Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) constitute a group of more than 200 disorders, with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) being one of the most frequent. Telomere length (TL) shortening causes loss of function of the lung parenchyma. However, little is known about its role as a prognostic factor in ILD patients. With the aim of investigating the role of TL and telomerase activity in the prognosis of patients affected by ILDs, we analysed lung tissue samples from 61 patients. We measured relative TL and telomerase activity by conventional procedures. Both clinical and molecular parameters were associated with overall survival by the Kaplan–Meier method. Patients with IPF had poorer prognosis than patients with other ILDs (p = 0.034). When patients were classified according to TL, those with shortened telomeres reported lower overall survival (p = 0.085); differences reached statistical significance after excluding ILD patients who developed cancer (p = 0.021). In a Cox regression analysis, TL behaved as a risk-modifying variable for death associated with rheumatic disease (RD) co-occurrence (p = 0.029). Also, in patients without cancer, ferritin was significantly increased in cases with RD and IPF co-occurrence (p = 0.032). In relation to telomerase activity, no significant differences were detected. In conclusion, TL in lung tissue emerges as a prognostic factor in ILD patients. Specifically, in cases with RD and IPF co-occurrence, TL can be considered as a risk-modifying variable for death.

Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) increase the hospital length of stay (LOS) and the cost of healthcare associated with surgical procedures. Strategies to reduce PPCs begin before surgery and continue in the postoperative period. Fissios App© is a smartphone application that contains perioperative medical advice and a structured respiratory physiotherapy program. The objective was to implement the use of this app in a group of patients scheduled for a thoracic surgical procedure and determine its efficacy in reducing PPCs. This was a quasi-experimental study in which all patients attended a face-to-face respiratory physiotherapy program, and the intervention group used Fissios App© as a complement. We prospectively recorded the postoperative evolution of both groups, analyzed the categorical differences and quantitative variables, and created a binary logistic regression model. We recruited 393 patients (131 intervention and 262 control). The intervention group had a lower incidence of PPCs (12.2% versus 24% in the control group, p = 0.006), a shorter LOS (a median of 3 days (IQR = 2–5) versus 4 days (IQR = 3–6, p = 0.001) in the control group), and a reduction in the risk of developing PPCs by 63.5% (OR: 0.365, 95% CI: 0.17–0.78). The use of Fissios App© improved the clinical outcomes after surgery and reduced the probability of developing PPCs.

Introduction: Surgical resection is the most effective therapy for patients with early non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Impact on quality of life (QoL) includes a period until return to work, perioperative complications and development of physical sequelae. Lobectomy is the standard procedure. However, sublobar resections have shown similar oncological outcomes preserving healthy parenchyma. We analyze if sublobar resection is associated wiht less deterioration of QoL. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients undergoing surgical resection for NSCLC between 2017 and 2019. Cases were classified according to type of resection (sublobar vs lobectomies, bilobectomies and pneumonectomies). A survey with questions related to outcomes and QoL and occupational issues was performed. Results: A total of 169 answered the survey and were followed for 36 months. Segmentectomy was performed in 69 patients (40.9%). Lobectomy was the main type of resection (56.2%). Fatigue during walking was less common in patients undergoing sublobar resections (55.1% vs 72.7%; p = 0.02). No other differences were detected in temrs of QoL between both groups. Changes in familiar relationship after surgery were higher in patients under 70 years old. Most patients had not resume their work activities at the time of consultation. Conclusion: Feeling of fatigue while walking was lower in patients undergoing sublobar resections. Changes in familiar relationship were higher in younger patients. QoL was similar in both groups.