Treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and progressive pulmonary fibrosis: A position statement from the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand 2023 revision

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disease leading to significant morbidity and mortality. In 2017 the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) and Lung Foundation Australia (LFA) published a position statement on the treatment of IPF. Since that time, subsidized anti-fibrotic therapy in the form of pirfenidone and nintedanib is now available in both Australia and New Zealand. More recently, evidence has been published in support of nintedanib for non-IPF progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF). Additionally, there have been numerous publications relating to the non-pharmacologic management of IPF and PPF. This 2023 update to the position statement for treatment of IPF summarizes developments since 2017 and reaffirms the importance of a multi-faceted approach to the management of IPF and progressive pulmonary fibrosis.

Nutritional knowledge in British Army recruits during basic training

BACKGROUND

Appropriate nutritional intake is essential to optimise both general health and performance in military recruits. General nutritional knowledge is a significant and modifiable determinant of dietary behaviour; however, the level of nutritional knowledge in British Army recruits undertaking basic training is poorly understood.

METHODS

The Nutritional Knowledge Questionnaire for Athletes was completed by 29 male (age: 22.3±3.8 years) and 26 female (age: 22.0±3.0 years) standard-entry recruits at the end of basic training, and 15 male (age: 20.7±3.2 years) infantry recruits both at the start and end of basic training for the British Army. Between-group and within-group differences in total and subcomponent (ie, carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals, general nutrition, fluid intake, and sporting performance) scores were analysed.

RESULTS

Standard-entry male recruits had more correct answers (52%) than standard-entry female recruits (38%) and male infantry recruits (40%) at the end of training. Infantry recruits had similar levels of nutritional knowledge at the start (39% correct) and end (40% correct) of training. Nutritional knowledge related to protein (range: 53%-75% correct answers) and vitamins and minerals (range: 42%-63% correct answers) were the two highest scoring subcomponents within each group.

CONCLUSION

British Army recruits, in particular standard-entry female and infantry recruits, have poor nutritional knowledge, which did not improve throughout basic training. Better nutritional intervention, especially surrounding carbohydrate and fluid education, is required during British Army basic training to optimise career-long dietary behaviour.

Understanding the musculoskeletal injury risk of women in combat: the effect of infantry training and sex on musculoskeletal injury incidence during British Army basic training

INTRODUCTION

Until recently, women were excluded from British combat roles. Their risk for musculoskeletal injury during basic training is two to three times higher than men. To better understand the musculoskeletal injury risk of women in British Army infantry basic training, we compared injury incidence between (1) men in standard entry training and men in infantry training, to assess the risk of infantry training; and (2) men and women in both standard entry and officer basic training, to assess the risk in women compared with men.

METHODS

The incidence of musculoskeletal injury was determined from defence medical records for all men entering infantry training, and for all men and women entering standard entry and officer training, between April 2015 and March 2016.

RESULTS

7390 men (standard entry, n=4229; infantry, n=2683; officer, n=478) and 696 women (standard entry, n=626; officer, n=70) entered basic training. Men in infantry training had a lower incidence of musculoskeletal injury (391 vs 417 per 1000 personnel, OR 0.90 (95% CI 0.81 to 0.99), p=0.028) and a higher incidence of stress fracture (14 vs 5 per 1000 personnel, OR 2.80 (95% CI 1.64 to 4.80), p<0.001) than men in standard entry training. Women had a higher incidence of musculoskeletal injury than men in standard entry training (522 vs 417 per 1000 personnel, OR 1.53 (95% CI 1.29 to 1.81), p<0.001) and a higher incidence of stress fracture than men in officer training (114 vs 19 per 1000 personnel, OR 6.72 (95% CI 2.50 to 18.07), p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Women in infantry training may be at similar risk for musculoskeletal injury, but at higher risk for stress fracture, compared with their non-infantry counterparts. Women in infantry training may be at higher risk for musculoskeletal injury and stress fracture compared with men in infantry training.

Key design elements of successful acute ischemic stroke treatment trials

PURPOSE

We review key design elements of positive randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) treatment and summarize their main characteristics.

METHOD

We searched Medline, Pubmed and Cochrane databases for positive RCTs in AIS treatment. Trials were included if (1) they had a randomized controlled design, with (at least partial) blinding for endpoints, (2) they tested against placebo (or on top of standard therapy in a superiority design) or against approved therapy; (3) the protocol was registered and/or published before trial termination and unblinding (if required at study commencement); (4) the primary endpoint was positive in the intention to treat analysis; and (5) the study findings led to approval of the investigational product and/or high ranked recommendations. A topical approach was used, therefore the findings were summarized as a narrative review.

FINDINGS

Seventeen positive RCTs met the inclusion criteria. The majority of trials included less than 1000 patients (n = 15), had highly selective inclusion criteria (n = 16), used the modified Rankin score as a primary endpoint (n = 15) and had a frequentist design (n = 16). Trials tended to be national (n = 12), investigator-initiated and performed with public funding (n = 11).

DISCUSSION

Smaller but selective trials are useful to identify efficacy in a particular subgroup of stroke patients. It may also be of advantage to limit the number of participating countries and centers to avoid heterogeneity in stroke management and bureaucratic burden.

CONCLUSION

The key characteristics of positive RCTs in AIS treatment described here may assist in the design of further trials investigating a single intervention with a potentially high effect size.

Age-specific information resources to address the needs of young people with stroke: a scoping review protocol

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Young people with stroke (YPwS) persistently experience challenges with disability, social reintegration, employment, and financial stability to provide for themselves and their families. The aims of this scoping review are to (1) identify and collate information resources for YPwS and evidence-based self-managements programs and (2) identify gaps in age-specific resources available for YPwS after traditional rehabilitation services have ended and/or who are returning to live in the community.

METHODS

We will include both qualitative and quantitative studies, including all study designs. Participants will be community-dwelling adults aged between 18 and 65 years with a clinical diagnosis of stroke. We will include information resources and evidence-based self-managements programs for YPwS. Search terms will include stroke, young people, and community dwelling. We will search electronic databases such as MEDLINE. The reference lists of included studies, systematic reviews, and stroke guidelines and stroke-specific websites will also be searched. We will also contact Stroke Support Organizations and international/national allied health professional organisations to gather information resources about YPwS. We will also conduct a comprehensive environmental scan of additional resources using the search engine Google. The titles, abstracts, full-text articles, and contents of the resources identified by the search will be assessed against the inclusion and exclusion criteria to identify potentially relevant resources.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Existing resources and self-management programs will be collated and categorized according to the type of needs addressed such as physical, emotions, activities of daily living, information, relationships, and social needs as well as the key gaps identified.

Quantitative computed tomography predicts outcomes in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Prediction of disease course in patients with progressive pulmonary fibrosis remains challenging. The purpose of this study was to assess the prognostic value of lung fibrosis extent quantified at computed tomography (CT) using data-driven texture analysis (DTA) in a large cohort of well-characterized patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) enrolled in a national registry.

METHODS

This retrospective analysis included participants in the Australian IPF Registry with available CT between 2007 and 2016. CT scans were analysed using the DTA method to quantify the extent of lung fibrosis. Demographics, longitudinal pulmonary function and quantitative CT metrics were compared using descriptive statistics. Linear mixed models, and Cox analyses adjusted for age, gender, BMI, smoking history and treatment with anti-fibrotics were performed to assess the relationships between baseline DTA, pulmonary function metrics and outcomes.

RESULTS

CT scans of 393 participants were analysed, 221 of which had available pulmonary function testing obtained within 90 days of CT. Linear mixed-effect modelling showed that baseline DTA score was significantly associated with annual rate of decline in forced vital capacity and diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide. In multivariable Cox proportional hazard models, greater extent of lung fibrosis was associated with poorer transplant-free survival (hazard ratio [HR] 1.20, p < 0.0001) and progression-free survival (HR 1.14, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

In a multi-centre observational registry of patients with IPF, the extent of fibrotic abnormality on baseline CT quantified using DTA is associated with outcomes independent of pulmonary function.

Can Pediatric Primary Care Practices Afford Integrated Behavioral Health? A Comparison of 5 Pediatric Practices

Licensed behavioral health providers (LBHPs) were integrated into 5 pediatric primary care practices in southeast and east Texas from October 2018 through March 2020. LBHPs Licensed behavioral health providers across the sites were 3 licensed clinical social workers (LCSW), 1 psychologist, and 1 nurse practitioner (NP). Practices provided data for 6 to 15 months. Overall, 2769 units of behavioral health services were provided to 746 children over 2243 hours. Across 4 sites, 44.3% of behavioral health patients were diagnosed with trauma disorders, 22.1% with anxiety, 19.3% with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, 15.1% with depression, and 10.9% with disruptive behavior disorders. Overall, the model was financially successful at 2 sites (LCSWs) and unsuccessful at 1 site (NP). The other 2 sites demonstrated potential for financial sustainability with increased behavioral health patient volume. Overall, this model is a financially viable option for pediatric primary care practices with adequate patient volumes to provide integrated behavioral health services.

The association between TMAO, CMPF, and clinical outcomes in advanced chronic kidney disease: results from the European QUALity (EQUAL) Study

BACKGROUND

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a metabolite from red meat and fish consumption, plays a role in promoting cardiovascular events. However, data regarding TMAO and its impact on clinical outcomes are inconclusive, possibly due to its undetermined dietary source.

OBJECTIVES

We hypothesized that circulating TMAO derived from fish intake might cause less harm compared with red meat sources by examining the concomitant level of 3-carboxy-4-methyl-5-propyl-2-furanpropionate (CMPF), a known biomarker of fish intake, and investigated the association between TMAO, CMPF, and outcomes.

METHODS

Patients were recruited from the European QUALity (EQUAL) Study on treatment in advanced chronic kidney disease among individuals aged ≥65 y whose estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) had dropped for the first time to ≤20 mL/min per 1.73 m2 during the last 6 mo. The association between TMAO, CMPF, and outcomes including all-cause mortality and kidney replacement therapy (KRT) was assessed among 737 patients. Patients were further stratified by median cutoffs of TMAO and CMPF, suggesting high/low red meat and fish intake.

RESULTS

During a median of 39 mo of follow-up, 232 patients died. Higher TMAO was independently associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality (multivariable HR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.17, 1.83). Higher CMPF was associated with a reduced risk of both all-cause mortality (HR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.71, 0.89) and KRT (HR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.71, 0.90), independently of TMAO and other clinically relevant confounders. In comparison to patients with low TMAO and CMPF, patients with low TMAO and high CMPF had reduced risk of all-cause mortality (adjusted HR: 0.49; 95% CI: 0.31, 0.73), whereas those with high TMAO and high CMPF showed no association across adjusted models.

CONCLUSIONS

High CMPF conferred an independent role in health benefits and might even counteract the unfavorable association between TMAO and outcomes. Whether higher circulating CMPF concentrations are due to fish consumption, and/or if CMPF is a protective factor, remains to be verified.

Anti‐ tumour necrosis factor‐α‐induced lupus in a patient receiving infliximab for sarcoidosis

Infliximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody against tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, with a wide variety of uses. Monoclonal antibody therapies specifically targeting TNF‐α, have emerged as a novel treatment option for patients with refractory sarcoidosis, with infliximab being the most widely used. This is not true of other TNF‐α inhibitors, for example etanercept, which have a different mechanism of action, and are not effective in sarcoidosis. It is well documented that infliximab therapy can result in the production of autoantibodies, however clinical symptoms or disease is rare. In this report, we describe a 37‐year‐old male with a history of sarcoidosis requiring infliximab therapy, who presented during the course of his treatment with the onset of new migratory joint pain, increasing fatigue and positive serum autoantibodies, heralding the development of infliximab‐induced lupus.

Evaluation of prognostic risk models for postoperative pulmonary complications in adult patients undergoing major abdominal surgery: a systematic review and international external validation cohort study

BACKGROUND

Stratifying risk of postoperative pulmonary complications after major abdominal surgery allows clinicians to modify risk through targeted interventions and enhanced monitoring. In this study, we aimed to identify and validate prognostic models against a new consensus definition of postoperative pulmonary complications.

METHODS

We did a systematic review and international external validation cohort study. The systematic review was done in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We searched MEDLINE and Embase on March 1, 2020, for articles published in English that reported on risk prediction models for postoperative pulmonary complications following abdominal surgery. External validation of existing models was done within a prospective international cohort study of adult patients (≥18 years) undergoing major abdominal surgery. Data were collected between Jan 1, 2019, and April 30, 2019, in the UK, Ireland, and Australia. Discriminative ability and prognostic accuracy summary statistics were compared between models for the 30-day postoperative pulmonary complication rate as defined by the Standardised Endpoints in Perioperative Medicine Core Outcome Measures in Perioperative and Anaesthetic Care (StEP-COMPAC). Model performance was compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROCC).

FINDINGS

In total, we identified 2903 records from our literature search; of which, 2514 (86·6%) unique records were screened, 121 (4·8%) of 2514 full texts were assessed for eligibility, and 29 unique prognostic models were identified. Nine (31·0%) of 29 models had score development reported only, 19 (65·5%) had undergone internal validation, and only four (13·8%) had been externally validated. Data to validate six eligible models were collected in the international external validation cohort study. Data from 11 591 patients were available, with an overall postoperative pulmonary complication rate of 7·8% (n=903). None of the six models showed good discrimination (defined as AUROCC ≥0·70) for identifying postoperative pulmonary complications, with the Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia score showing the best discrimination (AUROCC 0·700 [95% CI 0·683-0·717]).

INTERPRETATION

In the pre-COVID-19 pandemic data, variability in the risk of pulmonary complications (StEP-COMPAC definition) following major abdominal surgery was poorly described by existing prognostication tools. To improve surgical safety during the COVID-19 pandemic recovery and beyond, novel risk stratification tools are required.

FUNDING

British Journal of Surgery Society.

POS1574-PARE PATIENTS REPORT HIGH LEVELS OF CONCERNS ABOUT MEDICATION FOR PSORIATIC AND RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: UNMET NEEDS REVEALED BY A UK PILOT WEB SURVEY

Background

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are often nonadherent to prescribed symptom-modifying drugs. [1] Concerns about the potential negative effects of medication have been implicated in medication nonadherence. Few evidence-based interventions to address concerns about medication and support medication-taking are available in the UK context.

Objectives

To inform the development of intervention to support people with RA and PsA to manage medication we conducted a survey of unmet needs relating to perceptions of arthritis and arthritis medication, medication-taking behaviour and experience of side effects.

Methods

We recruited people with arthritis via local and national patient groups for participation in an online survey. The survey included clinical and demographic questions, validated measures of treatment (Beliefs about Medication Questionnaire; BMQ) and illness perceptions (brief Illness Perception Questionnaire; bIPQ), medication adherence (Compliance Questionnaire Rheumatology; CQR), and patient-reported side effects. Participants were asked about consequences of taking and not taking their arthritis medication as free text to contextualize scores.

Results

Questionnaire responses from 98 participants (42 with PsA, 56 with RA, 89.8% female) indicated participants typically viewed arthritis negatively with ratings on the bIPQ indicating high emotional impacts, symptoms and affects on everyday life, and doubts about their ability to control their arthritis. Analysis of the BMQ indicated ambivalence about RA/PsA medications; while few people expressed doubts about their personal need for medication, concerns about RA/PsA medications were common, see Figure 1). Most, 85.7% (n=84), reported a side effect in the last month, with a mean of 10 ‘moderately severe’ or ‘very severe’ side effects (m=10.02, sd = 5.98). Just over a quarter (26.0%, n=25) were classed as low adherers using the CQR with 54.6% reporting they had missed some of their arthritis medication over the last year. Free text responses indicated that some participants had additional concerns about medication (e.g. worries about impact on life expectancy) not addressed in the questionnaire measures.

Conclusion

In this pilot survey, many participants reported concerns about medication, doubts about whether medication controls arthritis symptoms, severe side effects and medication nonadherence. Although our small sample is unlikely to be generalizable to all arthritis patients, these findings suggest potential targets for intervention and indicate that some patients have needs for support with medication that are not currently being addressed.

References

[1]Van Den Bemt BJ, Zwikker HE, Van Den Ende CH. Medication adherence in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a critical appraisal of the existing literature. Expert review of clinical immunology. 2012 May 1;8(4):337-51.

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the financial assistance of Bath Institute of Rheumatic Diseases, the people who volunteered their time to respond to this survey and the efforts of Elena Mut and Kishwar Khanum in assisting with data collection.

Disclosure of Interests

Sarah Chapman: None declared, Abbie Jordan: None declared, William Tillett Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Amgen, Celgene, Eli-Lilly, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB, Consultant of: Abbvie, Amgen, Celgene, Eli-Lilly, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer and UCB, Grant/research support from: Abbvie, Celgene, Eli-Lilly, Janssen, and UCB

The effect of an augmented reality educational tool on the motivation towards learning in pharmacy students: an evaluative survey

Introduction

Within the context of education, motivation relates to the desire students possess to engage in their learning environment. This quality is vital in determining the effort an individual expresses towards their learning and the desire they have to achieve higher academic performances (1). Educational technologies, particularly digital technologies, have long been used in post-secondary education to increase collaboration, critical thinking and motivation among students (2). The advancements in technology have led to the creation of novel augmented reality (AR) educational tools, however they have not been widely implemented or researched with the education of pharmacy students in the United Kingdom.

Aim

To identify changes of pharmacy students’ self-reported intrinsic motivation towards learning after using the ‘Pharma Compounds AR’ (PCAR) educational tool.

Methods

The PCAR tool was an image-based educational AR mobile application – it displayed 3-D models and animations of complex molecules when unique target images were scanned with the mobile’s camera. 118 stage two undergraduate Pharmacy students from a University in England were approached through cohort emails that contained a link to an online consent form and pre-intervention questionnaire. Participants were required to complete the pre-questionnaire before they received the PCAR tool for at least two months. Students were informed that they could use the tool to accommodate their learning in any way they felt appropriate. Once the intervention period ended, participants completed an online post-questionnaire. Changes in self-reported intrinsic motivation were determined with the use of adapted Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) Likert scale questions. The pre-questionnaire focused on motivation towards learning using conventional methods and their perceived usefulness, whereas the post-questionnaire focused on motivation towards learning with the PCAR tool and its perceived usefulness. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were conducted on the IMI adapted Likert scales.

Results

A total of 68 (57.6% rr) undergraduate Pharmacy students completed the pre-questionnaire. The majority were aged 18-21(82.4%), female (70.6%) and domestic (94.1%). The post-questionnaire was completed by 30 students (44.1% rr), mainly aged 18-21 (83.3%), female (70%), and domestic (86.7%). Participants ranked their agreement to each Likert statement from 1 (not true at all) to 7 (very true). Mean agreement motivation scores were increased after the use of the PCAR tool (pre-3.88 vs post-5.15), as were the mean agreement scores of the learning tools’ perceived usefulness (pre-4.69 vs post-5.29). Dependant T-tests performed on responses of students who completed both questionnaires revealed a significant increase in students’ mean pre- and post-intervention motivation towards learning scores (p=0.000). No significance was calculated between the mean pre-and post-agreement usefulness scores (p&gt;0.05).

Conclusion

Incorporating the PCAR tool into the education of stage two Pharmacy students significantly increased their reported motivation towards learning when compared to conventional methods, it was also reported as being a more useful learning tool. The drop in post-questionnaire responses has to be acknowledge as a limitation as well as not explicitly knowing how students used the PCAR tool in their studies. Nevertheless, the incorporation of AR into schools of Pharmacy could provide students and tutors more engaging teaching and learning experiences.

References

(1) Budiman R. Developing Learning Media Based on Augmented Reality (AR) to Improve Learning Motivation. J Educ Teach Learn. 2016 Sep;1(2):89–94. Available from: https://www.learntechlib.org/p/209026

(2) Martin F, Polly D, Coles S, Wang C. Examining higher education faculty use of current digital technologies: Importance, competence, and motivation. Int J Teach Learn High Educ. 2020;32(1):73–86.

Associations between depressive symptoms and disease progression in older patients with chronic kidney disease: results of the EQUAL study

Background

Depressive symptoms are associated with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with end-stage kidney disease; however, few small studies have examined this association in patients with earlier phases of chronic kidney disease (CKD). We studied associations between baseline depressive symptoms and clinical outcomes in older patients with advanced CKD and examined whether these associations differed depending on sex.

Methods

CKD patients (≥65 years; estimated glomerular filtration rate ≤20 mL/min/1.73 m²) were included from a European multicentre prospective cohort between 2012 and 2019. Depressive symptoms were measured by the five-item Mental Health Inventory (cut-off ≤70; 0–100 scale). Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to study associations between depressive symptoms and time to dialysis initiation, all-cause mortality and these outcomes combined. A joint model was used to study the association between depressive symptoms and kidney function over time. Analyses were adjusted for potential baseline confounders.

Results

Overall kidney function decline in 1326 patients was –0.12 mL/min/1.73 m²/month. A total of 515 patients showed depressive symptoms. No significant association was found between depressive symptoms and kidney function over time (P = 0.08). Unlike women, men with depressive symptoms had an increased mortality rate compared with those without symptoms [adjusted hazard ratio 1.41 (95% confidence interval 1.03–1.93)]. Depressive symptoms were not significantly associated with a higher hazard of dialysis initiation, or with the combined outcome (i.e. dialysis initiation and all-cause mortality).

Conclusions

There was no significant association between depressive symptoms at baseline and decline in kidney function over time in older patients with advanced CKD. Depressive symptoms at baseline were associated with a higher mortality rate in men.

The relationship between uremic toxins and symptoms in older men and women with advanced chronic kidney disease

Background

Patients with stage 4/5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) suffer from various symptoms. The retention of uremic solutes is thought to be associated with those symptoms. However, there are relatively few rigorous studies on the potential links between uremic toxins and symptoms in patients with CKD.

Methods

The EQUAL study is an ongoing observational cohort study of non-dialyzed patients with stage 4/5 CKD. EQUAL patients from Germany, Poland, Sweden and the UK were included in the present study (n = 795). Data and symptom self-report questionnaires were collected between April 2012 and September 2020. Baseline uric acid and parathyroid hormone and 10 uremic toxins were quantified. We tested the association between uremic toxins and symptoms and adjusted P-values for multiple testing.

Results

Symptoms were more frequent in women than in men with stage 4/5 CKD, while levels of various uremic toxins were higher in men. Only trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO; positive association with fatigue), p-cresyl sulfate (PCS) with constipation and 3-carboxy-4-methyl-5-propyl-2-furanpropionic acid (negative association with shortness of breath) demonstrated moderately strong associations with symptoms in adjusted analyses. The association of phenylacetylglutamine with shortness of breath was consistent in both sexes, although it only reached statistical significance in the full population. In contrast, TMAO (fatigue) and PCS and phenylacetylglutamine (constipation) were only associated with symptoms in men, who presented higher serum levels than women.

Conclusion

Only a limited number of toxins were associated with symptoms in persons with stage 4/5 CKD. Other uremic toxins, uremia-related factors or psychosocial factors not yet explored might contribute to symptom burden.

Biomarker signatures for progressive idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

RATIONALE

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive lung disease in which circulatory biomarkers has the potential for guiding management in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVES

We assessed the prognostic role of serum biomarkers in three independent IPF cohorts, the Australian IPF Registry (AIPFR), Trent Lung Fibrosis (TLF) and Prospective Observation of Fibrosis in the Lung Clinical Endpoints (PROFILE).

METHODS

In the AIPFR, candidate proteins were assessed by ELISA as well as in an unbiased proteomic approach. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to restrict the selection of markers that best accounted for the progressor phenotype at one-year in AIPFR, and subsequently prospectively selected for replication in the validation TLF cohort and assessed retrospectively in PROFILE. Four significantly replicating biomarkers were aggregated into a progression index (PI) model based on tertiles of circulating concentrations.

MAIN RESULTS

One-hundred and eighty-nine participants were included in the AIPFR cohort, 205 participants from the TLF, and 122 participants from the PROFILE cohorts. Differential biomarker expression was observed by ELISA and replicated for osteopontin, matrix metallopeptidase-7, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and periostin for those with a progressor phenotype at one-year. Proteomic data did not replicate. The PI in the AIPFR, TLF and PROFILE predicted risk of progression, mortality and progression-free survival. A statistical model incorporating PI demonstrated the capacity to distinguish disease progression at 12 months, which was increased beyond the clinical GAP model alone in all cohorts, and significantly so within incidence based TLF and PROFILE cohorts.

CONCLUSION

A panel of circulatory biomarkers can provide potentially valuable clinical assistance in the prognosis of IPF patients.

A systematic review of pharmacist-led audit and feedback interventions to influence prescribing behaviour in general practice settings

Introduction

Audit and Feedback (A&F) involves measuring data about practice, comparing it with clinical guidelines, professional standards or peer performance, and then feeding back the data to individuals/groups of health professionals to encourage change in practice (if required). A 2012 Cochrane review (1) found A&F was effective in changing health professionals’ behaviour and suggested that the person who delivers the A&F intervention influences its effect. Increasingly, pharmacists work in general practice and often have responsibility for medication review and repeat prescriptions. The effectiveness of pharmacist-led A&F in influencing prescribing behaviour is uncertain.

Aim

This secondary analysis from an ongoing update of the original Cochrane review aims to identify and describe pharmacist-led A&F interventions and evaluate their impact on prescribing behaviour in general practice compared with no intervention.

Methods

This sub-review is registered with PROSPERO: CRD42020194355 and complies with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines (2). For the updated Cochrane review, the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organization of Care Group searched MEDLINE (1946 to present), EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane Library (March 2019) to identify randomised trials featuring A&F interventions. For this sub-review, authors screened titles and abstracts (May 2020) to identify trials involving pharmacist-led A&F interventions in primary care, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias (RoB) in eligible studies. Review results are summarised descriptively. Heterogeneity will be assessed and a random-effects meta-analysis is planned. Publication bias for selected outcomes and the certainty of the body of evidence will be evaluated and presented. Sub-group analyses will be conducted.

Results

Titles and abstracts of 295 studies identified for inclusion in the Cochrane A&F review update were screened. Eleven studies (all cluster-randomised trials) conducted in 9 countries (Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Republic of Ireland, UK, Australia, Malaysia, USA) were identified for inclusion (Figure 1). Six studies had low RoB, two had high risk due to dissimilarities between trial arms at baseline and/or insufficient detail about randomisation, and three studies had unclear RoB. Studies examined the effect of A&F on prescribing for specific conditions (e.g. hypertension), medications (e.g. antibiotics), populations (e.g. patients &gt;70), and prescribing errors (e.g. inappropriate dose). The pharmacist delivering A&F was a colleague of intervention participants in five studies. Pharmacists’ levels of skill and experience varied; seven studies reported details of pharmacist training undertaken for trial purposes. A&F interventions in nine studies demonstrated changes in prescribing, including reductions in errors or inappropriate prescribing according to the study aims and smaller increases in unwanted prescribing compared with the control group. Data analyses are ongoing (results will be available for the conference).

Conclusion

The preliminary results demonstrate the effectiveness of pharmacist-led A&F interventions in different countries and health systems with influencing prescribing practice to align more closely with guidance. Studies measured different prescribing behaviours; meta-analysis is unlikely to include all 11 studies. Further detailed analysis including feedback format/content/frequency and pharmacist skill level/experience, work-base (external/internal to recipients), will examine the impact of specific features on intervention effectiveness.

References

1. Ivers N, Jamtvedt G, Flottorp S, Young JM, Odgaard-Jensen J, French SD, et al. Audit and feedback: effects on professional practice and healthcare outcomes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012(6):CD000259.

2. Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG, Group P. Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. PLoS Med. 2009;6(7):e1000097.

Diagnosis and management of connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease in Australia and New Zealand: A position statement from the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand

Pulmonary complications in CTD are common and can involve the interstitium, airways, pleura and pulmonary vasculature. ILD can occur in all CTD (CTD-ILD), and may vary from limited, non-progressive lung involvement, to fulminant, life-threatening disease. Given the potential for major adverse outcomes in CTD-ILD, accurate diagnosis, assessment and careful consideration of therapeutic intervention are a priority. Limited data are available to guide management decisions in CTD-ILD. Autoimmune-mediated pulmonary inflammation is considered a key pathobiological pathway in these disorders, and immunosuppressive therapy is generally regarded the cornerstone of treatment for severe and/or progressive CTD-ILD. However, the natural history of CTD-ILD in individual patients can be difficult to predict, and deciding who to treat, when and with what agent can be challenging. Establishing realistic therapeutic goals from both the patient and clinician perspective requires considerable expertise. The document aims to provide a framework for clinicians to aid in the assessment and management of ILD in the major CTD. A suggested approach to diagnosis and monitoring of CTD-ILD and, where available, evidence-based, disease-specific approaches to treatment have been provided.

Quality and effectiveness of osteoporosis treatment decision aids: a systematic review and environmental scan

Decision aids (DAs) are evidence-based tools that support shared decision-making (SDM) implementation in practice; this study aimed to identify existing osteoporosis DAs and assess their quality and efficacy; and to gain feedback from a patient advisory group on findings and implications for further research. We searched multiple bibliographic databases to identify research studies from 2000 to 2019 and undertook an environmental scan (search conducted February 2019, repeated in March 2020). A pair of reviewers, working independently selected studies for inclusion, extracted data, evaluated each trial's risk of bias, and conducted DA quality assessment using the International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS). Public contributors (patients and caregivers with experience of osteoporosis and fragility fractures) participated in discussion groups to review a sample of DAs, express preferences for a new DA, and discuss plans for development of a new DA. We identified 6 studies, with high or unclear risk of bias. Across included studies, use of an osteoporosis DA was reported to result in reduced decisional conflict compared with baseline, increased SDM, and increased accuracy of patients' perceived fracture risk compared with controls. Eleven DAs were identified, of which none met the full set of IPDAS criteria for certification for minimization of bias. Public contributors expressed preferences for encounter DAs that are individualized to patients' own needs and risk. Using a systematic review and environmental scan, we identified 11 decision aids to inform patient decisions about osteoporosis treatment and 6 studies evaluating their effectiveness. Use of decision aids increased accuracy of risk perception and shared decision-making but the decision aids themselves fail to comprehensively meet international quality standards and patient needs, underpinning the need for new DA development.

Who uses foodbanks and why? Exploring the impact of financial strain and adverse life events on food insecurity

Background

Rising use of foodbanks highlights food insecurity in the UK. Adverse life events (e.g. unemployment, benefit delays or sanctions) and financial strains are thought to be the drivers of foodbank use. This research aimed to explore who uses foodbanks, and factors associated with increased food insecurity.

Methods

We surveyed those seeking help from front line crisis providers from foodbanks (N = 270) and a comparison group from Advice Centres (ACs) (N = 245) in relation to demographics, adverse life events, financial strain and household food security.

Results

About 55.9% of foodbank users were women and the majority were in receipt of benefits (64.8%). Benefit delays (31.9%), changes (11.1%) and low income (19.6%) were the most common reasons given for referral. Compared to AC users, there were more foodbank users who were single men without children, unemployed, currently homeless, experiencing more financial strain and adverse life events (P = 0.001). Food insecurity was high in both populations, and more severe if they also reported financial strain and adverse life events.

Conclusions

Benefit-related problems appear to be a key reason for foodbank referral. By comparison with other disadvantaged groups, foodbank users experienced more financial strain, adverse life events, both increased the severity of food insecurity.

Invasive tracheal aspergillosis after chemoradiotherapy treatment

Invasive tracheobronchial aspergillosis is a rare disease with most reported cases in the literature occurring in immunocompromised hosts. We report an unusual case of a patient with persistent cough and dyspnoea in the context of prior chemoradiotherapy for primary lung cancer. Chest computed tomography (CT) demonstrated an abnormal soft tissue mass surrounding the trachea and carina, with focal moderate fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) activity on positron emission tomography (PET) scan. Bronchoscopic biopsy revealed fungal hyphae associated with necrosis and cartilage invasion, subsequently confirmed to be Aspergillus fumigatus complex. The patient was commenced on antifungal therapy promptly and had a good clinical response to treatment.

Shortage of paediatric radiologists acting as an expert witness: position statement from the British Society of Paediatric Radiology (BSPR) National Working Group on Imaging in Suspected Physical Abuse (SPA)

One of the most challenging areas of radiological imaging in children is the diagnosis of physical abuse. There is a dearth of paediatric radiologists willing to act as expert witnesses, particularly in the family courts. There are a number of reasons why radiologists may not be interested or willing to put themselves forward to work as expert witnesses in this field. A group of imaging experts recently formed the "British Society of Paediatric Radiology (BSPR) Working Group on Imaging in Suspected Physical Abuse (SPA)". The group comprises radiologists and neuroradiologists with current or previous experience of providing expert witness reports to the court in cases of SPA. The group met in January 2019 to explore pragmatic solutions to the chronic inefficiencies in both medical and legal practices and the challenges that arise from working in a legal arena with different structures, goals, and assessment criteria. Key issues concerned organisational inefficiencies, variable support from National Health Service Trusts and the Royal College of Radiologists to conduct this work, and the risk/benefit of involvement. This work is important for the patient, parents, and society in general, and highly rewarding for clinical practitioners who are involved, but there are several issues with current practices that discourage active participation. With several members of the group either retired or close to retirement, the shortage of experts is becoming a pressing issue within the UK, which requires an engaged multidisciplinary group to come up with creative solutions. Here, the group provide a consensus opinion highlighting the current barriers and potential facilitators to increasing the number of radiologists willing to provide opinions to the court.

Gastroesophageal reflux and antacid therapy in IPF: analysis from the Australia IPF Registry

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is highly prevalent in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and may play a role in its pathogenesis. Recent IPF treatment guidelines suggest that all patients with IPF be considered for antacid therapy. However, emerging evidence suggests that antacid therapy does not improve IPF patient outcomes and may increase the risk of pulmonary infection.

METHODS

Using prospectively collected data from the Australian IPF Registry including use of antacid therapy, GORD diagnosis and GORD symptoms, the relationship of these GORD variables to survival and disease progression was assessed. The severity of GORD symptoms using the frequency scale for symptoms of GORD (FSSG) and its relationships to outcomes was also assessed for the first time in an IPF cohort.

RESULTS

Five hundred eighty-seven (86%) of the 684 patients in the Australian IPF Registry were eligible for inclusion. Patients were mostly male (69%), aged 71.0 ± 8.5 years with moderate disease (FVC 81.7 ± 21.5%; DLco 48.5 ± 16.4%). Most patients were taking antacids (n = 384; 65%), though fewer had a diagnosis of GORD (n = 243, 41.4%) and typical GORD symptoms were even less common (n = 171, 29.1%). The mean FSSG score was 8.39 ± 7.45 with 43% (n = 251) having a score > 8. Overall, there was no difference in survival or disease progression, regardless of antacid treatment, GORD diagnosis or GORD symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Neither the use of antacid therapy nor the presence of GORD symptoms affects longer term outcomes in IPF patients. This contributes to the increasing evidence that antacid therapy may not be beneficial in IPF patients and that GORD directed therapy should be considered on an individual basis to treat the symptoms of reflux.

Factors Associated with Sexual Risks and Risk of STIs, HIV and Other Blood-Borne Viruses Among Women Using Heroin and Other Drugs: A Systematic Literature Review

This systematic literature review identified factors associated with sexual risks related to sexually transmitted infections (STI), HIV and other blood-borne viruses (BBV) among women using heroin and other drugs. The search strategy included five databases (PubMed, EMBASE, PsycNET, Web of Science, Scopus), and PsycEXTRA for grey literature. Out of the 12,135 publications screened, 30 peer-reviewed articles were included. Most publications were cross-sectional (n = 25), quantitative (n = 23) and included 11,305 women. Factors identified were: (1) socio-demographics; (2) gender roles and violence against women; (3) substance use; (4) transactional sex; (5) partner characteristics, partner’s drug use, and context of sex; (6) preferences, negotiation and availability of condoms; (7) HIV status and STIs; (8) number of sexual partners; (9) love and trust; (10) reproductive health and motherhood; and (11) risk awareness and perception of control. Overall, this review highlights important implications for future research and practice, and provides evidence for developing STI/BBV preventive strategies.

Implications of the diagnostic criteria of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in clinical practice: Analysis from the Australian Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Registry

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Current guidelines for the diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) provide specific criteria for diagnosis in the setting of multidisciplinary discussion (MDD). We evaluate the utility and reproducibility of these diagnostic guidelines, using clinical data from the Australian IPF Registry.

METHODS

All patients enrolled in the registry undergo a diagnostic review whereby international IPF guidelines are applied via a registry MDD. We investigated the clinical applicability of these guidelines with regard to: (i) adherence to guidelines, (ii) Natural history of IPF diagnostic categories and (iii) Concordance for diagnostic features.

RESULTS

A total of 417 participants (69% male, 70.6 ± 8.0 years) with a clinical diagnosis of IPF underwent MDD. The 23% of participants who did not meet IPF diagnostic criteria displayed identical disease behaviour to those with confirmed IPF. Honeycombing on radiology was associated with a worse prognosis and this translated into poorer prognosis in the 'definite' IPF group. While there was moderate agreement for IPF diagnostic categories, agreement for specific radiological features, other than honeycombing, was poor.

CONCLUSION

In clinical practice, physicians do not always follow IPF diagnostic guidelines. We demonstrate a cohort of IPF patients who do not meet IPF diagnostic guideline criteria, based largely on their radiology and lack of lung biopsy, but who have outcomes identical to those with IPF.

The impact of continuous versus intermittent vital signs monitoring in hospitals: A systematic review and narrative synthesis

BACKGROUND

Continuous vital signs monitoring on general hospital wards may allow earlier detection of patient deterioration and improve patient outcomes. This systematic review will assess if continuous monitoring is practical outside of the critical care setting, and whether it confers any clinical benefit to patients.

METHODS

MEDLINE^®, MEDLINE^® In-Process, EMBASE, CINAHL and The Cochrane Library were searched for articles that evaluated the clinical or non-clinical outcomes of continuous vital signs monitoring in adults outside of the critical care setting. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42017058098).

FINDINGS

Twenty-four studies met the inclusion criteria and reported outcomes on a total of 40,274 patients and 59 ward staff in nine countries. The majority of studies showed benefits in terms of critical care use and length of hospital stay. Larger studies were more likely to demonstrate clinical benefit, particularly critical care use and length of hospital stay. Three studies showed cost-effectiveness. Barriers to implementation included nursing and patient satisfaction and the burden of false alerts.

CONCLUSIONS

Continuous vital signs monitoring outside the critical care setting is feasible and may provide a benefit in terms of improved patient outcomes and cost efficiency. Large, well-controlled studies in high-risk populations are required to evaluate the clinical benefit of continuous monitoring systems.

Disease progression in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with mild physiological impairment: analysis from the Australian IPF registry

Background

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and fatal fibrosing lung disease of unknown cause. The advent of anti-fibrotic medications known to slow disease progression has revolutionised IPF management in recent years. However, little is known about the natural history of IPF patients with mild physiological impairment. We aimed to assess the natural history of these patients using data from the Australian IPF Registry (AIPFR).

Methods

Using our cohort of real-world IPF patients, we compared FVC criteria for mild physiological impairment (FVC ≥ 80%) against other proposed criteria: DLco ≥ 55%; CPI ≤40 and GAP stage 1 with regards agreement in classification and relationship with disease outcomes. Within the mild cohort (FVC ≥ 80%), we also explored markers associated with poorer prognosis at 12 months.

Results

Of the 416 AIPFR patients (mean age 70.4 years, 70% male), 216 (52%) were classified as ‘mild’ using FVC ≥ 80%. There was only modest agreement between FVC and DLco (k = 0.30), with better agreement with GAP (k = 0.50) and CPI (k = 0.48). Patients who were mild had longer survival, regardless of how mild physiologic impairment was defined. There was, however, no difference in the annual decline in FVC% predicted between mild and moderate-severe groups (for all proposed criteria). For patients with mild impairment (n = 216, FVC ≥ 80%), the strongest predictor of outcomes at 12 months was oxygen desaturation on a 6 min walk test.

Conclusion

IPF patients with mild physiological impairment have better survival than patients with moderate-severe disease. Their overall rate of disease progression however, is comparable, suggesting that they are simply at different points in the natural history of IPF disease.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12890-018-0575-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Mortality Reduction Associated With β-Adrenoceptor Inhibition in Chronic Heart Failure Is Greater in Patients With Diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Diabetes increases mortality in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. Studies have questioned the safety of β-adrenoceptor blockers (β-blockers) in some patients with diabetes and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. We examined whether β-blockers and ACE inhibitors (ACEIs) are associated with differential effects on mortality in CHF patients with and without diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We conducted a prospective cohort study of 1,797 patients with CHF recruited between 2006 and 2014, with mean follow-up of 4 years. β-Blocker dose was expressed as the equivalent dose of bisoprolol (mg/day) and ACEI dose as the equivalent dose of ramipril (mg/day). Cox regression analysis was used to examine the interaction between diabetes and drug dose on all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

Patients with diabetes were prescribed larger doses of β-blockers and ACEIs than were patients without diabetes. Increasing β-blocker dose was associated with lower mortality in patients with diabetes (8.9% per mg/day; 95% CI 5-12.6) and without diabetes (3.5% per mg/day; 95% CI 0.7-6.3), although the effect was larger in people with diabetes (interaction P = 0.027). Increasing ACEI dose was associated with lower mortality in patients with diabetes (5.9% per mg/day; 95% CI 2.5-9.2) and without diabetes (5.1% per mg/day; 95% CI 2.6-7.6), with similar effect size in these groups (interaction P = 0.76).

CONCLUSIONS

Increasing β-blocker dose is associated with a greater prognostic advantage in CHF patients with diabetes than in CHF patients without diabetes.

Vertebral fractures assessment in children: Evaluation of DXA imaging versus conventional spine radiography

Vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) by DXA is an accepted tool in adults. However, its use in children has not been assessed. The aim of this study was to evaluate DXA VFA and morphometric analysis (MXA) using a GE Lunar iDXA bone densitometer against spinal radiographic assessment (RA) for the identification of vertebral fractures in children. Spine RA and VFA (T3-L5) were acquired on the same day in 80 children. Forty children considered high risk for fracture by their metabolic bone specialist were referred for spinal RA. Another 40 children were recruited as part of a prospective fracture study and were considered low risk for vertebral fracture. Agreement between RA and VFA was assessed by an expert paediatric radiologist and two paediatricians with expertise in bone pathology. Agreement between RA and MXA was assessed by an expert paediatric radiologist, two clinical scientists and an experienced paediatric radiographer. Vertebrae were ranked as normal, mild, moderate or severe if they had <10%, 11-25%, 26-50% and >50% deformity, respectively. Levels of agreement were calculated using the Cohen kappa score. Evaluating the data from all readable vertebrae, 121 mild, 44 moderate and 16 severe vertebral fractures were identified; with 26, 8, and 5 subjects having at least one mild, moderate or severe fracture, respectively. Depending on rater, 92.8-94.8% of the vertebrae were evaluable by RA. In contrast, 98.4% were evaluable by VFA and only 83.6% were evaluable by MXA. Moderate agreement was found between raters for RA [kappa 0.526-0.592], and VFA [kappa 0.601-0.658] and between RA and VFA [kappa 0.630-0.687]. In contrast, only slight agreement was noted between raters for MXA [kappa 0.361-0.406] and between VFA and MXA [kappa 0.137-0.325]. Agreement substantially improved if the deformities were dichotomised as normal or mild versus moderate or severe [kappa 0.826-0.834]. For the detection of moderate and/or severe fractures the sensitivities & specificities were 81.3% & 99.3%, and 62.5% & 99.2% for VFA and MXA, respectively. This study demonstrates that VFA is as good as RA for detecting moderate and severe vertebral fractures. Given the significant radiation dose saving of VFA compared with RA, VFA is recommended as a diagnostic tool for the assessment of moderate or severe vertebral fracture in children.

Baseline characteristics of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: analysis from the Australian Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Registry

7The prevalence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a fatal and progressive lung disease, is estimated at 1.25-63 out of 100 000, making large population studies difficult. Recently, the need for large longitudinal registries to study IPF has been recognised.The Australian IPF Registry (AIPFR) is a national registry collating comprehensive longitudinal data of IPF patients across Australia. We explored the characteristics of this IPF cohort and the effect of demographic and physiological parameters and specific management on mortality.Participants in the AIPFR (n=647, mean age 70.9±8.5 years, 67.7% male, median follow up 2 years, range 6 months-4.5 years) displayed a wide range of age, disease severity and co-morbidities that is not present in clinical trial cohorts. The cumulative mortality rate in year one, two, three and four was 5%, 24%, 37% and 44% respectively. Baseline lung function (forced vital capacity, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide, composite physiological index) and GAP (gender, age, physiology) stage (hazard ratio 4.64, 95% CI 3.33-6.47, p<0.001) were strong predictors of mortality. Patients receiving anti-fibrotic medications had better survival (hazard ratio 0.56, 95% CI 0.34-0.92, p=0.022) than those not on anti-fibrotic medications, independent of underlying disease severity.The AIPFR provides important insights into the understanding of the natural history and clinical management of IPF.