[Exercise Testing in Respiratory Medicine - DGP Recommendations]

Effect of simultaneous physical and auditory stressors on cardiorespiratory response

In occupational medicine, monitoring individual stress-related physiological responses is an effective tool for minimizing health risks at the workplace. From an audiology perspective, this particularly concerns the effects of auditory stress, which leads to increased listening effort with subsequent hearing fatigue. A study was conducted to investigate whether cardio-respiratory responses can detect the effects of a multi-level combination of physical and auditory stressors. To investigate their measurability and determine whether an interaction exists, a selection of cardio-respiratory vital parameters such as heart rate, features in the time and frequency domain of the heart rate variability, breathing rate, respiratory minute volume, and the respiratory quotient were analyzed. The results showed a significant main effect of physical stress on all assessed parameters. Auditory stress demonstrated a significant impact on breathing frequency, root mean square of successive differences of interbeat intervals, and the power components of the low and high frequency bands of the heart rate variability. No interaction between auditory and physical stressors was observed across any of the examined parameters. From these results we conclude that physiological responses to different sources of stress can be recorded within selected vital parameters, independent of external stimuli such as ambient noise. In an occupational context, we see potential in tracking individual auditory stress by monitoring cardio-respiratory parameters, especially breathing patterns. By knowing the individual (auditory) stress level, conclusions could be drawn about the worker's ability to concentrate and further measures could be taken to combat safety risks in the work environment.

Exercise testing in patients with tricuspid regurgitation undergoing transcatheter tricuspid valve intervention

BACKGROUND

Transcatheter tricuspid valve intervention (TTVI) has shown promising results with persistent reduction of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and improvements in functional class and quality of life (QOL).

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the impact of TTVI on maximal and submaximal exercise capacity (SEC).

METHODS

Constant work-rate exercise-time (CWRET) testing reflects SEC, which is more likely to be relevant for daily life activities and provides more differentiated physiological insight into the nature of exercise intolerance. Thus, 30 patients undergoing TTVI (21 direct annuloplasty and 9 edge-to-edge repair) received cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and CWRET (at 75% of maximum work rate in the initial CPET) before and 3 months after TTVI.

RESULTS

Patients' age was 80.5 [74.8-82.3] years and 53.3% were female. TR reduction ≥ 2 grades was achieved in 93.3% (TR grade ≤ moderate in 83.3%). Echocardiography revealed improved right ventricular (RV) characteristics with decreased RV basal diameter (47.0 mm [43.0-54.3] vs. 41.5 mm [36.8-48.0]; p < 0.001) and decreased inferior caval vein diameter. CWRET testing showed a significantly improved SEC (246.5 s [153.8-416.8] vs. 338.5 s [238.8-611.8] p = 0.001). Maximum oxygen uptake showed a positive trend without statistically significant differences (9.9 ml/min/kg [8.6-12.4] vs. 11.7 ml/min/kg [9.7-13.3]; p = 0.31). In contrast to the six-minute-walking distance (6MWD), SEC correlated moderately with effective regurgitation orifice area reduction (r = 0.385; p = 0.036), increased cardiac output (r = 0.378; p = 0.039), and improved QOL (r = 387; p = 0.035).

CONCLUSION

Improvements in exercise capacity after TTVI mainly occur in the submaximal rather than in the maximal exercise range and correlate with hemodynamic effects and QOL. This may have a methodological impact on assessment of exercise capacity in these patients.

Physical workload and cardiopulmonary parameters in relation to individual capacity of bulk waste workers - a cross-sectional field-study

PURPOSE

Waste collection is considered particularly heavy work, although no previous study has yet investigated the strain of bulk waste collection. The aim of this study is to determine the workload of bulk waste workers in practice.

METHOD

We conducted a cross-sectional field-study. Fourteen male volunteers from the bulk waste collection of the municipal sanitation department in Hamburg, Germany, were included. Performance was determined by cardiopulmonary exercise testing under laboratory conditions. During the shift, each worker was accompanied by a researcher, and heart rate (HR) was recorded under field conditions using an HR watch with a belt system. We examined mean HR, relative heart rate (RHR), relative aerobic strain (RAS), calculated oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text])  and individual ventilatory threshold 1 (VT1) as parameters of workload during their daily work.

RESULTS

During the shift, HR was scaled: 102 bpm (SD 10.2), RHR: 36.9%, [Formula: see text]: 1267 ml/min (SD 161), RAS: 49.4% (SD 9.3), and [Formula: see text] in relation to VT1: 75% (SD 18.5). There was no significant difference between oxygen consumption during the main task of lifting and carrying bulky waste and the individual [Formula: see text] at VT1.

CONCLUSION

Although the burden of the main task of lifting and carrying bulky waste is very high (at VT1 for more than 3 h), interruptions from other tasks or formal breaks spread the burden over the entire shift. The total workload exceeded most recommendations in the literature across the different work periods. However, the total burden remains below VT1, the only parameter that takes individual endurance performance into account. We recommend again VT1 as an individual upper limit for prolonged occupational work.

[Rehabilitation with coronavirus disease with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)]

The Coronavirus disease with SARS-CoV-2 viral infection (COVID-19) and its diverse courses of disease from mild to critical illness frequently is not only an acute disease, but will - in a proportion of those affected - lead to organ structure and body function deficits that still exist or become apparent after the acute stage of disease. When clinically relevant symptoms or functional deficits (impairments) are documented more than four weeks after COVID-19 onset, the syndrome is called "Long-COVID", from 12 weeks after onset onwards "Post-COVID".In such cases and when everyday life functioning and return to work are affected by persisting deficits specialized rehabilitation treatment is indicated. An individual medical, frequently multi-professional diagnostic evaluation is mandatory in that situation: For adequate treatment, it is important to identify and objectify the individually underlying health conditions based on knowledge about the diverse potential consequences of COVID-19, to assess type and severity of functional consequences (impairments, activity limitations, and restrictions of participation) of Long-/Post-COVID individually, and then to decide on the treatment necessities and plans. With regard to rehabilitation, need and decision for either pulmonary, neurological, cardiac, or psychosomatic rehabilitation depends on the individual medical presentation.

[Rehabilitation with coronavirus disease with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)]

The Coronavirus disease with SARS-CoV-2 viral infection (COVID-19) and its diverse courses of disease from mild to critical illness frequently is not only an acute disease, but will - in a proportion of those affected - lead to organ structure and body function deficits that still exist or become apparent after the acute stage of disease. When clinically relevant symptoms or functional deficits (impairments) are documented more than four weeks after COVID-19 onset, the syndrome is called "Long-COVID", from 12 weeks after onset onwards "Post-COVID".In such cases and when everyday life functioning or return to work are affected by persisting deficits specialized rehabilitation treatment is indicated. An individual medical, frequently multi-professional diagnostic evaluation is mandatory in that situation: For adequate treatment, it is important to identify and objectify the individually underlying health conditions based on knowledge about the diverse potential consequences of COVID-19, to assess type and severity of functional consequences (impairments, activity limitations, and restrictions of participation) of Long-/Post-COVID individually, and then to decide on the treatment necessities and plans. With regard to rehabilitation, need and decision for either pulmonary, neurological, cardiac, or psychosomatic rehabilitation depends on the individual medical presentation.

[Invasive Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing: A Review]

Right heart catheterization (RHC) is the internationally standardized reference method for measuring pulmonary hemodynamics under resting conditions. In recent years, increasing efforts have been made to establish the reliable assessment of exercise hemodynamics as well, in order to obtain additional diagnostic and prognostic data. Furthermore, cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), as the most comprehensive non-invasive exercise test, is increasingly performed in combination with RHC providing detailed pathophysiological insights into the exercise response, so-called invasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing (iCPET).In this review, the accumulated experience with iCPET is presented and methodological details are discussed. This complex examination is especially helpful in differentiating the underlying causes of unexplained dyspnea. In particular, early forms of cardiac or pulmonary vascular dysfunction can be detected by integrated analysis of hemodynamic as well as ventilatory and gas exchange data. It is expected that with increasing validation of iCPET parameters, a more reliable differentiation of normal from pathological stress reactions will be possible.

[Group Training of Patients with Chronic Lung Diseases under Outpatient Conditions - Recommendations of the Working Group Lung Sports in Germany and the German Airways League]

To improve acceptance and use of physical training by patients with chronic lung diseases, recommendations for performing lung exercises on an outpatient basis in a group setting are given by experts in physical training, sports therapists and pulmonologists. The evidence-based positive effects of physical training were analyzed for asthma , COPD, interstitial lung diseases, cystic fibrosis, lung carcinoma, and pulmonary hypertension. The requirements for lung exercises in outpatient groups as well as compensation by care providers were given on the basis of legal regulations. Furthermore, the main items of the training units as well as supervision by specially trained group leaders in relation to the severity of the underlying lung disease are described. Finally, aspects of safety of the participating patients are discussed, including the prevention of infection with corona-2-virus.

[Current Aspects of Definition and Diagnosis of Pulmonary Hypertension]

At the 6th World Symposium on Pulmonary Hypertension (WSPH), which took place from February 27 until March 1, 2018 in Nice, scientific progress over the past 5 years in the field of pulmonary hypertension (PH) was presented by 13 working groups. The results of the discussion were published as proceedings towards the end of 2018. One of the major changes suggested by the WSPH was the lowering of the diagnostic threshold for PH from ≥ 25 to > 20 mmHg mean pulmonary arterial pressure, measured by right heart catheterization at rest. In addition, the pulmonary vascular resistance was introduced into the definition of PH, which underlines the importance of cardiac output determination at the diagnostic right heart catheterization.In this article, we discuss the rationale and possible consequences of a changed PH definition in the context of the current literature. Further, we provide a current overview on non-invasive and invasive methods for diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and prognosis of PH, including exercise tests.

[Recommendations from the German Respiratory Society for Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Patients with COVID-19]

Vor dem Hintergrund der Pandemie durch Infektionen mit dem SARS-CoV-2 hat die Deutsche Gesellschaft für Pneumologie und Beatmungsmedizin (DGP e. V.) die Sektion 12 „Rehabilitation, Prävention und Tabakkontrolle“ beauftragt, Empfehlungen zur Umsetzung pneumologischer Rehabilitation bei Patienten nach COVID-19 zu erstellen. Dieses Positionspapier basiert auf dem momentanen aktuellen Wissen, das sich täglich weiterentwickelt. Neben einer Beschreibung der gesundheitlichen Folgen von COVID-19 wird die Indikationsstellung aufgezeigt. Rehabilitative Therapien bei COVID-19 sind bereits auf der Normalstation bzw. Intensivstation indiziert, setzen sich fort als pneumologische Frührehabilitation im Akutkrankenhaus und als Anschlussheilbehandlung oder Reha-Heilverfahren in pneumologischen Rehabilitationskliniken. Im Fokus dieses Positionspapiers stehen Empfehlungen zur inhaltlichen Durchführung einer multimodalen, interdisziplinären pneumologischen Rehabilitation bei COVID-19.