Sevgi Saryal

Is There Any Difference in the Use of Complementary and Alternative Therapies in Patients Asthma and COPD? A Cross-Sectional Survey

Background. Data on the use and efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in patients with asthma are limited, and there is a lack of studies documenting the use of CAM in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Turkey. Aim. To determine the prevalence of CAM usage in patients with asthma and COPD and to assess the clinical and demographic factors associated with the use of CAM. Materials and methods. A total of 521 patients (313 with asthma and 208 with COPD) were randomly enrolled into this cross-sectional survey. A face-to-face interview was conducted using a structured questionnaire. Results. One hundred sixty-three patients (52%) with asthma and 70 patients (33%) with COPD were reported to be using some form of CAM (p < 0.001). The most popular modalities were herbal remedies (46% and 28% in the two groups, respectively) and animal products (28% and 5% in the two groups, respectively). CAM-practicing asthma patients were typically younger with longer duration of disease and higher income than the CAM-practicing COPD patients. For the patients, the main source of information on CAM practices was their relatives and friends. Only a small number of the patients consulted with their physicians about CAM. The main reasons to use CAM for patients with asthma and COPD were harmlessness and symptomatic relief, respectively. CAM-related adverse effects and difficulties to obtain CAM were significantly higher in patients with asthma than in patients with COPD. Conclusion. There is a high prevalence of CAM usage in patients with asthma and COPD in Turkey. Hence, becoming familiar with CAM therapy and inquiring about patient practice of CAM as part of the routine medical history will allow the physicians to provide reliable information to their patients on these medical practices.

Evaluation of the relationship between radiological abnormalities and both pulmonary function and pulmonary hypertension in coal workers’ pneumoconiosis

Objective:  The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the radiological evidence of emphysema, and the extent of interstitial involvement, on lung function and pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) in patients with coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP).

Exercise capacity in sarcoidosis. Study of 29 patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. Aims of this prospective study are to evaluate degree of impairment in pulmonary function tests (PFT), arterial blood gas analysis (ABG), respiratory muscle strength, exercise capacity and correlation of these parameters with radiological stages; to further evaluate the use of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in assessment of extent of pulmonary disease; and to discuss the pathophysiologic mechanisms of limitation in exercise capacity in patients with sarcoidosis. PATIENTS AND METHOD 29 patients with sarcoidosis were grouped according to their radiological stages (stage I: group 1; stage II, group 2; stage III, group 3). Groups 1, 2 and 3 included 11, 13 and 5 patients, respectively. PFT, cardiopulmonary exercise testing and ABG were performed for each patient. RESULTS Evaluation of all patients showed a significant decrement in exercise capacity. Patients in stage III had decreased diffusing capacity and exercise capacity. There was limitation in exercise capacity in stage I patients who had completely normal spirometry and diffusing capacity. We also found a correlation between radiological stages of the disease and exercise capacity, diffusing capacity and ABG. CONCLUSIONS Exercise capacity is impaired also in early stages of sarcoidosis and it was found to be the earliest impaired physiological parameter in sarcoid patients. Exercise intolerance, having mutifactorial basis, is correlated with radiological stages. Circulatory impairment and impaired heart rate response to exercise have effects on limitation in exercise capacity. Especially in advanced radiological stages of disease, ventilatory and gas exchange impairment also seems to be effective on limiting exercise in patients with sarcoidosis.

Adherence to GOLD guideline treatment recommendations among pulmonologists in Turkey

Background Low adherence to Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guideline recommendations has been reported worldwide. There has been no study on the adherence to GOLD guidelines for COPD treatment in Turkey. Objectives To investigate the rates of adherence to GOLD 2010 guidelines for COPD treatment among pulmonologists. Design A multi-center, cross-sectional, observational study was carried out in eleven pulmonary outpatient clinics across Turkey. Adherence to GOLD was evaluated through hospital records. Demographic and clinical data were recorded. Results Study included 719 patients (mean age: 62.9±9.7 years; males 85.4%) of whom 16 was classified as GOLD Stage I, 238 as II, 346 as III, and 119 as IV, and only 59.5% received appropriate treatment. Rates of guideline adherence varied across GOLD stages (I, 6.3%; II, 14.7%; III, 84.4%; and IV, 84%). Causes of inappropriate therapies were overtreatment (Stage I, 100% and Stage II, 91.1%), undertreatment (Stage III, 3.3% and Stage IV, 10.9%) and lack of treatment (Stage II, 3.8%; Stage III, 2.3%; and Stage IV, 5.9%). The most preferred regimen (43.4%) was long-acting β2-agonist-inhaled corticosteroid-long-acting muscarinic antagonist. Overall, 614 patients (89%) received treatment containing inhaled corticosteroid. Conclusion Pulmonologists in Turkey have low rates of adherence to GOLD guidelines in COPD treatment. Inappropriateness of therapies was due to overtreatment in early stages and excessive use of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) in all disease stages.

Does the 2017 revision improve the ability of GOLD to predict risk of future moderate and severe exacerbation

In 2017 update, GOLD separated spirometry from ABCD classification.

KÖMÜR İŞÇİSİ PNÖMOKONYOZUNDA PULMONER HEMODİNAMİ VE GÖRÜNTÜLEME YÖNTEMLERİ

Kömür işçilerinde pulmoııer dolaşımda değişmeler olabilmekte ve bunun sonucunda da sağ kalp hipertrofisi sağ kalp yetmezliği ile kronik kor pulmonale gelişmektedir. Pulmoner dolaşımdaki değişmeler toza maruz kalma süresiyle, tozların fiziksel, kimyasal özellikleriyle, kronik bronşit, amfizemin eşlik etmesiyle, tüberküloz sekellerinin bulunuşuyla olmaktadır Erken evrede pulmoner hipertansiyonun saptanmas ıhastalığm prognozunda önem taşır (2,11,12).