son bien conocidos. Algunos estudios establecen asociaciones d¨¦biles entre determinadas alteraciones gen¨¦ticas y varios factores ambientales. Se ha descrito que mutaciones del gen IL-4 y su receptor parecen tener relaci¨®n con la p¨¦rdida de funci¨®n pulmonar y con episodios de asma de riesgo vital. Tambi¨¦n se han relacionado con la gravedad del asma factores implicados en el remodelado de la v¨ªa a¨¦rea as¨ª como mutaciones de los receptores para los glucocorticoides y los ¦Â2-adren¨¦rgicos. Por otra parte se han asociado con la gravedad del asma diversos factores ambientales como la exposici¨®n continua a al¨¦rgenos, tabaquismo, intolerancia a antiinflamatorios no esteroideos (AINE) e infecciones. Estudios multic¨¦ntricos como el estudio ENFUMOSA y el estudio TENOR nos han ayudado a comprender en parte esta enfermedad (AU)

The concept of difficult-to-control asthma covers all those patients with insufficiently or poorly controlled asthma who, in spite of having followed an appropriate therapeutic strategy, and after having verified its compliance, other diseases have been ruled out and aggravating factors of the disease controlled. The factors that contribute to making asthma refractory to treatment are not well known. Some studies establish weak associations between certain genetic alterations and several environmental factors. It has been described that mutations of the IL-4 gene and its receptor seem to have a relationship with loss of pulmonary function and with life-threatening asthma episodes. They have also been related with the severity of the asthma factors involved in airway remodeling and mutations of glucocorticoids and beta 2-adrenergic receptors. On the other hand, different environmental factors such as continuing exposure to allergens, tobacco smoke, intolerance to NSAIDs and infections have been associated with the severity of asthma. Multicenter study such as the ENFUMOSA study and the TENOR study have partially helped us to understand this disease (AU)

Asma bronquial / Bronchial asthma

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¿Coste-efectividad del asma?, una pregunta más con respuesta parcial en esta entidad patológica / Cost-effectiveness of asthma? One more question with a partial response in this disease entity

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Estrategias actuales en el manejo del asma. El problema del asma de difícil control / Current strategies in the treatment of asthma. The problem of difficult-to-control asthma

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Anticuerpo monoclonal anti-IgE en el tratamiento del asma / Anti-IgE monoclonal antibody in asthma treatment

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Infiltración de la cámara anterior ocular en una paciente con leucemia no linfoblástica aguda / Ocular infiltration in the anterior chamber in a female infant with acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia

La infiltración ocular diferente del sarcoma mieloide en la leucemia no linfoblástica aguda (LNLA) es un hallazgo inusual. Se revisa el caso de una niña de 9 meses de edad con LNLA M5 e infiltración del sistema nervioso central (SNC), que presentó afectación de la cámara anterior del ojo intratratamiento, coincidiendo con la remisión completa del SNC. Se trató con esteroides tópicos, quimioterapia sistémica y radioterapia ocular bilateral (dosis total de 1.000 cGy) con buena respuesta, aunque falleció a los 2 meses al no conseguirse la remisión hematológica de su enfermedad. Cualquier manifestación ocular en niños con leucemia debe ser evaluada y tratada de forma precoz. La radioterapia tiene un papel importante en el tratamiento de la infiltración de la cámara anterior del ojo. La infiltración ocular junto a la medular y del SNC es un signo de mal pronóstico en niños afectados de leucemia (AU)

[Ocular infiltration in the anterior chamber in a female infant with acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia]. / Infiltración de la cámara anterior ocular en una paciente con leucemia no linfoblástica aguda.

Unlike myeloid sarcoma, ocular involvement is unusual in acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia.A 9-month-old female infant with acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia M5 and evidence of active central nervous system (CNS) disease showed infiltration of the anterior chamber during therapy. At that time, the CNS disease was in completed remission. She was treated with topical corticosteroids, chemotherapy and bilateral ocular radiotherapy (total dose 1,000 cGy). The ocular manifestations responded well to treatment but hematologic response was poor. The patient died a few months later. Any ophthalmic manifestation in children with leukemia should be detected and treated early. Radiotherapy is warranted in infiltration of the anterior chamber of the eye. The presence of ocular, central CNS or bone marrow involvement indicates poor prognosis in acute childhood leukemia.