Rafael Stelmach

Effects of Aerobic Training on Airway Inflammation in Asthmatic Patients

PURPOSE there is evidence suggesting that physical activity has anti-inflammatory effects in many chronic diseases; however, the role of exercise in airway inflammation in asthma is poorly understood. We aimed to evaluate the effects of an aerobic training program on eosinophil inflammation (primary aim) and nitric oxide (secondary aim) in patients with moderate or severe persistent asthma. METHODS sixty-eight patients randomly assigned to either control (CG) or aerobic training (TG) groups were studied during the period between medical consultations. Patients in the CG (educational program + breathing exercises; N = 34) and TG (educational program + breathing exercises + aerobic training; N = 34) were examined twice a week during a 3-month period. Before and after the intervention, patients underwent induced sputum, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), pulmonary function, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Asthma symptom-free days were quantified monthly, and asthma exacerbation was monitored during 3 months of intervention. RESULTS at 3 months, decreases in the total and eosinophil cell counts in induced sputum (P = 0.004) and in the levels of FeNO (P = 0.009) were observed after intervention only in the TG. The number of asthma symptom-free days and VO(2max) also significantly improved (P < 0.001), and lower asthma exacerbation occurred in the TG (P < 0.01). In addition, the TG presented a strong positive relationship between baseline FeNO and eosinophil counts as well as their improvement after training (r = 0.77 and r = 0.9, respectively). CONCLUSIONS aerobic training reduces sputum eosinophil and FeNO in patients with moderate or severe asthma, and these benefits were more significant in subjects with higher levels of inflammation. These results suggest that aerobic training might be useful as an adjuvant therapy in asthmatic patients under optimized medical treatment.

Effects of weight loss on asthma control in obese patients with severe asthma

Studies on the effects of weight loss in patients with asthma are scarce. No studies have been performed in patients with severe asthma. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the impact of weight loss in patients with severe asthma associated with obesity. This was an open, prospective, randomised study of two parallel groups, in patients with severe uncontrolled asthma and moderate obesity. The primary outcome was the level of asthma control 6 months after initiation of the weight reduction programme, quantified using the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ). We evaluated clinical parameters, lung function, markers of airway inflammation and circulating cytokines. 22 patients were randomised to undergo treatment for obesity and 11 to the control group. The weight reduction programme was associated with significant improvements in asthma control (mean±se ACQ score 3.02±0.19 to 2.25±0.28 in the treatment group versus 2.91±0.25 to 2.90±0.16 in the controls, p=0.001). This improvement was not accompanied by changes in markers of airway inflammation or bronchial reactivity, but by an increase in forced vital capacity. Our results suggest that weight reduction in obese patients with severe asthma improves asthma outcomes by mechanisms not related to airway inflammation. Weight loss improves outcomes in severely asthmatic obese patients; poor control results from obesity-related factors http://ow.ly/qtG7w

Aerobic training decreases bronchial hyperresponsiveness and systemic inflammation in patients with moderate or severe asthma: a randomised controlled trial

Background The benefits of aerobic training for the main features of asthma, such as bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and inflammation, are poorly understood. We investigated the effects of aerobic training on BHR (primary outcome), serum inflammatory cytokines (secondary outcome), clinical control and asthma quality of life (Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ)) (tertiary outcomes). Methods Fifty-eight patients were randomly assigned to either the control group (CG) or the aerobic training group (TG). Patients in the CG (educational programme+breathing exercises (sham)) and the TG (same as the CG+aerobic training) were followed for 3 months. BHR, serum cytokine, clinical control, AQLQ, induced sputum and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) were evaluated before and after the intervention. Results After 12 weeks, 43 patients (21 CG/22 TG) completed the study and were analysed. The TG improved in BHR by 1 doubling dose (dd) (95% CI 0.3 to 1.7 dd), and they experienced reduced interleukin 6 (IL-6) and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and improved AQLQ and asthma exacerbation (p<0.05). No effects were seen for IL-5, IL-8, IL-10, sputum cellularity, FeNO or Asthma Control Questionnaire 7 (ACQ-7; p>0.05). A within-group difference was found in the ACQ-6 for patients with non-well-controlled asthma and in sputum eosinophil and FeNO in patients in the TG who had worse airway inflammation. Conclusions Aerobic training reduced BHR and serum proinflammatory cytokines and improved quality of life and asthma exacerbation in patients with moderate or severe asthma. These results suggest that adding exercise as an adjunct therapy to pharmacological treatment could improve the main features of asthma. Trial registration number NCT02033122.

Asma e doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica: uma comparação entre variáveis de ansiedade e depressão

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the presence and severity of symptoms of anxiety and depression in individuals with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. METHODS: In order to evaluate symptoms of anxiety and depression, specific instruments of quantification (the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory, respectively) were administered to patients at an outpatient clinic for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The population comprised 189 randomly and prospectively selected patients that were divided into three study groups (each with a different therapeutic objective): 40 patients with controlled asthma, 100 patients with uncontrolled asthma, and 49 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Included among the variables studied, as part of the methodology, were symptoms of anxiety and depression. The data obtained were compared taking into consideration demographic and functional aspects, as well as the severity of the symptoms of anxiety and depression. RESULTS: Among the asthma patients, the prevalence of moderate or severe anxiety was significantly higher than that observed among those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p < 0.001). The uncontrolled asthma group presented significantly higher rates of depressive symptoms than did the controlled asthma group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The frequency of symptoms of anxiety and depression is greater among asthma patients than among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which can make clinical control difficult.

Profile of a Brazilian population with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

A doenca pulmonar obstrutiva cronica (DPOC) e um problema de saude publica. O tabagismo e a principal causa, porem nao a unica. Poluicao ambiental, exposicao a quimicos, fumaca inalada, tabagismo passivo, infeccoes virais e bacterianas tambem sao considerados fatores de risco importantes. Sexo e peso correlacionam-se com a gravidade da doenca. Co-morbidades sao frequentes. OBJETIVO: Caracterizar uma populacao de pacientes com DPOC acompanhados de forma ambulatorial em um servico terciario de saude. MATERIAL E METODOS: Foram aplicados questionarios padronizados em pacientes com DPOC. Os dados coletados incluiram: sexo, idade, peso, indice de massa corporea (IMC), VEF1 e uso de oxigenio domiciliar, tabagismo, contato com fumaca de lenha, antecedentes de tuberculose pulmonar e molestias associadas. RESULTADOS: Dos 70 pacientes incluidos, 70% eram homens. A media de idade foi de 64 ± 10 anos; de peso, 63 ± 16kg e o IMC medio, de 22 ± 5kg/m². O VEF1 medio do grupo foi 35 ± 14% e 45,7% eram dependentes de oxigenio. Nove (12,8%) nunca fumaram, 78,8% eram ex-tabagistas, com tempo medio de tabagismo de 38 ± 11 anos/maco e nove haviam fumado cigarro de palha. Dezoito (25,7%) tiveram exposicao a fumaca de lenha. Onze (15,7%) relataram tuberculose; 5,7% apresentaram sinais e sintomas de asma; 2,8%, bronquiectasias; 11,4%, diabetes melito; 51,4%, hipertensao arterial e 20%, cor pulmonale. CONCLUSAO: Outras etiologias possiveis de DPOC devem ser investigadas. A fumaca inalada associada a infeccoes pulmonares pregressas podem ser determinantes na injuria pulmonar. Homens com menor massa corporea representam essa populacao com DPOC grave. Hipertensao sistemica e cor pulmonale sao achados frequentes.

Emprego da determinação de monóxido de carbono no ar exalado para a detecção do consumo de tabaco

Introduction: Smoking is the major preventable risk of morbidity and mortality. However, its prevalence is high in developed countries and increasing in developing countries, even though its effects are now better known. The purpose of this study was to compare the exhaled carbon monoxide concentration (exCO) between smokers and nonsmokers, evaluate the factors that influence this parameter among smokers and the potential influence of passive smoking by measuring exCO in workers and patients of Instituto do Coracao HC-FMUSP. Materials and methods: This cross study included 256 volunteers who responded to a questionnaire and were submitted to exCO measuring with the MicroCo meter device. Results: There were 106 males and 150 females. Mean age was 43.4 years (Vmin-max: 15-83). There were 107 smokers, 118 nonsmokers and 31 passive smokers. Mean exCO was 14.01 ppm (Vmin-max: 1-44) among smokers, 2.03 ppm (Vmin-max: 0-5) among passive smokers and 2.50 ppm (Vmin-max: 0-9) among nonsmokers. Significant statistical difference was observed between smokers and the other groups (p < 0.001), but not between nonsmokers and passive smokers. A positive correlation was found between the number of cigarettes smoked per day and exCO values while there was a negative correlation between the exCO values and the timing of the last cigarette. For a reference limit value of 6 ppm, sensitivity was 70% and specificity was 96%. Conclusion: exCO metering is easy to perform, low-cost, noninvasive and allows the obtention of immediate results and the reference limit value of 6 ppm has good specificity to evaluate the smoking habit.

The Role of Exercise in a Weight-Loss Program on Clinical Control in Obese Adults with Asthma A Randomized Controlled Trial

Rationale: Clinical control is difficult to achieve in obese patients with asthma. Bariatric surgery has been recommended for weight loss and to improve asthma control; however, the benefits of nonsurgical interventions have been poorly investigated. Objectives: To examine the effect of exercise training in a weight‐loss program on asthma control, quality of life, inflammatory biomarkers, and lung function. Methods: Fifty‐five obese patients with asthma were randomly assigned to either a weight‐loss program plus exercise (WL + E group, n = 28) or a weight‐loss program plus sham (WL + S group, n = 27), where the weight‐loss program included nutrition (caloric restriction) and psychological therapies. The WL + E group incorporated aerobic and resistance muscle training, whereas the WL + S group incorporated breathing and stretching exercises. Measurements and Main Results: The primary outcome was clinical improvement in asthma control over 3 months. Secondary outcomes included quality of life, lung function, body composition, aerobic capacity, muscle strength, and inflammatory/antiinflammatory biomarkers. After 3 months, 51 patients were analyzed. Compared with the WL + S group, the WL + E group demonstrated improved clinical control scores (median [25th to 75th percentile], −0.7 [−1.3 to −0.3] vs. −0.3 [−0.9 to 0.4]; P = 0.01) and greater weight loss (mean ± SD, −6.8% ± 3.5 vs. −3.1% ± 2.6; P < 0.001) and aerobic capacity (median [25th to 75th percentile], 3.0 [2.4 to 4.0] vs. 0.9 [−0.3 to 1.3] ml O2 × kg−1 × min−1; P < 0.001). These improvements in the WL + E group were also accompanied by improvements in lung function, antiinflammatory biomarkers, and vitamin D levels, as well as reductions in airway and systemic inflammation. Conclusions: Adding exercise to a short‐term weight‐loss program should be considered as a useful strategy for achieving clinical control of asthma in obese patients. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 02188940).

Musculoskeletal dysfunction and pain in adults with asthma.

Background. The mechanical alterations related to the overload of respiratory muscles observed in adults with persistent asthma might lead to the development of chronic alterations in posture, musculoskeletal dysfunction and pain; however, these changes remain poorly understood. Objective. This study aimed to assess postural alignment, muscle shortening and chronic pain in adults with persistent asthma. Methods. This cross-sectional and controlled study enrolled 30 patients with mild (n = 17) and severe (n = 13) persistent asthma. Fifteen non-asthmatic volunteers were also assessed. Asthma was classified by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines. Postural alignment and muscle shortening were evaluated by head and shoulder positions, chest wall mobility, and posterior (trunk and lower limb) muscle flexibility. In addition, the measures used were previously tested for their reproducibility. Pain complaints were also assessed. Results. In comparison with non-asthmatic subjects, patients with mild or severe persistent asthma held their head and shoulders more forward and had lower chest wall expansion, decreased shoulder internal rotation, and decreased thoracic spine flexibility. Chronic lower thoracic, cervical, and shoulder pain was significantly increased in patients with mild or severe asthma compared with non-asthmatic subjects (p < 0.05). Conclusion. Adults with persistent asthma have musculoskeletal dysfunction and chronic pain that is independent of the severity of their disease but that might be related to their age at the onset of disease symptoms.

Pharmaceutical care for patients with persistent asthma: assessment of treatment compliance and use of inhaled medications

OBJECTIVE To evaluate treatment compliance and use of inhaled medications of patients with asthma receiving complementary pharmaceutical care. METHODS A controlled prospective parallel study involving a study group and a control group. We selected 60 patients with persistent asthma and using metered-dose inhalers (MDIs), dry powder inhalers (DPIs) or both. The patients were evaluated three times over 60 days. Instructions were provided to the patients in the study group at all visits but only at the first visit to those in the control group. The patients using < 80% or > 120% of the total number of prescribed doses were classified as noncompliant. The inhalation technique was quantified by a scoring system. A satisfactory technique was defined as a score higher than 7 (maximum, 9) for MDIs and higher than 4 (maximum, 5) for DPIs. RESULTS The final study sample comprised 28 study group patients and 27 control group patients, of whom 18 (64.3%) and 20 (74.7%), respectively, were considered treatment compliant. From the first to the third visits, there were increases, in the study and control groups, in the median MDI-use score (from 3 [range, 0-5] to 8 [range, 8-9]; p < 0.001; and from 5 [range, 2-6] to 7 [range, 6-8]), as well as in the median DPI-use score (from 3 [range, 2-4] to 5 [range, 4-5] and from 3 [range, 2-4] to 4 [range, 3-5]). CONCLUSIONS The counseling provided by the pharmacist to the patient was important to assist in the implementation of the appropriate inhalation technique, especially for MDI use.

Comparison between objective measures of smoking and self-reported smoking status in patients with asthma or COPD: are our patients telling us the truth?

OBJECTIVE: Smoking prevalence is frequently estimated on the basis of self-reported smoking status. That can lead to an underestimation of smoking rates. The aim of this study was to evaluate the difference between self-reported smoking status and that determined through the use of objective measures of smoking at a pulmonary outpatient clinic. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving 144 individuals: 51 asthma patients, 53 COPD patients, 20 current smokers, and 20 never-smokers. Smoking status was determined on the basis of self-reports obtained in interviews, as well as through tests of exhaled carbon monoxide (eCO) and urinary cotinine. RESULTS: All of the asthma patients and COPD patients declared they were not current smokers. In the COPD and asthma patients, the median urinary cotinine concentration was 167 ng/mL (range, 2-5,348 ng/mL) and 47 ng/mL (range, 5-2,735 ng/mL), respectively (p < 0.0001), whereas the median eCO level was 8 ppm (range, 0-31 ppm) and 5 ppm (range, 2-45 ppm), respectively (p < 0.05). In 40 (38%) of the patients with asthma or COPD (n = 104), there was disagreement between the self-reported smoking status and that determined on the basis of the urinary cotinine concentration, a concentration > 200 ng/mL being considered indicative of current smoking. In 48 (46%) of those 104 patients, the self-reported non-smoking status was refuted by an eCO level > 6 ppm, which is also considered indicative of current smoking. In 30 (29%) of the patients with asthma or COPD, the urinary cotinine concentration and the eCO level both belied the patient claims of not being current smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that high proportions of smoking pulmonary patients with lung disease falsely declare themselves to be nonsmokers. The accurate classification of smoking status is pivotal to the treatment of lung diseases. Objective measures of smoking could be helpful in improving clinical management and counseling.