How effective is home-based exercise therapy delivered using advanced telehealth technology (ATT-ET) for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) compared with: no exercise therapy (ET), in/outpatient ET, and home-based ET without ATT? Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials. People with stable COPD referred for ET. ATT-ET. Exercise capacity, quality of life, functional dyspnoea, cost-effectiveness and various secondary outcomes. Fifteen eligible trials involved 1,522 participants. Compared with no ET, ATT-ET improved exercise capacity (four studies, 6-minute walk test MD 15 m, 95% CI 5 to 24) and probably improved quality of life (four studies, SMD 0.22, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.43) and functional dyspnoea (two studies, Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire-Dyspnoea MD 2, 95% CI 0 to 4). ATT-ET had a similar effect as in/outpatient ET on functional dyspnoea (two studies, SMD -0.05, 95% CI -0.39 to 0.29) and a similar or better effect on quality of life (two studies, SMD 0.23, 95% CI -0.04 to 0.50) but its relative effect on exercise capacity was very uncertain (three studies, 6-minute walk test MD 6 m, 95% CI -26 to 37). ATT-ET had a similar effect as home-based ET without ATT on exercise capacity (three studies, 6-minute walk test MD 2 m, 95% CI -16 to 19) and similar or better effects on quality of life (three studies, SMD 0.79, 95% CI -0.04 to 1.62) and functional dyspnoea (two studies, Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire-Dyspnoea MD 2, 95% CI 0 to 4). ATT-ET had effects on most secondary outcomes that were similar to or better than each comparator. ATT-ET improves exercise capacity, functional dyspnoea and quality of life compared with no ET, although some benefits may be small. Its benefits are generally similar to in/outpatient ET and similar to or better than home-based ET without ATT. PROSPERO CRD42020165773.

Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is a common treatment for bronchiolitis. However, consensus concerning its efficacy is lacking. The aim of this systematic review was to assess NIV effectiveness to reduce respiratory distress. Secondary objectives were to summarize the effects of NIV, identify predictive factors for failure and describe settings and applications. Literature searches were conducted in MEDLINE/PubMed, PEDro, Cochrane, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, UpToDate, and SuDoc from 1990 to April 2015. Randomized controlled trials, controlled non-randomized trials and prospective studies of NIV (continuous positive airway pressure [CPAP], bi-level CPAP, or neurally-adjusted ventilator assist) for bronchiolitis in infants younger than 2 years were included. Fourteen studies were included, for a total of 379 children. Of these, 357 were treated with NIV as first intention. Respiratory distress, heart rate, respiratory rate and respiratory effort improved (P<0.05). Results were inconclusive regarding prevention of endotracheal intubation. Few adverse events were reported. NIV reduced carbon dioxide pressure (pCO2) in 10 studies. Two randomized controlled studies reported a decrease of 7 mmHg in pCO2 (P<0.05). Predictive factors of NIV failure were apneas, high pCO2, young age, low weight, elevated heart rate and high pediatric risk of mortality score. NIV is mostly administered through a nasal mask, nasal cannula or helmet, with an initial expiratory positive airway pressure of 7 cmH2O. NIV shows promising results for the reduction of respiratory distress in acute viral bronchiolitis, as shown in several recent studies. However, there is a lack of robust studies to confirm this.

Background: The relationship between muscle function in critically ill patients assessed using bedside techniques and clinical outcomes has not been systematically described. We aimed to evaluate the association between muscle weakness assessed by bedside evaluation and mortality or weaning from mechanical ventilation, and the capacity of each evaluation tool to predict outcomes.Methods: Five databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Science Direct) were searched from January 2000 to December 2018. Data were extracted and random effects meta-analyses were performed.Results: 60 studies were analysed, including 4382 patients. Intensive care unit (ICU)-related muscle weakness was associated with an increase in overall mortality with odds ratios ranging from 1.2 (95% CI 0.60–2.40) to 4.48 (95% CI 1.49–13.42). Transdiaphragmatic twitch pressure had the highest predictive capacity for overall mortality, with a sensitivity of 0.87 (95% CI 0.76–0.93) and a specificity of 0.36 (95% CI 0.27–0.43). The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.74 (95% CI 0.70–0.78). Muscle weakness was associated with an increase in mechanical ventilation weaning failure rate with an odds ratio ranging from 2.64 (95% CI 0.72–9.64) to 19.07 (95% CI 9.35–38.9). Diaphragm thickening fraction had the highest predictive capacity for weaning failure with a sensitivity of 0.76 (95% CI 0.67–0.83) and a specificity of 0.86 (95% CI 0.78–0.92). The AUC was 0.86 (95% CI 0.83–0.89).Conclusion: ICU-related muscle weakness detected by bedside techniques is a serious issue associated with a high risk of death or prolonged mechanical ventilation. Evaluating diaphragm function should be a clinical priority in the ICU.

In people with non-small cell lung cancer, what is the effect of condensing 15 prehabilitation sessions into a 3-week regimen compared with a 5-week regimen? Randomised controlled trial with concealed allocation, intention-to-treat analysis and blinded assessment of the primary outcome. People with diagnosed or suspected non-small cell lung cancer and moderate-to-high risk of postoperative complications. Fifteen supervised prehabilitation sessions delivered with either a dense regimen of five sessions/week for 3 weeks (experimental group) or a non-dense regimen of three sessions/week for 5 weeks (control group). The primary outcome was the change in cardiorespiratory fitness measured by the V̇O_2peak in ml/kg/min. The secondary outcomes were the change in other variables of interest measured during cardiopulmonary exercise testing, non-invasive nutritional markers, quadriceps maximal voluntary isometric contractions, maximal inspiratory pressure, quality of life, adherence and postoperative complications. Changes with the experimental regimen were similar to or better than changes with the control regimen for: V̇O_2peak (MD 1.2 ml/kg/min, 95% CI -0.1 to 2.6); V̇E/V̇CO₂ slope (MD -3.6 points, 95% CI -8.7 to 1.5); and work rate at ventilatory threshold (MD 3.7 W, 95% CI -5.6 to 13.0). The two regimens had similar effects on: peak work rate (MD 1.3 W, 95% CI -6.4 to 9.0), V̇O₂ at ventilatory threshold (MD 0.0 ml/kg/min, 95% CI -1.4 to 1.4); body mass index (MD -0.2 kg/m², 95% CI -0.5 to 0.1); and maximal inspiratory pressure (MD -0.7 cmH₂O, 95% CI -9.8 to 8.4). The relative effect was uncertain for quadriceps maximal voluntary isometric contractions, quality of life and complications. Condensing prehabilitation sessions led to similar or better improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness and did not decrease adherence or increase adverse events. This could increase the number of patients who can be referred for prehabilitation, despite short presurgical periods. NCT03936764.

Background: Functional exercise capacity assessment is recommended in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a valid evaluation of exercise capacity but can be technically complex. Inversely, the sit-to-stand test (STST) is a simple method to evaluate exercise capacity, and is validated in healthy children and adults with CF. This study aimed to evaluate STST measurement properties in children and adolescents with CF. Methods: In this multicenter study, children with CF (6 to 18 years) performed two iterations of both the STST and the 6MWT in a randomized order. Criterion validity was determined by assessing correlations between STST repetitions and 6MWT distance (6MWD). Intra-rater reliability, test-retest repeatability, mean bias and limits of agreement were also assessed. Relationships with other outcomes (i.e. respiratory and quadriceps muscle strength) and cardio-respiratory responses were analysed for both tests. Results: Thirty-six children with CF were included (mean age 12.0 ±3.5 years and FEV1 95.8 ±25.0%). On average, 39.6 ±10.5 repetitions were performed during the STST and mean 6MWD was 596.0 ±102.6 meters. STST number of repetitions was significantly correlated with 6MWD (r = 0.48; p<0.01). Both tests had very good intra-rater reliability (ICC_STST = 0.91 (95%CI 0.76–0.96) and ICC_6MWT = 0.94 (95%CI 0.85–0.97)), and a significant test-retest learning effect. The number of STST repetitions was not correlated with quadriceps or respiratory muscle strength test, and the STST induced fewer cardio-respiratory responses than the 6MWT. Conclusions: The STST is an easy-to-use functional test with moderate criterion validity when compared to the 6MWT in children with CF, probably because both tests measure different components of functional exercise capacity. The STST is useful when the 6MWT is unfeasible, however further investigations are required to explore the clinical implications of STST results in children with CF. Clinical trial registration: NCT03069625.

In this randomised, crossover trial, 22 patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease climbed six flights of stairs (108 steps) twice, under two test conditions: (1) energy conservation technique (ECT): participants were asked to rest for at least 5 seconds every three steps and (2) control condition: participants climbed the stairs at their own pace. Significant lower dyspnoea (primary outcome), leg discomfort, minute ventilation and capillary blood lactate under the ECT condition were found, with no change in total task time. Clinical trial registration NCT03564028