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Veröffentlichungen dank gesammelter Daten des Lungenemphysemregisters

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Chronic Obstr Pulm Dis​. 2023 Jul 26;10(3):211-223.doi: 10.15326/jcopdf.2022.0383.

Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 on Hospital Admissions, Health Status, and Behavioral Changes of Patients with COPD

Abstract
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Introduction: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have an increased risk of acquiring severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is why self-isolation was recommended. However, long periods of social isolation, accompanied by limited access to health care systems, might influence the outcome of patients with severe COPD negatively.

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Methods: Data from COPD and pneumonia patients at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the volume of endoscopic lung volume reduction (ELVR) surgeries from the German Lung Emphysema Registry (Lungenemphysem Register e.V.) were analyzed from pre-pandemic (2012 to 2019) to the pandemic period (2020 and 2021). In addition, 52 patients with COPD Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stage 4 status included in the lung emphysema registry received questionnaires during lockdowns from June 2020 to April 2021.

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Results: Admissions and ventilation therapies administered to COPD patients significantly decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Likewise, there was a reduction in ELVR treatments and follow-ups registered in German emphysema centers. Mortality was slightly higher among patients hospitalized with COPD during the pandemic. Increasing proportions of COPD patients with GOLD stage 3 and GOLD stage 4 status reported behavioral changes and subjective feelings of increasing COPD symptoms the longer the lockdown lasted. However, COPD symptom questionnaires revealed stable COPD symptoms over the pandemic time period.

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Summary: This study reveals reduced COPD admissions and elective treatment procedures of COPD patients during the pandemic, but a slight increase in mortality among patients hospitalized with COPD, irrespective of COVID-19. Correspondingly, patients with severe COPD reported subjective deterioration of their health status, probably caused by their very strict compliance with lockdown measures.

ERJ Open Res​ 2023 Aug 21;9(4):00190-2023.  doi: 10.1183/23120541.00190-2023. eCollection 2023 Jul.

Assessment of efficacy and safety of endoscopic lung volume reduction with one-way valves in patients with a very low FEV1

Abstract

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Introduction: Endoscopic lung volume reduction (ELVR) with one-way valves produces beneficial outcomes in patients with severe emphysema. Evidence on the efficacy remains unclear in patients with a very low forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) (⩽20% predicted). We aim to compare clinical outcomes of ELVR, in relation to the FEV1 restriction

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Methods: This was a multicentre prospective study of patients with severe lung disease who were evaluated based on lung function, exercise capacity (6-min walk test [6-MWT]), and quality-of-life tests.

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Results: 33 patients with FEV1 ⩽20% pred and 265 patients with FEV1 21–45% pred were analysed. After ELVR, an increase in FEV1 was observed in both groups (both p<0.001). The mMRC and CAT scores, and 6MWD improved in both groups (all p<0.05). The SGRQ score improved significantly in the FEV1 21–45% pred group, and by trend in the FEV1 ⩽20% pred group. Pneumothorax was the most frequent complication within the first 90 days in both groups (FEV1 ⩽20% pred: 7.7% versus FEV1 21–45% pred: 22.1%; p=0.624). No deaths occurred in the FEV1 ⩽20% pred group up to 6 months.

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Conclusion: Our study highlights the potential efficacy of one-way valves, even in patients with very low FEV1, as these patients experienced significant improvements in FEV1, 6MWD and quality of life. No death was reported, suggesting a good safety profile, even in these high-risk patients.

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Respiration. 2022;101(9):823-832.  doi: 10.1159/000524996. Epub 2022 Jul 4.

Endoscopic Lung Volume Reduction with One-Way Valves in Patients with Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with Hypercapnia

Abstract

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Background: Robust clinical evidence on the efficacy and safety of endoscopic lung volume reduction (ELVR) with one-way valves in patients with severe lung emphysema with chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure is lacking.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare patient characteristics, clinical outcome measures, and incidences of adverse events between patients with severe COPD undergoing ELVR with one-way valves and with either a partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) of ≤45 mm Hg or with pCO2 >45 mm Hg.

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Methods: This was a multicentre prospective study of patients with severe lung disease who were evaluated based on lung function, exercise capacity (6-min walk test [6-MWT]), and quality-of-life tests.

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Results: Patients with pCO2 ≤45 mm Hg (n = 157) and pCO2 >45 mm Hg (n = 40) showed similar baseline characteristics. Patients with pCO2 ≤45 mm Hg demonstrated a significant increase in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (p < 0.001), a significant decrease in residual volume (RV) (p < 0.001), and significant improvements in the quality of life and 6-MWT at the 3-month follow-up. Patients with pCO2 >45 mm Hg had significant improvements in RV only (p < 0.05). There was a significant decrease in pCO2 between baseline and follow-up in hypercapnic patients, relative to the decrease in patients with pCO2 ≤45 mm Hg (p = 0.008). Patients who were more hypercapnic at baseline showed a greater reduction in pCO2 after valve placement (r = -0.38, p < 0.001). Pneumothorax was the most common adverse event in both groups.

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Conclusions: ELVR with one-way valves seems clinically beneficial with a remarkably good safety profile for patients with chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure.

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ERJ Open Res. 2021 Jan 25;7(1):00449-2020.  doi: 10.1183/23120541.00449-2020. eCollection 2021 Jan.

Endoscopic lung volume reduction with endobronchial valves in very low D LCO patients: results from the German Registry - Lungenemphysemregister e.V

Abstract

 

Background: Endoscopic lung volume reduction (ELVR) with valves has been suggested to be the key strategy for patients with severe emphysema and concomitant low diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (D LCO). However, robust evidence is still missing. We therefore aim to compare clinical outcomes in relation to D LCO for patients treated with ELVR.

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Methods: We assessed D LCO at baseline and 3 months follow-up and compared pre- and postprocedural pulmonary function test, quality of life, exercise capacity and adverse events. This is a retrospective subanalysis of prospectively collected data from the German Lung Emphysema Registry.

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Results: In total, 121 patients treated with ELVR were analysed. Thirty-four patients with a D LCO ≤20% and 87 patients with a D LCO >20% showed similar baseline characteristics. After ELVR, there was a decrease of residual volume (both p<0.001 to baseline) in both groups, and both demonstrated better quality of life (p<0.01 to baseline). Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) improved significantly only in patients with a D LCO >20% (p<0.001 to baseline). Exercise capacity remained almost unchanged in both groups (p=0.3). The most frequent complication for both groups was a pneumothorax (D LCO ≤20%: 17.6% versus D LCO >20%: 16.1%; p=0.728). However, there were no significant differences in other adverse events between both groups.

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Conclusions: ELVR improves lung function as well as quality of life in patients with D LCO >20% and D LCO ≤20%. Adverse events did not differ between groups. Therefore, ELVR should be considered as a treatment option, even in patients with a very low D LCO.

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