American Association for Respiratory Care
Email not displaying correctly?
View it in your browser.
AARC Diagnostics Section

March 2012

Nominate a Peer for Diagnostics Specialty Practitioner of the Year

We’re accepting nominations for our 2012 Specialty Practitioner of the Year Award now through July 31, so take a few moments to brainstorm deserving candidates and then nominate them via our online NOMINATION FORM. It’s a great way to recognize a fellow section member who you believe has gone above and beyond for our specialty.

Chronic Bronchitis Phenotype in COPD

Venezuelan researchers recently looked at the prevalence of chronic bronchitis (CB) phenotype in people with and without COPD. The study used two definitions to identify CB: “phlegm most days, at least three months a year for ≥2 years” and “cough and phlegm most days, at least three months a year for ≥2 years.” Using the first definition, the proportion of subjects with and without COPD who had CB was 14.4% and 6.2%, respectively. Using the second definition, the proportions were 7.4% and 2.5%, respectively. People with COPD who were identified as having CB had poorer lung function, worse general health status, more respiratory symptoms, greater physical activity limitations, and more exacerbations. The authors conclude, “Our study helps to understand the prevalence of CB phenotype in an unselected COPD population at a particular point in time and suggest that CB in COPD is possibly associated with worse outcomes.” The study was published ahead of print in the European Respiratory Journal on Jan. 26. READ ABSTRACT

Visualizing Collateral Ventilation in COPD Patients

Researchers have suggested that collateral ventilation could serve as a mechanism of compensation of respiratory function in obstructive lung diseases. However, in vivo observations of this type of ventilation have been limited. British researchers publishing ahead of print in Thorax on Jan. 27 used time-resolved breath-hold hyperpolarised (3)He MRI to obtain images of the progressive influx of polarized gas into initially non-ventilated defects over a single breath hold in ten COPD patients. Results showed (3)He moved into lung regions that were initially non-ventilated, and ventilation defects with delayed filling were observed in eight of the patients. The authors believe such scans could be useful in gaining insight into lung physiology and planning new bronchoscopic techniques for the treatment of emphysema. READ ABSTRACT

Women May be at Greater Risk for Non-Atopic Asthma

A large study out of France is shedding some light on gender differences in the diagnosis and incidence of allergic and non-allergic asthma. Researchers studied these factors in 9091 men and women who were followed for 8-10 years as part of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. Results showed a 20% higher prevalence of asthma in women than men over age 35. Under-diagnosis of non-atopic asthma was suggested in both sexes but the condition was more prevalent in newly diagnosed women than men, 60% vs. 30%. Among participants without asthma at baseline, women had a higher incidence that could not be explained by factors like smoking, obesity, or lung function. No gender differences were noted for allergic asthma. The authors conclude, “This study shows that female sex is an independent risk factor for non-allergic asthma, and stresses the need for more careful assessment of possible non-allergic asthma in clinical practice, in men and women.” The study was published ahead of print in Thorax on Feb. 14. READ ABSTRACT

EBT Remains Elevated After Exercise in People with Asthma

Swedish investigators who measured exhaled breath temperature (EBT) and other lung function parameters in 20 people with asthma and 21 health controls found EBT increased after exercise in both people with asthma and healthy controls, but remained elevated in those with asthma whose FEV1 dropped by more than 10%. The authors believe this indicates a different vascular response in these individuals. Specific results from the study included:

  • The largest drop in FEV1 correlated with EBT after five minutes of exercise.
  • EBT increased markedly after five minutes and remained high for at least 60 minutes.
  • In those with asthma whose FEV1 dropped by >10%, EBT was higher after 60 minutes compared to those with asthma whose FEV1 did not drop by >10%.
  • EBT correlated with axillary temperature at 15, 30, and 60 minutes post-exercise, but not with auricular temperature.

The study was published ahead of print in Respiration on Jan. 31. READ ABSTRACT

AARC Logo

Copyright © 2012, American Association for Respiratory Care.

To be removed from this list, please send your request to info@aarc.org.