Objective To study the changes of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL, an osteoclastogenesis-promoting factor) and osteoprotegerin (OPG, the decoy receptor for RANKL), oxidative stress and bone turnover markers in obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS), in order to understand the potential mechanisms underlying bone loss in OSAHS patients. Methods Ninety-eight male patients with OSAHS, confirmed by polysomnography (PSG) study, were enrolled. The patients were divided into mild-moderate groups and severe groups. Forty-two male subjects who were confirmed as not having OSAHS served as the controls. The subjects’ bone mineral density (BMD) and T-score were assessed in lumbar spine and femoral neck using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Blood samples were collected from all subjects for measurement of RANKL, OPG, the bone formation marker bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP), the bone resorption marker tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b (TRAP-5b), total antioxidant capacity (TAOC). Twenty-eight severe OSAHS patients accepted continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment voluntarily. After 6 months, PSG was conducted, and serum RANKL, OPG, TAOC, TRAP-5b, BAP was measured after six months treatment. Results The BMD, T-score of the femoral neck and the lumbar spine were significantly lower in OSAHS patients as compared to the control group. The level of BAP was significantly decreased in the OSAHS group as compared to the control group, and there was no significant difference in TRAP-5b level between two groups. As compared with the control group, levels of OPG, TAOC and the OPG/RANKL ratio decreased significantly. None of these parameters (BMD, T-score, RANKL, OPG, TRAP-5b, BAP) showed significant difference between patients with mild-moderate and severe OSAHS group. Correlation analysis showed that the apnea hypopnea index and oxygen desaturation index were correlated with TAOC. BAP level was positively correlated with TAOC and lowest pulse oxygen saturation. The serum level of TAOC was lower in the OSAHS group after CPAP therapy, but the levels of RANKL, OPG, TRAP-5b, BAP were not different. As compared with the OSAHS group before CPAP therapy, the BMD of the femoral neck and the lumbar spine were not significant difference. Conclusions In patients with OSAHS, the oxidative stress response is enhanced, and imbalance of OPG/RANKL is shifted, which participates in the occurrence of osteoporosis. The oxidative stress injury of severe OSAHS patients was relieved after non-invasive ventilation treatment, but the effect of oxidative stress response on bone metabolism still needs further evaluation.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in patients with myasthenic crisis after thymectomy. Methods31 myasthenic crisis patients after thymectomy who initially used NIV,admitted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University between January 2011 and June 2013,were analyzed retrospectively.They were assigned to two groups according to the successful application of NIV or not,with 13 patients in the NIV success group and 18 patients in the NIV failure group.The related factors including gender,age,APACHEⅡ score when admitted to ICU,the results of blood gas analysis before NIV,thymoma or not,the history of myasthenic crisis,the history of chronic lung disease,and minute ventilation accounted for the largest percentage of predicted value (MVV%pred)were analyzed. ResultsThere were no significant differences in age,gender,or APACHEⅡ score between two groups (P>0.05).The PaCO2 in the NIV success group was lower than that in the NIV failure group.The preoperative MVV%pred in the NIV success group was higher than that in the NIV failure group.There were no significant differences between two groups in pH,PO2,thymoma or not,the history of myasthenic crisis,or the history of chronic lung disease (P>0.05).If using the 45 mm Hg as the cut-off value of PaCO2 and 60% as the cut-off value of MVV%pred,the incidence of PaCO2<45 mm Hg and the incidence of MVV%pred>60% were higher in the NIV success group than those in the NIV failure group (84.6% vs.33.3%, P<0.05;100% vs. 55.6%,P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis revealed that PaCO2<45 mm Hg was an independent influence factor for successful application of NIV in patients with myasthenic crisis after thymectomy. ConclusionPaCO2<45 mm Hg can be a predictor of successful application of NIV in patients with myasthenic crisis after thymectomy.For the patients underwent NIV whose PaCO2<45 mm Hg or MVV%pred<60%,the clinician should predict the possibility of failure and prepared for intubation.
Neuromuscular disease (NMD) encompasses a group of disorders that affect motor neurons, peripheral nerves, neuromuscular junctions, and skeletal muscles, potentially leading to respiratory muscle impairment and decline in respiratory function, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. In March 2023, clinical practice guideline titled Respiratory Management of Patients with Neuromuscular Weakness was released by the American College of Chest Physicians. This article summarizes, categorizes, and interprets the contents and key points of the guideline, aiming to provide more targeted guidance for clinical healthcare professionals and ultimately enhance the effectiveness of respiratory management for patients with NMD.
Objective To explore the predictive value of serum procalcitonin (PCT), D-dimer (D-D) and decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) for prognosis of patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) and respiratory failure undergoing non-invasive ventilation (NIV). Methods A total of 95 patients with AECOPD and respiratory failure undergoing basic treatment and NIV in the hospital were retrospectively enrolled between September (n=65) 2017 and February 2021. According to prognosis after treatment, they were divided into a good prognosis group and a poor prognosis group (n=30). The general data of all patients were collected. The influencing factors of prognosis were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression model. The levels of DcR3, PCT and D-D were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, colloidal gold colorimetry and immunoturbidimetry. The patients condition was assessed by scores of acute physiology chronic health evaluation scoring system Ⅱ (APACHEⅡ). The partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) were recorded. And the above indexes between the two groups were compared. The relationship between DcR3, PCT, D-D and APACHEⅡ score, PaO2, PaCO2 was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. The prognostic value of DcR3, PCT and D-D was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results There was no significant difference in gender, GOLD grading or underlying diseases between the poor prognosis group and the good prognosis group (P>0.05), but there were significant differences in age, DcR3, PCT, D-D, APACHEⅡ score, PaO2 and PaCO2 after treatment (P<0.05). DcR3, PCT, D-D, APACHEⅡ score and PaCO2 in the poor prognosis group were higher than those in the good prognosis group, while PaO2 was lower than that in the good prognosis group (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that DcR3 ≥5.50 ng/mL (OR=21.889), PCT ≥ 5.00 μg/L (OR=3.782), D-D ≥3.00 μg/L (OR=4.162) and APACHEⅡ score ≥20 points (OR=2.540) were all influencing factors of prognosis (P<0.05). The results of Pearson correlation analysis showed that DcR3, PCT and D-D were positively correlated with APACHEⅡ score and PaCO2, while negatively correlated with PaO2 (P<0.05). The results of ROC curve analysis showed that area under ROC curve of DcR3, PCT and D-D for predicting the prognosis were 0.745 (95%CI 0.631 - 0.859), 0.691 (95%CI 0.579 - 0.803) and 0.796 (95%CI 0.696 - 0.895), respectively (P<0.05). Conclusion The serum DcR3, PCT and D-D levels are related to disease progression in patients with AECOPD and respiratory failure after NIV, which have good predictive efficiency for prognosis and can be applied as important biological indexes to evaluate prognosis and guide treatment.
In China, chronic respiratory diseases (CRD) are characterized by high prevalence, disability rate, and mortality rate, imposing a severe disease burden. Home non-invasive ventilation (HNIV) therapy can improve ventilation, alleviate respiratory muscle fatigue, enhance oxygenation and carbon dioxide retention, delay the progression of various CRD, and even improve survival. However, there is currently a lack of long-term management standards and standardized guidance for patients receiving HNIV therapy in China. The Respiratory Therapy Group of the Chinese thoracic Society and Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine, has summarized 11 questions related to HNIV for different diseases, answered various questions, and put forward modification suggestions. This consensus aims to provide references for frontline clinical staff, promote the standardization of HNIV application in China, and improve the level of treatment.Summary of recommendationsQuestion 1. For which patients is HNIV suitable?Recommendation: HNIV is recommended for patients with ventilatory dysfunction due to various causes, such as: obstructive sleep apnea syndrome [high-quality evidence, strong recommendation], chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [high/moderate-quality evidence, strong recommendation], obesity hypoventilation syndrome [moderate/low-quality evidence, strong recommendation], and neuromuscular diseases [low-quality evidence, strong recommendation].Question 2. When should HNIV be initiated?Recommendation: The timing for initiating HNIV therapy should be based on a comprehensive assessment of disease diagnosis, severity, symptoms, and comorbidities. Early standardized intervention is a crucial measure for improving prognosis and reducing long-term disease burden. Specific recommended indications are listed in Table 2. [high/moderate quality evidence, strong recommendation]Question 3. How should health education on HNIV be conducted?Recommendation: All HNIV patients should receive educational training. The five-step training method is recommended as the preferred approach for educating HNIV patients and their families. [Moderate-quality evidence, weak recommendation]Question 4. How to properly select a home non-invasive ventilator?Recommendations: When selecting a home non-invasive ventilator, patients should first consult a professional physician or respiratory therapist to obtain specialized advice based on their specific condition. Physicians should make decisions by comprehensively considering the patient’s disease type and severity, ventilator modes and parameters, synchrony, comfort, remote monitoring requirements, and financial circumstances. Refer to Table 3 for ventilation mode selection based on different diseases.Question 5. How should accessories for HNIV be selected?Recommendation: Mask selection should be based on disease type, dynamic assessment of the patient’s breathing pattern, and patient preference, with regular reassessment of fit during follow-up [High/moderate-quality evidence, strong recommendation]. Active heated humidifiers are recommended as the first choice for HNIV patients [Low-quality evidence, weak recommendation].Question 6. How should HNIV parameters be set and adjusted?Recommendation: Parameter adjustments should be performed in hospital and community settings. Long-term home use should only commence after confirming appropriate and safe settings. Avoid patients or caregivers making arbitrary adjustments that may cause adverse events. [Moderate-quality evidence, strong recommendation]Pressure settings for NIV should be tailored to the patient’s underlying disease and clinical objectives. Additional parameters including backup rate, inspiratory sensitivity, pressure rise time, and expiratory sensitivity must also be configured. The setup process is summarized in Figure 1. [Moderate-quality evidence, strong recommendation]Question 7. What is the recommended daily usage duration for HNIV?Recommendation: For patients using HNIV due to sleep apnea or sleep-related hypoventilation, it is recommended to use the device for at least 4 hours daily on more than 70% of nights, with usage duration covering sleep periods as much as possible. For patients using HNIV due to chronic hypercapnia, daily use of at least 5 - 6 hours is required, with priority given to nighttime use. [Low-quality evidence, weak recommendation]Question 8. When should respiratory support be adjusted during HNIV?Recommendation: Assess the efficacy of HNIV based on clinical and physiological criteria to determine whether to continue ventilatory support [Moderate-quality evidence, strong recommendation]. If disease progression or complications arise, and HNIV can no longer maintain effective ventilation, discontinue HNIV and seek hospital care promptly [Low-quality evidence, strong recommendation]. HNIV should not be discontinued in patients requiring intermittent or continuous HNIV during exercise [Moderate-quality evidence, strong recommendation].Question 9. How should complications associated with HNIV be managed?Recommendation: Common complications of noninvasive ventilation include skin pressure injury, air leak, patient-ventilator asynchrony, and thick sputum. These should be actively prevented and managed during HNIV. [Moderate-quality evidence, strong recommendation]Question 10. How should the effectiveness of HNIV be assessed and followed up?Recommendation: Close monitoring and follow-up are recommended for patients receiving home noninvasive ventilation. Monitoring indicators and follow-up frequency are summarized in Table 6. [Moderate-quality evidence, GPS]Question 11. How should the management pathway for HNIV be established and optimized?Recommendations: Establish a tiered, dynamic, and individualized HNIV management pathway based on patient condition characteristics, technical support availability, and home care capabilities: ① For high-risk acute exacerbation/unstable patients: Primarily use the traditional "hospital-community-home" model supplemented by self-management; for low-risk acute exacerbation/stable patients: Primarily use self-management with IoT-based remote monitoring where feasible. ② Dynamically adjust based on disease stage: intensify in-person training during the initial phase and gradually transition to remote monitoring during the stable phase; ③ Promote multidisciplinary collaboration, utilize smart devices for real-time monitoring, and ensure data security; ④ Enhance patient self-management capabilities through standardized education and regular follow-ups. [Low-quality evidence, GPS]
Objective To investigate the influence of pulmonary infection on noninvasive ventilation ( NIV) therapy in hypercapnic acute respiratory failure ( ARF) due to acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( AECOPD) , and evaluate the predictive value of simplified version of clinical pulmonary infection score ( CPIS) for the efficacy of NIV therapy in ARF patients with AECOPD. Methods Eighty-four patients with ARF due to AECOPD were treated by NIV, and were divided into a successful group and an unsuccessful group by the therapeutic effect of NIV. The CPIS and simplified version of CPIS between two groups was compared. The predictive value of simplified version of CPIS for the efficacy of NIV wasevaluated using ROC curve analysis. Results The CPIS and the simplified version of CPIS of the successful treatment group ( 4. 0 ±2. 8, 3. 2 ±2. 4) were lower than those of the unsuccessful group ( 8. 0 ±2. 1, 7. 2 ±1. 8) significantly ( P =0. 006, 0. 007) . The area under ROC curve ( AUC) of CPIS and simplified version of CPIS were 0. 884 and 0. 914 respectively, the cut oint of CPIS and simplified version of CPIS were 6 ( sensitivity of 78. 0% , specificity of 91. 2% ) and 5 ( sensitivity of 80. 0% , specificity of 91. 2% ) respectively. Conclusions The level of pulmonary infection is an important influencing factor on the therapeutic effect of NIV in patients with ARF due to AECOPD. Simplified version of CPIS is a helpful predictor for the effect of NIV on ARF of AECOPD.
ObjectiveTo compare the therapeutic effects of invasive-high-flow oxygen therapy (HFNC) and invasive-non-invasive ventilation (NIV) sequential strategies on severe respiratory failure caused by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and explore the feasibility of HFNC after extubation from invasive ventilation for COPD patients with severe respiratory failure.MethodsFrom October 2017 to October 2019, COPD patients with type Ⅱ respiratory failure who received invasive ventilation were randomly assigned to a HFNC group and a NIV group at 1: 1 in intensive care unit (ICU), when pulmonary infection control window appeared after treatments. The patients in the HFNC group received HFNC, while the patients in the NIV group received NIV after extubation. The primary endpoint was treatment failure rate. The secondary endpoints were blood gas analysis and vital signs at 1 hour, 24 hours, and 48 hours after extubation, total respiratory support time after extubation, daily airway care interventions, comfort scores, and incidence of nasal and facial skin lesions, ICU length of stay, total length of stay and 28-day mortality after extubation.ResultsOne hundred and twelve patients were randomly assigned to the HFNC group and the NIV group. After secondary exclusion, 53 patients and 52 patients in the HFNC group and the NIV group were included in the analysis respectively. The treatment failure rate in the HFNC group was 22.6%, which was lower than the 28.8% in the NIV group. The risk difference of the failure rate between the two groups was –6.2% (95%CI –22.47 - 10.43, P=0.509), which was significantly lower than the non-inferior effect of 9%. Analysis of the causes of treatment failure showed that treatment intolerance in the HFNC group was significantly lower than that in the NIV group, with a risk difference of –38.4% (95%CI –62.5 - –3.6, P=0.043). One hour after extubation, the respiratory rate of both groups increased higher than the baseline level before extubation (P<0.05). 24 hours after extubation, the respiratory rate in the HFNC group decreased to the baseline level, but the respiratory rate in the NIV group was still higher than the baseline level, and the respiratory rate in the HFNC group was lower than that in the NIV group [(19.1±3.8) vs. (21.7±4.5) times per minute, P<0.05]. 48 hours after extubation, the respiratory rates in the two groups were not significantly different from their baseline levels. The average daily airway care intervention in the NIV group was 9 (5 - 12) times, which was significantly higher than the 5 (4 - 7) times in the HFNC group (P=0.006). The comfort score of the HFNC group was significantly higher than that of the NIV group (8.6±3.2 vs. 5.7±2.8, P= 0.022), while the incidence of nasal and facial skin lesions in the HFNC group was significantly lower than that in the NIV group (0 vs. 9.6%, P=0.027). There was no significant difference in dyspnea score, length of stay and 28-day mortality between the two groups.ConclusionsThe efficacy of invasive-HFNC sequential treatment on COPD with severe respiratory failure is not inferior to that of invasive-NIV sequential strategy. The two groups have similar treatment failure rates, and HFNC has better comfort and treatment tolerance.