Anne Hildur Henriksen

Self-efficacy as a predictor of improvement in health status and overall quality of life in pulmonary rehabilitation—An exploratory study

OBJECTIVE To evaluate developments in health status (HS) and overall quality of life (QOL), and the impact of self-efficacy on HS and QOL in relation to COPD pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). METHODS A longitudinal study of 100 COPD patients before and up to 3 months after COPD PR. Self-efficacy was measured by the COPD self-efficacy scale, HS by the St. George Respiratory Questionnaire and QOL by the Quality of Life Scale. Mixed effect models were used. RESULTS Patients reported significantly reduced psychosocial impact of disease (estimate=-4.05, p=0.019) immediately after the PR programme. Higher levels of self-efficacy at baseline predicted significantly reduced psychosocial impact of disease and improved physical activity, total HS and QOL (p<0.05). Better exercise capacity at baseline predicted significantly reduced psychosocial impact of disease, improved physical activity and QOL (p<0.05). Older age at baseline predicted significantly fewer respiratory symptoms and improved total HS (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Patients reported significantly reduced psychosocial impact of disease immediately after a COPD PR, and better exercise capacity and higher self-efficacy at baseline predicted significantly improved HS and QOL. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Increasing self-efficacy is suggested to be an important aim in relation to COPD PR.

Atopic Dermatitis Among 2-Year Olds; High Prevalence, but Predominantly Mild Disease-The PACT Study, Norway

Abstract:  Atopic dermatitis is often the first and most prevalent manifestation of atopic disease in preschool children. The objectives of the present study were to determine the prevalence and severity of atopic dermatitis in 2‐year‐old children. Questionnaire data from a total population of 4784 two‐year olds and data from a clinical investigation of a sub‐sample of 390 children were obtained from a comprehensive prospective study (Prevention of Atopy among Children in Trondheim). The severity of the atopic dermatitis was scored both according to the Nottingham Eczema Severity Score and the Severity Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis. In the total population the prevalence of this disease, defined as any eczema and itchy rash was 16.5% (95% CI: 15.5–17.6). In the subsample, the corresponding prevalence was 20.6% (95% CI: 16.6–24.6) and 15.9% (95% CI: 12.3–19.5) when diagnosed by the UK Working Party’s Criteria. More than 70% of the children with UK‐diagnosed atopic dermatitis had mild disease according to both the Nottingham Eczema Severity Score and the Severity Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis. The prevalence of atopic dermatitis among 2‐year olds was high. However, more than two‐thirds of the children had mild disease, which may imply that the impact of atopic dermatitis as a risk factor for future atopic disease is limited.

What determines subjective health status in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: importance of symptoms in subjective health status of COPD patients

BackgroundSubjective health status is the result of an interaction between physiological and psychosocial factors in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, there is little understanding of multivariate explanations of subjective health status in COPD. The purpose of this study was to explore what determines subjective health status in COPD by evaluating the relationships between background variables such as age and sex, predicted FEV1%, oxygen saturation, breathlessness, anxiety and depression, exercise capacity, and physical and mental health.MethodsThis study had a cross-sectional design, and included 100 COPD patients (51% men, mean age 66.1 years). Lung function was assessed by predicted FEV1%, oxygen saturation by transcutaneous pulse oximeter, symptoms with the St George Respiratory Questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, physical function with the Incremental Shuttle Walking Test, and subjective health status with the SF-36 health survey. Linear regression analysis was used.ResultsOlder patients reported less breathlessness and women reported more anxiety (p < 0.050). Women, older patients, those with lower predicted FEV1%, and those with greater depression had lower physical function (p < 0.050). Patients with higher predicted FEV1%, those with more breathlessness, and those with more anxiety or depression reported lower subjective health status (p < 0.050). Symptoms explained the greatest variance in subjective health status (35%–51%).ConclusionSymptoms are more important for the subjective health status of patients with COPD than demographics, physiological variables, or physical function. These findings should be considered in the treatment and care of these patients.

Efficacy and duration of salmeterol powder inhalation in protecting against exercise-induced bronchoconstriction

BACKGROUND The protective effect of a new long acting beta 2-agonist, salmeterol, against exercise-induced bronchoconstriction has been documented when given as inhaled aerosol. OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to examine the duration of the protective effect of a single dose of salmeterol, 50 micrograms, inhaled as dry powder, against exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. METHODS Sixteen patients with reproducible exercise-induced bronchoconstriction were challenged on a treadmill on two prestudy visits and six study days. The patients were challenged 4, 8, and 12 hours postdosing. The study was designed as a double blind placebo-controlled randomized crossover trial. RESULTS Statistically significant differences in % maximum fall in PEFR were found at four and eight hours postdosing, in favor of salmeterol. At 12 hours postdosing, no clear statistical inference was possible, owing to the presence of a statistical carry-over effect; however, significant differences in area under curve in favor of salmeterol were found at 4, 8, and 12 hours postdosing. CONCLUSION Salmeterol, 50 micrograms, dry powder inhalation had a protective effect against exercise-induced bronchoconstriction up to 12 hours postdosing, as compared with placebo. No adverse effects were identified.

A study of the association between exercise-induced wheeze and exercise versus methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction in adolescents

Among asthmatics, exercise‐induced wheeze (EIW) is a frequent symptom, and 40–77% of asthmatics demonstrate exercise‐induced bronchoconstriction (EIB). In the North‐Trøndelag population‐based survey of 8,571 adolescents (YOUNG‐HUNT), 26% reported wheeze during the previous 12 months (current wheeze). Of those subjects, 50% reported EIW. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between EIW and EIB in randomly selected adolescents with EIW as the only or predominant asthma‐like symptom, and to relate our findings to results from methacholine bronchoprovocation tests (MT) and measurements of exhaled nitric oxide (ENO). Sixty‐three subjects with current wheeze induced by exercise, but not by allergen exposure, were investigated using a treadmill exercise test (ET) and measurements of ENO. Fifty‐eight subjects completed a MT on a separate study day. EIB was defined as a fall of ≥ 10% in the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) after exercise (ΔFEV1%ex). Twenty‐one subjects (33%) had EIB and 33 (57%) had a positive MT. The degree of reported dyspnea during the ET was not correlated to the ΔFEV1%ex. The correlation between EIB and methacholine‐induced bronchoconstriction (MIB) was poor, and the ΔFEV1%ex was more pronounced in smokers than in non‐smokers. Moreover, ENO was not increased in subjects with positive vs. negative ET. Hence, EIW, when reported as the only or predominant asthma‐like symptom, was linked to EIB in only one‐third of the patients. We conclude that EIW is a poor predictor of EIB in epidemiological studies. The poor correlation between EIB and MIB indicates that these two tests measure different mechanisms of bronchial hyper‐responsiveness.

A Scandinavian audit of hospitalizations for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

In Scandinavia no large audits of hospitalizations for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been performed, and data on adherence to national guidelines are scarce. The aims of the present study were to audit hospitalizations for COPD exacerbations in three Scandinavian hospitals with respect to incidence, patient population and standards of hospital care. Retrospectively all hospitalizations in the Departments of Internal and Respiratory Medicine in Ostersund Hospital (Sweden), Aalesund Hospital (Norway) and Trondheim University Hospital (Norway) from Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2005, with discharge ICD-10 diagnoses J43-J44, J96 + J44 or J13-18 + j44 were registered. A total of 1144 admissions (731 patients) were identified from patient administrative systems and medical charts. Among the admitted patients 27% were >80 years old, >50% had COPD stage III or IV, and 14% had respiratory acidosis at admittance. Patients with 3 or more admissions (13%) during 2005 accounted for 36% of all hospitalizations. One third of the patients were current smokers. Non-invasive ventilation was used in 14% of the admissions, with large variation between centres. In-hospital mortality was 3.7%. In this first large Scandinavian audit of COPD-hospitalizations, all centres had low in-hospital mortality. We consider this as an indication of good clinical practice in the three studied centres and possibly due to the frequent use of non-invasive ventilation.

The Norwegian version of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease self-efficacy scale (CSES): a validation and reliability study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, internal consistency and face and construct validity of the Norwegian version of the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES). The CSES was translated into Norwegian according to standard procedures for forward and backward translation, and administered to 100 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (51% men, mean age 66.1 years, range 42-82) prior to their participation in an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation programme. The CSES-N (translated version) consists of 34 items comprising five subscales describing negative affect, intense emotional arousal, physical exertion, weather/environment and behavioural risk factors. Each scale ranges from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating better self-efficacy. For validation purposes, we measured lung function (FEV(1) , FEV(1) % predicted) and exercise capacity (ISWT), and administered the St. Georges Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). A pilot study confirmed that the CSES-N was clear, understandable and easy to self-administer. Cronbachs alpha was 0.98 for the total score (0.80-0.96 for subscales). Results showed small to medium negative correlations between all CSES-N scales and anxiety, depression (HADS), physical activity, psychosocial impact of disease and total health status (SGRQ) (-0.20 to -0.49). Small or negligible negative correlations between different CSES-N scales and respiratory symptoms (SGRQ) (-0.03 to -0.23) were found. Any correlations among exercise capacity, lung function and different socio-demographic variables (age, gender and education) and CSES-N were also small or negligible (0.00 to 0.23). This study shows acceptable feasibility, internal consistency and face and construct validity for the CSES-N in a sample of Norwegian COPD patients.

Vitamin D and Lung Function Decline in Adults With Asthma The HUNT Study

We investigated whether low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels were associated with more lung function decline in adults with asthma and whether this association was modified by smoking status or inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use. We analyzed data on 395 adults with asthma from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (1995-2008), Norway. Plasma 25(OH)D and lung function were measured at baseline, and lung function measurements were repeated at follow-up, approximately 11 years later. Linear regression was used to estimate lung function decline. Participants with low 25(OH)D (<50 nmol/L) had more decline in lung function measurements for forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) (388 mL), forced vital capacity (298 mL), and the FEV1/forced vital capacity ratio (3.7%) over the follow-up, compared with those with high 25(OH)D (≥50 nmol/L) who declined 314 mL, 246 mL, and 3.0%, respectively (P = 0.08, 0.30, and 0.23, respectively). The associations were stronger in never smokers and non-ICS users. In never smokers, low 25(OH)D levels were associated with more decline in FEV1 (445 vs. 222 mL) (P = 0.01). In non-ICS users, low 25(OH)D levels were associated with more decline in FEV1 (467 vs. 320 mL) (P = 0.02). Low serum 25(OH)D levels were weakly associated with more lung function decline in adults with asthma, and stronger associations were observed in never smokers and non-ICS users.

Long term effects of an integrated care intervention on hospital utilization in patients with severe COPD: a single centre controlled study

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality globally. In Trondheim in 2008 an integrated care model (COPD-Home) consisting of an education program, self-management plan, home visits and a call centre for patient support and communication was developed. The objective was to determine the efficacy of an intervention according to the COPD-Home model in reducing hospital utilization among patients with COPD stage III and IV (GOLD 2007) discharged after hospitalization for acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD).MethodsA single centre, prospective, open, controlled clinical study comparing COPD-Home integrated care (IC) with usual care (UC).ResultsNinety-one versus 81 patients mean age 73.4 ± 9.3 years (57% women) were included in the IC group (ICG) and the UC group (UCG) respectively, and after 2 years 51 and 49 patients were available for control in the respective groups. During the year prior to study start there were 71 hospital admissions (HA) in the ICG and 84 in the UCG. There was a 12.6% reduction in HA in the ICG during the first year of follow-up and a 46.5% reduction during the second year (p = 0.01) compared to an 8.3% increase during the first year and no change during the second year in the ICG. During the year prior to study start, the number of hospital days (HD) was 468 in the ICG and 479 in the UCG. In the IC group, the number of HD was reduced by 48.3% during the first year (p = 0.01), and remained low during the second year of follow-up (p=0.02). In the UC group, the number of HD remained unchanged during the follow-up period. There was a trend towards a shorter survival time among patients in the ICG compared to the UCG, hazard ratio 1.33 [95% CI 0.77 to 2.33].ConclusionIntervention according to the COPD-Home model reduced hospital utilization in patients with COPD III and IV with a persisting effect throughout the 2 years of follow-up. However, there was a trend towards a shorter survival time in the intervention group.

Physical activity and lung function decline in adults with asthma: The HUNT Study

People with asthma may seek advice about physical activity. However, the benefits of leisure time physical activity on lung function are unclear. We investigated the association between leisure time physical activity and lung function decline in adults with asthma.