What constitutes an obstructive ventilatory impairment in a pediatric population? A study design.

INTRODUCTION: There is no clear consensus as to what constitutes an obstructive ventilatory impairment (OVI) in pediatric populations. AIM: To determine the percentage of children/adolescents having an OVI among those addressed for spirometry after taking into account the definitions advanced by some international scholarly societies [British Columbia (BC), British thoracic-society (BTS), Canadian thoracic society (CTS), European respiratory society and American thoracic society (ERS-ATS), global initiative for asthma (GINA), Irish college of general practitioners (ICGP), national asthma council (NAC), national institute of clinical excellence (NICE), Société de pneumologie de langue française, Société pédiatrique de pneumologie et allergologie (SPLF-SP2A), and South African thoracic society (SATS)]. METHODS: This bi-centric cross-sectional study involves two medical structures in Sousse/Tunisia, and will encompass children/adolescents aged 6-18 years. A medical questionnaire will be administered, clinical and anthropometric data will be collected, and the spirometric data will be measured by two spirometers. The following six definitions of OVI will be applied: i) GINA: Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) < 80% and a FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) ≤ 0.90; ii) ICGP: FEV1/FVC < 0.70; iii) ERS-ATS or BTS or SATS or SPLF-SP2A or NAC: FEV1/FVC z-score < -1.645; iv) NICE: FEV1/FVC < 0.70 or FEV1/FVC z-score < -1.645; v) CTS: FEV1/FVC < 0.80 or a FEV1/FVC z-score < -1.645; and vi) ERS: "FEV1 z-score or FEV1/FVC z-score" < -1.645 or "FEV1 or FEV1/FVC" < 0.80. EXPECTED RESULTS: The percentage of children/adolescents having an OVI will significantly vary between the six definitions. CONCLUSION: The frequency of OVI in a pediatric population will depend on the definition chosen.

Physiotherapy interventions on chest wall mobility in obstructive lung diseases: A systematic review.

PURPOSE: The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions on chest mobility in obstructive lung diseases. METHODS: Searches were performed in PEDro, Pubmed and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases without language restrictions between 2010 and 25th December 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating physiotherapy interventions on chest wall mobility were included. Two independent reviewers screened studies, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality of included studies. The assessment of risk of bias was conducted using the PEDro scale for RCTs. The articles were excluded if they have less than 5 out of 10 score. RESULTS: Five studies included had good to excellent quality. A total of 139 patients were included in all RCTs. Intervention duration ranged from a single session to 12 weeks and the intervention schedules varied, consisting of 1-24 sessions, lasting 5-45 min per sessions. Three studies used respiratory muscle stretching and releasing techniques, one study combined respiratory muscle stretching with aerobic training, and one study planned diaphragmatic breathing. Four studies assessed chest wall mobility with optoelectronic plethysmography, whereas one study used measuring tape. CONCLUSIONS: The result of this first systematic review that investigates the effects of physiotherapy interventions on chest wall mobility in obstructive lung diseases suggests that more and better quality RCTs with objective measurement tools are required.

A comprehensive evaluation of online inhaler use techniques for obstructive airway disease.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary inhaler therapy is a core treatment modality for >600 million individuals affected by obstructive airways disease globally. Poor inhaler technique is associated with reduced disease control and increased health care utilization; however, many patients rely on the internet as a technical resource. This study assesses the content and quality of online resources describing inhaler techniques. METHODS: A Google search was conducted in April 2023 capturing the top 5 search results for 12 common inhaler devices. Websites were compared to product monographs for preparation/first use, inhalational technique, and post-usage/device care. They were also assessed using accepted quality metrics (GQS, DISCERN, JAMA Benchmark scores) and clinically relevant aspects based on the literature and consensus statements. RESULTS: Websites regularly excluded critical steps important for proper inhaler technique. They performed best on information related directly to inhalation technique (average median score 78%), whereas steps related to preparation/first use (58%) or post-usage/device care (50%) were less frequently addressed. Median GQS, DISCERN, and JAMA Benchmark scores were 3 [IQR 3-4], 3 [IQR 2-4], and 1 [IQR 1-3], respectively. Clinically relevant factors were only addressed in about one-fifth of websites with no websites addressing smoking cessation, environmental considerations, or risk factors for poor technique. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights gaps in online resources describing inhaler technique, particularly related to preparation/first use and post-usage/device care steps. Clinically relevant factors were rarely addressed across websites. Improvements in these areas could lead to enhanced inhaler technique and clinical outcomes.

A new understanding of clinical patterns in post-TB lung disease.

Post-TB lung disease (PTLD) can be categorised based on physiological, radiological, and clinical abnormalities, delineating distinct clinical patterns; however, thus far the importance of this is unknown. People with PTLD have a high morbidity and increased mortality, but predictors of long-term outcomes are poorly understood.We conducted an observational study of PTLD patients attending a tertiary hospital in South Africa between 1 October 2021 and 30 September 2022. Patient demographics, risk factors, symptoms, lung function tests and outcomes were captured.A total of 185 patients were included (mean age: 45.2 years, SD ±14.3). Half of patients reported only one previous episode of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (n = 94, 50.8%). There was a statistically significant association between TB-associated obstructive lung disease (OLD) and dyspnoea (P = 0.002), chest pain (P = 0.014) and smoking (P = 0.005). There were significant associations between haemoptysis and both cavitation (P = 0.015) and fungal-associated disease (P < 0.001). Six patients (3.2%) died by study end.PTLD can affect young people even with only one previous episode of TB, and carries a high mortality rate. For the first time, clinical patterns have been shown to have meaningful differences; TB-related OLD is associated with dyspnoea, chest pain and smoking; while haemoptysis is associated with cavitary and fungal-associated disease..

Mild airways obstruction: spirometric diagnostic pitfalls and solutions.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Spirometry is a validated tool in the diagnosis of obstructive airways disease. However, it may be insufficiently sensitive in detecting airflow limitation in the small airways. This review highlights common clinical scenarios wherein airflow limitation may be missed or overlooked. RECENT FINDINGS: This article covers recent literature on the interpretation of lung function test, focusing on detection of mild obstructive airways disease. It also sheds light on the contextual difficulties of defining mild airflow limitation on spirometry. SUMMARY: We highlight the consensus definition of mild obstructive airways disease and emphasize that this definition does not necessarily mean mild in certain disease-specific contexts. Several spirometric findings outside of a reduced forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity ratio should raise suspicion of mild obstruction.

Increased risk of obstructive lung disease in inflammatory bowel disease: A population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with disease manifestations in organs other than the gastrointestinal tract. In this study, we aimed to estimate the odds of obstructive lung disease (OLD) before IBD onset and the risk of OLD after IBD onset. METHODS: In a nationwide population-based Danish cohort study from 1999 to 2018, individuals with IBD and OLD were identified using the Danish registries. Between 2003 and 2013, 24,238 individuals with IBD were identified and matched 1:10 with non-IBD individuals. Logistic regression was used to estimate the prevalence odds ratio for OLD before IBD onset. Time-to-event analysis was performed to explore the risk of OLD after IBD onset. In a sensitivity analysis, the time-to-event analysis was repeated using the composite outcome OLD and the separate outcomes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and bronchiectasis. RESULTS: Individuals with IBD were 60% more likely to have OLD before onset (adjusted odds ratio: 1.60, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.53-1.67). Furthermore, their risk of OLD was more than 40% higher after IBD diagnosis (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.37-1.49). The sensitivity analysis increased the risk to 60% (aHR: 1.63, 95% CI: 1.53-1.73). Similar results were found for COPD and asthma separately, whereas the risk of bronchiectasis increased more than 2-fold (aHR: 2.44, 95% CI: 1.91-3.11). CONCLUSION: The odds of OLD before- and the risk following an IBD diagnosis were increased. We encourage physicians to be vigilant of pulmonary symptoms in persons with IBD and gastrointestinal symptoms in individuals with OLD.

Normative Reference Equations for Breathlessness Intensity during Incremental Cardiopulmonary Cycle Exercise Testing.

Rationale: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is the gold standard to evaluate exertional breathlessness, a common and disabling symptom. However, the interpretation of breathlessness responses to CPET is limited by a scarcity of normative data. Objectives: We aimed to develop normative reference equations for breathlessness intensity (Borg 0-10 category ratio) response in men and women aged ⩾40 years during CPET, in relation to power output (watts), oxygen uptake, and minute ventilation. Methods: Analysis of ostensibly healthy people aged ⩾40 years undergoing symptom-limited incremental cycle CPET (10 W/min) in the CanCOLD (Canadian Cohort Obstructive Lung Disease) study. Participants had smoking histories <5 pack-years and normal lung function and exercise capacity. The probability of each Borg 0-10 category ratio breathlessness intensity rating by power output, oxygen uptake, and minute ventilation (as an absolute or a relative value [percentage of predicted maximum]) was predicted using ordinal multinomial logistic regression. Model performance was evaluated by fit, calibration, and discrimination (C statistic) and externally validated in an independent sample (n = 86) of healthy Canadian adults. Results: We included 156 participants (43% women) from CanCOLD; the mean age was 65 (range, 42-91) years, and the mean body mass index was 26.3 (standard deviation, 3.8) kg/m2. Reference equations were developed for women and men separately, accounting for age and/or body mass. Model performance was high across all equations, including in the validation sample (C statistic for men = 0.81-0.92, C statistic for women = 0.81-0.96). Conclusions: Normative reference equations are provided to compare exertional breathlessness intensity ratings among individuals or groups and to identify and quantify abnormal breathlessness responses (scores greater than the upper limit of normal) during CPET.

Selective dysfunction of the crural diaphragm in patients with chronic restrictive and obstructive lung disease.

BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is known to be associated with chronic lung diseases. The driving force of GER is the transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) generated mainly by costal and crural diaphragm contraction. The latter also enhances the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) pressure to guard against GER. METHODS: The relationship between Pdi and EGJ pressure was determined using high resolution esophageal manometry in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD, n = 26), obstructive lung disease (OLD, n- = 24), and healthy subjects (n = 20). KEY RESULTS: The patient groups did not differ with respect to age, gender, BMI, and pulmonary rehabilitation history. Patients with ILD had significantly higher Pdi but lower EGJ pressures as compared to controls and OLD patients (p < 0.001). In control subjects, the increase in EGJ pressure at all-time points during inspiration was greater than Pdi. In contrast, the EGJ pressure during inspiration was less than Pdi in 14 patients with ILD and 7 patients with OLD. The drop in EGJ pressure was usually seen after the peak Pdi in ILD group (p < 0.0001) and before the peak Pdi in OLD group, (p = 0.08). Nine patients in the ILD group had sliding hiatus hernia, compared to none in control subjects (p = 0.003) and two patients in the OLD, (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES: A higher Pdi and low EGJ pressure, and dissociation between Pdi and EGJ pressure temporal relationship suggests selective dysfunction of the crural diaphragm in patients with chronic lung diseases and may explain the higher prevalence of GERD in ILD as seen in previous studies.

Aortic dissection in a young male with persistent ductus arteriosus and a novel variant in MYLK.

Pathogenic variants in several genes involved in the function or regulation of smooth muscle cells (SMC) are known to predispose to congenital heart disease and thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD). Variants in MYLK are primarily known to predispose to TAAD, but a growing body of evidence points toward MYLK also playing an essential role in the regulation of SMC contraction outside the aorta. In this case report, we present a patient with co-occurrence of persistent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and thoracic aortic dissection. Genetic analyses revealed a novel splice acceptor variant (c.3986-1G > A) in MYLK, which segregated with disease in the family. RNA-analyses on fibroblasts showed that the variant induced skipping of exon 24, which resulted in an in-frame deletion of 101 amino acids. These findings suggest that MYLK-associated disease could include a broader phenotypic spectrum than isolated TAAD, including PDA and obstructive pulmonary disease. Genetic analyses could be considered in families with TAAD and PDA or obstructive pulmonary disease.

¿Se puede utilizar la determinación del pico flujo de tos para valorar la capacidad tusígena en enfermedades respiratorias obstructivas graves? / Can cough peak flow be used to assess cough capacity in severe obstructive respiratory diseases?

Introducción: La valoración de la capacidad tusígena se realiza con la medición del flujo espiratorio máximo durante la tos (peak-flow tos [PFT]). Sin embargo, esta valoración podría alterarse por enfermedades con obstrucción espiratoria de la vía aérea. El objetivo fue valorar la medición de la capacidad tusígena mediante PFT en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC), así como las correlaciones con la función pulmonar, muscular respiratoria y orofaríngea. Métodos: Se seleccionaron los pacientes con EPOC y con enfermedad neuromuscular, así como los sujetos sanos a los que se había realizado una medición de la fuerza de los músculos respiratorios de forma asistencial. De esta población, se analizaron los valores de la función respiratoria, así como la fuerza muscular orofaríngea. En un subgrupo de pacientes con EPOC se realizó el estudio de deglución por videofluoroscopia. Resultados: Se incluyeron 307 sujetos (59,3% EPOC, 38,4% enfermedades neuromusculares y 2,3% sanos). En el grupo EPOC, el PFT se encontraba disminuido de forma estadísticamente significativa comparado tanto con el grupo de los sanos como con los enfermos neuromusculares. El 70% de los EPOC tenían una disminución patológica del PFT. Solamente, existía una correlación directa entre el PFT con el grado de obstrucción bronquial y la fuerza de los músculos espiratorios. No se encontró alteración de la función de los músculos inspiratorios ni orofaríngeos. Conclusiones: La utilización del PFT en los pacientes con EPOC no refleja la capacidad tusígena ya que se ve influenciada por el grado de obstrucción bronquial. Por tanto, se deberían valorar nuevas pruebas diagnósticas para la medición de la capacidad tusígena, fundamentalmente, en los pacientes que coexistan enfermedades neuromusculares y patología obstructiva bronquial grave.(AU)

Introduction: Cough capacity is assessed by measuring cough peak flow (CPF). However, this assessment could be altered by obstructive airway diseases. The aim was to assess measurement of cough capacity by CPF in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as correlations with pulmonary, respiratory muscle, and oropharyngeal function. Methods: Patients with COPD, and with neuromuscular disease, were selected as well as healthy subjects who had undergone respiratory muscle strength measurement in a healthcare setting. From this population, respiratory function values and lung and oropharyngeal muscle function were analysed. A subgroup of COPD patients underwent a videofluoroscopic swallow study. Results: Three hundred and seven subjects were included (59.3% COPD, 38.4% neuromuscular diseases, and 2.3% healthy). CPF was found to be statistically significantly decreased in the COPD group compared to both the healthy and neuromuscular disease groups. Of the COPD patients, 70% had a pathological decrease in CPF. There was only a direct correlation between CPF with the degree of bronchial obstruction and expiratory muscle strength. No alteration of inspiratory or oropharyngeal muscle function was found. Conclusions: The use of CPF in COPD patients does not reflect cough capacity as it is influenced by the degree of bronchial obstruction. Therefore, new diagnostic tests to measure cough capacity should be considered, especially in patients with coexisting neuromuscular diseases and severe bronchial obstructive disease.(AU)

Peripheral airway dysfunction in prematurity-associated obstructive lung disease identified by oscillometry.

INTRODUCTION: Mechanisms underlying lung dysfunction after preterm birth are poorly understood. Studying phenotypes of prematurity-associated lung disease may aid understanding of underlying mechanisms. Preterm-born children with and without lung dysfunction and term controls were assessed using oscillometry before and after exercise, and after postexercise bronchodilation. METHODS: Preterm-born children, born at gestation of 34 weeks or less, were classified into those with prematurity-associated obstructive lung disease (POLD; FEV1 < LLN, FEV1 /FVC < LLN), prematurity-associated preserved ratio of impaired spirometry (pPRISm; FEV1 < LLN, FEV1 /FVC ≥ LLN) and compared to preterm (FEV1 ≥ LLN) and term controls (%predicted FEV1 > 90%). All children underwent cardiopulmonary exercise, and oscillometry assessment at baseline, postexercise, and after postexercise bronchodilator administration. RESULTS: From 241 participants aged 7-12 years, complete data were available from 179: 15 children with POLD and 11 with pPRISm were compared with 93 preterm and 60 term controls. POLD group, when compared to both control groups, had impaired impedance, greater resistance, more negative (greater magnitude) reactance at low frequencies, and also had decreased compliance. pPRISm group demonstrated impaired reactance and compliance compared to term controls. No differences were noted between the preterm and term controls. Exercise had little impact on oscillometry values, but children with POLD had greatest improvements after postexercise bronchodilator administration, with decreased resistance and decreased magnitude of reactance, particularly at low frequencies. CONCLUSION: Preterm-born children with obstructive airway disease had the greatest oscillometry impairments and the largest improvements after postexercise bronchodilator compared to control groups. Oscillometry can potentially be used to identify preterm-born children with lung disease to institute treatment.

TC torácica en espiración. Cuándo la hago y cómo la interpreto / Expiratory CT scan: When to do it and how to interpret it

La TC torácica en espiración es una técnica complementaria de la inspiración que aporta valiosa información fisiológica y puede ser más sensible que las pruebas de función respiratoria para detectar atrapamiento aéreo. Tiene múltiples indicaciones, entre las más frecuentes están la enfermedad obstructiva de la vía aérea producida por bronquiolitis obliterante, asma, síndrome de Swyer-James, traqueomalacia, neumonitis por hipersensibilidad o sarcoidosis. En alguna de ellas, como la bronquiolitis obliterante, la TC espiratoria puede ser la única técnica de imagen que detecta alteraciones en las fases iniciales. Si queremos que sea de utilidad diagnóstica, hay que asegurarse de que el estudio tenga calidad suficiente. Para ello se recomienda explicar al paciente en qué consiste la prueba, emplear instrucciones precisas y realizar un breve entrenamiento antes de iniciar la adquisición. En este trabajo sugerimos estrategias para optimizar la técnica y proponemos un algoritmo para interpretar los hallazgos radiológicos en el contexto de la patología obstructiva pulmonar.(AU)

Expiratory CT scan is a complementary technique of inspiratory CT that provide valuable physiological information and may be more sensitive to detect air trapping than pulmonary function tests. It is useful in many obstructive airway diseases, including obliterative bronchiolitis, asthma, Swyer-James syndrome, tracheomalacia, hypersensitivity pneumonitis and sarcoidosis. In obliterative bronchiolitis, expiratory CT scan may be the only imaging technique that shows abnormalities in the early phase of disease. In order to obtain a good quality study, we should explain the procedure to the patient, use precise instructions and do some practice before image acquisition. Here we describe strategies to optimize the technique and propose an algorithm that help in interpretation of imaging findings in patients with obstructive airway disease.(AU)

Sex modifies the risk of HIV-associated obstructive lung disease in Ugandans postpneumonia.

OBJECTIVES: Spirometric abnormalities are frequent, and obstructive lung disease (OLD) is a common comorbidity among people with HIV (PWH). HIV increases the risk of many comorbidities to a greater degree in women than in men. Few studies have evaluated whether sex modifies the HIV-associated risk of OLD. DESIGN AND METHODS: To evaluate the associations between sex and HIV with abnormal lung function, women and men with and without HIV underwent spirometric testing after completing therapy for pneumonia, including tuberculosis (TB), in Kampala, Uganda. OLD was defined as a postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in the first second to forced vital capacity (FEV 1 /FVC) ratio less than 0.70. Associations between sex, HIV, and lung function were evaluated using multivariable regression models including sex-by-HIV interaction terms after adjusting for age, BMI, smoking status, and TB status. RESULTS: Among 348 participants, 147 (42%) were women and 135 (39%) were HIV-positive. Sixteen (11%) women and 23 men (11%) had OLD. The HIV-sex interaction was significant for obstructive lung disease ( P  = 0.04). In the adjusted stratified analysis, women with HIV had 3.44 (95% CI 1.11-12.0; P  = 0.04) increased odds of having OLD compared with men with HIV. Women without HIV did not have increased odds of having OLD compared with men without HIV. CONCLUSION: HIV appears to increase the risk of OLD to a greater degree in women than in men in an urban Ugandan setting. The mechanistic explanation for this interaction by sex remains unclear and warrants further study.

Sputum handling for rheology.

The rheology of sputum is viewed as a powerful emerging biophysical marker for monitoring muco-obstructive pulmonary diseases such as cystic fibrosis (CF) and non-CF bronchiectasis (NCFB). However, there is no unified practice to process sputa from collection to analysis, which can lead to highly variable, and sometimes inconsistent results. The main objective of this study is to bring light into the handling of sputum samples to establish a standardised and robust protocol before rheological measurements. Sputum collected from 22 CF and 10 NCFB adults, was divided into control (vortexed and fresh: non-heated and non-frozen) and three treated conditions (either non-vortexed, heated or frozen). In addition, 6 CF expectorations were used to study the dynamics of ageing over 24 h. Sputum's mechanical properties were measured with a rotational rheometer to obtain their properties at rest, elastic ([Formula: see text]) and viscous moduli ([Formula: see text]), and at the onset of flow, critical deformation ([Formula: see text]) and critical stress ([Formula: see text]). We demonstrate that heating sputum is completely destructive while freezing sputa at [Formula: see text] has no discernible effect on their rheology. We also show that the variability of rheological measurements largely resulted from the sample's macroscopic heterogeneity, and can be greatly reduced by non-destructive vortex homogenisation. Finally, we observed contrasted ageing effects as a fonction of purulence: while the viscoelasticity of purulent samples reduced by half within 6 h after collection, semi-purulent samples did not evolve. These results guide towards a robust unified protocol for simple sputum handling in rheometry. We therefore suggest to vortex and snap freeze sputum samples immediately after collection when direct testing is not possible.

Obstructive Lung Disease Linked to Occupational Exposures in Malawian Tobacco Farmers.

Nicotine and pesticide exposure in agricultural settings have been linked to the development of chronic respiratory disease in workers. However, this has not been extensively studied in Africa. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the prevalence of obstructive lung disease and its relationship to concurrent nicotine and pesticide exposure among small-scale tobacco farmers in Malawi. For this purpose, sociodemographic characteristics, occupational and environmental exposures were evaluated in relation to work-related respiratory symptoms and lung function impairment. A cross-sectional study was conducted enrolling 279 workers in flue-cured tobacco farms in Zomba, Malawi. The study instruments used for assessing the health outcomes were a standardised European Community Respiratory Health Survey II (ECRHS) questionnaire and Spirometry testing. The questionnaires were aimed at collecting relevant data on sociodemographic factors and self-reported respiratory health outcomes. Data were also collected on potential pesticide and nicotine exposures. Spirometry was done to evaluate objective respiratory impairment in accordance with American Thoracic Society guidelines. The mean age of participants was 38 years with 68% being male. The prevalence of work-related ocular nasal symptoms, chronic bronchitis, and work-related chest symptoms was 20%, 17%, and 29%, respectively. Airflow limitation (FEV1/FVC <70%) was found in 8% of workers. Self-reported exposure to pesticides varied from 72%- to 83%, whilst the prevalence of recent green tobacco sickness was 26%. Tasks linked to nicotine exposure, such as sowing (OR: 2.5; CI 1.1-5.7) and harvesting (OR: 2.6; CI 1.4-5.1), were significantly associated with work-related chest symptoms. Pesticide application (OR:1.96; CI 1.0-3.7) was associated with an increased risk of work-related oculonasal symptoms. Duration of pesticide exposure was also associated with obstructive impairment FEV1/FVC

The association of spirometric small airways obstruction with respiratory symptoms, cardiometabolic diseases, and quality of life: results from the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study.

BACKGROUND: Spirometric small airways obstruction (SAO) is common in the general population. Whether spirometric SAO is associated with respiratory symptoms, cardiometabolic diseases, and quality of life (QoL) is unknown. METHODS: Using data from the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease study (N = 21,594), we defined spirometric SAO as the mean forced expiratory flow rate between 25 and 75% of the FVC (FEF25-75) less than the lower limit of normal (LLN) or the forced expiratory volume in 3 s to FVC ratio (FEV3/FVC) less than the LLN. We analysed data on respiratory symptoms, cardiometabolic diseases, and QoL collected using standardised questionnaires. We assessed the associations with spirometric SAO using multivariable regression models, and pooled site estimates using random effects meta-analysis. We conducted identical analyses for isolated spirometric SAO (i.e. with FEV1/FVC ≥ LLN). RESULTS: Almost a fifth of the participants had spirometric SAO (19% for FEF25-75; 17% for FEV3/FVC). Using FEF25-75, spirometric SAO was associated with dyspnoea (OR = 2.16, 95% CI 1.77-2.70), chronic cough (OR = 2.56, 95% CI 2.08-3.15), chronic phlegm (OR = 2.29, 95% CI 1.77-4.05), wheeze (OR = 2.87, 95% CI 2.50-3.40) and cardiovascular disease (OR = 1.30, 95% CI 1.11-1.52), but not hypertension or diabetes. Spirometric SAO was associated with worse physical and mental QoL. These associations were similar for FEV3/FVC. Isolated spirometric SAO (10% for FEF25-75; 6% for FEV3/FVC), was also associated with respiratory symptoms and cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSION: Spirometric SAO is associated with respiratory symptoms, cardiovascular disease, and QoL. Consideration should be given to the measurement of FEF25-75 and FEV3/FVC, in addition to traditional spirometry parameters.

[Occupational obstructive airway diseases: How can early diagnosis be made to avoid chronic courses?] / Obstruktive Atemwegserkrankungen im Beruf: Wie gelingt eine frühe Diagnostik zur Vermeidung chronischer Verläufe?

Since abolishing the obligation to terminate the harmful professional activity from January 1st, 2021 onwards for some occupational diseases including obstructive respiratory diseases in Germany, the recognition of occupational diseases coded under 4301, 4302 and 1315 according the Occupational Diseases Ordinance has increased significantly. By the time these diseasese are recognized, they are usually already at an advanced stage. Therefore, early detection will play a greater role in the future, as the statutory accident insurance can offer individual preventive measures in order to minimize the consequences of illness and thus also the socio-economic burden. However, precursors of such obstructive airway diseases are often overlooked. For optimizing early detection, the statutory accident insurance worked out an early notification procedure for the respiratory tract - comparable to the already well-established dermatological procedure. "Early cases" from the pilot regions can be reported there; to qualify for being reported as early cases, patients must persue insured professional activity with potential effects on the respiratory tract and suffer from a disease of the upper or lower respiratory tract according to the ICD-10 code (e.g. J31.0 chronic rhinitis).

Massive mature cystic teratoma of the head and neck, masquerading as a glial choristoma, causing respiratory compromise of a neonate.

Glial choristoma of the head and neck is a rare, benign congenital malformation consisting of a mass of heterotopic glial cells. In cases involving the upper aerodigestive tract, this can present with upper airway obstruction. In the acute setting, this can lead to diagnostic challenges due to the broad differential, as well as the additional difficulties in obtaining appropriate imaging and tissue samples due to the potential risk of airway compromise. We present a case of a neonate born with a large heterogenous mass involving the upper aerodigestive tract and multiple deep neck spaces which resulted in upper airway compromise requiring emergency surgical intervention in the form of a paediatric tracheostomy. We will discuss the histological findings which initially suggested a glial choristoma, work-up and treatment of this patient with the aim of supplementing the limited existing clinical knowledge of this congenital anomaly and understanding the implications of a paediatric tracheostomy in our setting.