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Caprino R, Sartori G, Sartori F, Fantin A, Crisafulli E. Factors associated with risk of death in hospitalized patients for exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: an updated scoping review. Expert Rev Respir Med 2024:1-11. [PMID: 38943613 DOI: 10.1080/17476348.2024.2375426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (ECOPD), especially if leading to hospitalization, increases the risk of death. Our scoping review aims to identify updated mortality risk factors for both short- and long-term periods. AREAS COVERED A comprehensive search, covering the period from January 2013 to February 2024, was performed to identify eligible studies that consider factors associated with death in hospitalized ECOPD. We considered short-term mortality, up to one year (including in-hospital mortality, IHM) and long-term mortality over one year, without time limits. We excluded studies concerning the intensive care area. EXPERT OPINION We considered 38 studies, 32 and 8 reporting data about short- and long-term mortality, respectively. Two studies consider both periods. Several factors, some already known, others newly identified, have been evaluated and discussed. Some of these were related to the characteristics and severity of COPD (age, body mass index, lung impairment), and some considered the response to ECOPD. In this last context, we focused on the increasing role of biomarkers in predicting the mortality of patients, particularly IHM. Our factors associated with a worse prognosis may be helpful in clinical practice to identify patients at risk and, subsequently, determine a personalized approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosaria Caprino
- Department of Medicine, Respiratory Medicine Unit, University of Verona and Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Giulia Sartori
- Department of Medicine, Respiratory Medicine Unit, University of Verona and Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Filippo Sartori
- Department of Medicine, Respiratory Medicine Unit, University of Verona and Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Alberto Fantin
- Department of Pulmonology, S. Maria della Misericordia University Hospital, Udine, Italy
| | - Ernesto Crisafulli
- Department of Medicine, Respiratory Medicine Unit, University of Verona and Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Feng L, Li J, Qian Z, Li C, Gao D, Wang Y, Xie W, Cai Y, Tong Z, Liang L. Comprehensive Nomograms Using Routine Biomarkers Beyond Eosinophil Levels: Enhancing Predictability of Corticosteroid Treatment Outcomes in AECOPD. J Inflamm Res 2024; 17:1511-1526. [PMID: 38476472 PMCID: PMC10929658 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s450447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) exhibit heterogeneous responses to corticosteroid treatment. We aimed to determine whether combining eosinophil levels with other routine clinical indicators can enhance the predictability of corticosteroid treatment outcomes and to come up with a scoring system. Patients and Methods Consecutive patients admitted with AECOPD receiving corticosteroid treatment between July 2013 and March 2022 at Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Data on patients' demographics, smoking status, hospitalization for AECOPD in the previous year, comorbidities, blood laboratory tests, in-hospital treatment and clinical outcomes were collected. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and backward logistic regression were used for predictor selection, and predictive nomograms were developed. The discrimination and calibration of the nomograms were assessed using the area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) and calibration plots. Internal validation was performed using the 500-bootstrap method, and clinical utility was evaluated using decision curve analysis (DCA). Results Among the 3254 patients included, 804 (24.7%) had treatment failure. A nomogram of eosinophils, platelets, C-reactive protein (CRP), low density lipoprotein cholesterol, prognostic nutritional index (PNI), hospitalization for AECOPD in the previous year, ischemic heart diseases and chronic hepatic disease was developed to predict treatment failure for patients with a smoking history. For patients without a smoking history, a nomogram of CRP, PNI, ischemic heart diseases and chronic hepatic disease was developed. Although the AUCs of these two nomograms were only 0.644 and 0.647 respectively, they were significantly superior to predictions based solely on blood eosinophil levels. Conclusion We developed easy-to-use comprehensive nomograms utilizing readily available clinical biomarkers related to inflammation, nutrition and immunity, offering modestly enhanced predictive value for treatment outcomes in corticosteroid-treated patients with AECOPD. Further investigations into novel biomarkers and additional patient data are imperative to optimize the predictive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Feng
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiachen Li
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhenbei Qian
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chenglong Li
- Heart and Vascular Health Research Center, Peking University Clinical Research Institute, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Epidemiology of Major Diseases (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Darui Gao
- Heart and Vascular Health Research Center, Peking University Clinical Research Institute, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Epidemiology of Major Diseases (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yongqian Wang
- Heart and Vascular Health Research Center, Peking University Clinical Research Institute, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Epidemiology of Major Diseases (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wuxiang Xie
- Heart and Vascular Health Research Center, Peking University Clinical Research Institute, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Epidemiology of Major Diseases (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yutong Cai
- Centre for Environmental Health and Sustainability, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Zhaohui Tong
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lirong Liang
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
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Chen Z, Zha L, Feng G, An Q, Shi F, Xu J, Xu Q, Xia H, Zhang M, Li L. Prognostic Value of Serum Cholinesterase Levels for In-Hospital Mortality among Patients with Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. COPD 2023; 20:178-185. [PMID: 38178805 DOI: 10.1080/15412555.2023.2209178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Cholinesterase (ChE) is associated with the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic airway inflammation and oxidation/antioxidant imbalance. However, the relationship between serum ChE levels and survival outcomes of patients hospitalized with acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) is unknown. In this retrospective single-center study, we investigated the ability of the serum ChE level to predict in-hospital death in patients hospitalized with AECOPD. The clinicopathological data, including serum ChE levels as well as clinical and biochemical indicators were extracted for 477 patients from the hospital records and analyzed. Our results demonstrated that AECOPD patients with lower serum ChE levels were associated with increased mortality, frequent hospitalization due to acute exacerbations (AE) in the past year, and longer hospital stay. The optimal cutoff value for the serum ChE level was 4323 U/L. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) values for predicting in-hospital mortality based on the serum ChE level was 0.79 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.72-0.85). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that serum ChE level ≤ 4323 U/L (odds ratio (OR) 9.09, 95% CI 3.43-28.3, p < 0.001), age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (aCCI), and the number of hospitalizations due to AE in the past year were independent risk factors for predicting the in-hospital mortality of AECOPD patients. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that low serum ChE levels were associated with significantly higher in-hospital mortality rates of patients hospitalized with AECOPD. Therefore, serum ChE level is a promising prognostic predictor of hospitalized AECOPD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixiang Chen
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Wuhu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhu City, Anhui Province, China
| | - Lei Zha
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (Yijishan Hospital), Wuhu City, Anhui Province, China
| | - Guohong Feng
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Wuhu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhu City, Anhui Province, China
| | - Qian An
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Wuhu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhu City, Anhui Province, China
| | - Fei Shi
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Wuhu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhu City, Anhui Province, China
| | - Jingjing Xu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Wuhu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhu City, Anhui Province, China
| | - Qiancheng Xu
- cDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (Yijishan Hospital), Wuhu City, Anhui Province, China
- Anhui Clinical Medicine Research Center for Critical Illness Respiratory Diseases, Wuhu City, Anhui Province, China
| | - Huimin Xia
- Postgraduate School of Wuhu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated with Anhui, University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhu City, Anhui Province, China
| | - Milan Zhang
- Postgraduate School of Wuhu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated with Anhui, University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhu City, Anhui Province, China
| | - Lu Li
- Postgraduate School of Wuhu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine affiliated with Anhui, University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhu City, Anhui Province, China
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Zinellu A, Zinellu E, Mangoni AA, Pau MC, Carru C, Pirina P, Fois AG. Clinical significance of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in acute exacerbations of COPD: present and future. Eur Respir Rev 2022; 31:31/166/220095. [DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0095-2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are a leading cause of hospitalisation and death in COPD patients. In addition to the identification of better strategies to prevent AECOPD, there is an intense focus on discovering novel markers of disease severity that enhance risk stratification on hospital admission for the targeted institution of aggressiveversussupportive treatments. In the quest for such biomarkers, an increasing body of evidence suggests that specific indexes derived from routine complete blood counts,i.e.the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), can significantly predict adverse outcomes in AECOPD. This narrative review discusses the current evidence regarding the association between the NLR and the PLR on admission and several clinical end-points (need for invasive ventilation, noninvasive mechanical ventilation failure, admission to an intensive care unit, pulmonary hypertension, length of hospitalisation, and mortality) in AECOPD. Future research directions and potential clinical applications of these haematological indexes in this patient group are also discussed.
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Zinellu A, Zinellu E, Pau MC, Carru C, Pirina P, Fois AG, Mangoni AA. A Comprehensive Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Association between the Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Adverse Outcomes in Patients with Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11123365. [PMID: 35743436 PMCID: PMC9225466 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11123365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) predicts adverse outcomes in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); however, its prognostic role in acute exacerbations (AECOPD) is less clear. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between the NLR on admission and adverse outcomes (mortality, need for mechanical ventilation, transfer to the intensive care unit, length of stay, pulmonary hypertension, or their combination) in AECOPD by searching PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus from inception to April 2022. Risk of bias and certainty of evidence were assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist and the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation, respectively. In 15 studies (n = 10,038 patients), the NLR was significantly associated with the risk of adverse outcomes (odds ratio = 1.054, 95% CI 1.016 to 1.093, p = 0.005; low certainty of evidence; standard mean difference = 0.82, 95% CI 0.57 to 1.06, p < 0.001; high certainty of evidence). Pooled sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve were 0.71 (95% CI 0.64 to 0.77), 0.73 (95% CI 0.65 to 0.80), and 0.78 (95% CI 0.74 to 0.81), respectively. In our study, the NLR on admission was significantly associated with adverse outcomes in AECOPD patients, suggesting the potential utility of this biomarker for early risk stratification and management in this group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Zinellu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.Z.); (C.C.)
| | - Elisabetta Zinellu
- Clinical and Interventional Pneumology, University Hospital of Sassari (AOU), 07100 Sassari, Italy; (E.Z.); (P.P.); (A.G.F.)
| | - Maria Carmina Pau
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy;
| | - Ciriaco Carru
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.Z.); (C.C.)
- Quality Control Unit, University Hospital of Sassari (AOU), 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Pietro Pirina
- Clinical and Interventional Pneumology, University Hospital of Sassari (AOU), 07100 Sassari, Italy; (E.Z.); (P.P.); (A.G.F.)
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy;
| | - Alessandro G. Fois
- Clinical and Interventional Pneumology, University Hospital of Sassari (AOU), 07100 Sassari, Italy; (E.Z.); (P.P.); (A.G.F.)
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy;
| | - Arduino A. Mangoni
- Discipline of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Flinders Medical Centre, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
- Correspondence:
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Wang H, Yang T, Yu X, Chen Z, Ran Y, Wang J, Dai G, Deng H, Li X, Zhu T. Risk Factors for Length of Hospital Stay in Acute Exacerbation Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study. Int J Gen Med 2022; 15:3447-3458. [PMID: 35378912 PMCID: PMC8976556 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s354748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background/Purpose Patients and Methods Results Conclusion
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Wang
- Respiratory Medicine, First People’s Hospital of Suining City, Suining, 629000, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tao Yang
- Thoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaodan Yu
- Respiratory Medicine, Fifth People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, 610000, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhihong Chen
- Respiratory Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, 20032, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yajuan Ran
- Pharmacy Department, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiajia Wang
- Rheumatology Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guangming Dai
- Respiratory Medicine, First People’s Hospital of Suining City, Suining, 629000, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huojin Deng
- Respiratory Medicine, ZhuJiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510280, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinglong Li
- Respiratory Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tao Zhu
- Respiratory Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Tao Zhu, Respiratory Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 23 63693094, Email
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Wang JM, Han MK, Labaki WW. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease risk assessment tools: is one better than the others? Curr Opin Pulm Med 2022; 28:99-108. [PMID: 34652295 PMCID: PMC8799486 DOI: 10.1097/mcp.0000000000000833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Risk assessment tools are essential in COPD care to help clinicians identify patients at higher risk of accelerated lung function decline, respiratory exacerbations, hospitalizations, and death. RECENT FINDINGS Conventional methods of assessing risk have focused on spirometry, patient-reported symptoms, functional status, and a combination of these tools in composite indices. More recently, qualitatively and quantitatively assessed chest imaging findings, such as emphysema, large and small airways disease, and pulmonary vascular abnormalities have been associated with poor long-term outcomes in COPD patients. Although several blood and sputum biomarkers have been investigated for risk assessment in COPD, most still warrant further validation. Finally, novel remote digital monitoring technologies may be valuable to predict exacerbations but their large-scale performance, ease of implementation, and cost effectiveness remain to be determined. SUMMARY Given the complex heterogeneity of COPD, any single metric is unlikely to fully capture the risk of poor long-term outcomes. Therefore, clinicians should review all available clinical data, including spirometry, symptom severity, functional status, chest imaging, and bloodwork, to guide personalized preventive care of COPD patients. The potential of machine learning tools and remote monitoring technologies to refine COPD risk assessment is promising but remains largely untapped pending further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Wang
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Chang YP, Chen YM, Chang YC, Liu SF, Fang WF, Chao TY, Wu CC, Chang HC, Lin MC, Chen YC. Association of baseline parameters with year 0 and year 1 acute exacerbations in male patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2022; 36:3946320221099073. [PMID: 35594865 PMCID: PMC9251822 DOI: 10.1177/03946320221099073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Acute exacerbations (AEs) of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can
affect health status, hospitalization and readmission rates, and disease
progression. This study aimed to identify independent markers associated
with COPD AEs. Methods This study included male patients with COPD and collected data regarding
their AEs and baseline clinical parameters. Results We included 149 male patients. Among them, 58 were included in the year 0
high-AE group and 91 in the low-AE group. Multivariate analysis revealed
that the high-AE group had higher white blood cell count, lower serum
albumin level, and post-bronchodilator (BD) forced expiratory volume in one
second (FEV1) (%) with a combined receiver operating
characteristic curve (ROC) of 0.721 (p < 0.001).
Additionally, 34 patients were included in the year 1 high-AE group and 70
in the low-AE group (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis
revealed that the high-AE group had higher platelet count, positive asthma
history, and lower pre-BD FEV1 (%) with a combined ROC of 0.782
(p < 0.001). Conclusion In male patients with COPD, baseline white blood cell count, albumin level,
and post-BD FEV1 (%) were correlated with year 0 AE; on the other
hand, baseline platelet count, positive asthma history, and pre-BD
FEV1 (%) were associated with year 1 AE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Ping Chang
- Department of Internal Medicine, 63328Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Kaohsiung Medical Center, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Mu Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, 63328Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Kaohsiung Medical Center, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Chun Chang
- Department of Internal Medicine, 63328Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Kaohsiung Medical Center, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Feng Liu
- Department of Internal Medicine, 63328Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Kaohsiung Medical Center, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Department of Respiratory Therapy, 63328Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Feng Fang
- Department of Internal Medicine, 63328Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Kaohsiung Medical Center, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Chia-Yi, Taiwan
| | - Tung-Ying Chao
- Department of Internal Medicine, 63328Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Kaohsiung Medical Center, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Chien Wu
- Department of Internal Medicine, 63328Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Kaohsiung Medical Center, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Huang-Chih Chang
- Department of Internal Medicine, 63328Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Kaohsiung Medical Center, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Meng-Chih Lin
- Department of Internal Medicine, 63328Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Kaohsiung Medical Center, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Department of Respiratory Therapy, 63328Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Che Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, 63328Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Kaohsiung Medical Center, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.,Department of Respiratory Therapy, 63328Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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