Bronchiectasis is a chronic inflammatory lung disease and patients may occasionally experience acute exacerbations. Our study aims to determine the relationship between exacerbation periods and HALP (hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, platelet) scores in patients with bronchiectasis. Adult patients diagnosed with bronchiectasis and followed up in our clinic between 02.2020-12.2022 were retrospectively evaluated. After the examinations, the effect of bronchiectasis exacerbation on the HALP score was investigated. A total of 84 patients diagnosed with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis were included in our study. 42 of the patients were male (50%), and 42 were female. The average age of all patients was 52.37 ± 16.2. 35 patients (41.7%) were in the exacerbation period, and 49 patients (58.3%) were in the stable period. The median values of leukocytes, neutrophils, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly higher in patients during the exacerbation period compared to the stable period (respectively p= 0.00, p= 0.00, p= 0.00). The average values of FEV1% and FVC% in patients during the exacerbation period were significantly lower compared to the stable period (p= 0.03, p= 0.00, respectively). The HALP score was significantly lower in patients during the exacerbation period compared to the stable period (p= 0.00). A significant negative correlation was found between the HALP score and leukocytes, neutrophils, and CRP (p= 0.00, p= 0.00, p= 0.00, respectively). Also, a significant positive correlation was found between the HALP score and FEV1% and FVC% (p= 0.00, p= 0.00, respectively). Our study revealed that the HALP score is associated with infectious and pulmonary functional parameters in bronchiectasis patients in the exacerbation period. We propose that the HALP score could serve as a valuable biomarker during exacerbations.

Introduction: Asthma and COPD management have a broad framework, and smoking cessation plays an essential role. We examine the management of asthma and COPD patients not only for inhaler treatment options but also for essential interventions, such as smoking cessation support. Methods: Data...

Background: In the postacute phase of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), survivors may have persistent symptoms, lung function abnormalities, and sequelae lesions on thoracic computed tomography (CT). This new entity has been defined as post-COVID interstitial lung disease (ILD) or residual disease. Aims: To evaluate the characteristics, risk factors and clinical significance of post-COVID ILD. Study Design: Multicenter cross-sectional analysis of data from a randomized clinical study. Methods: In this study, patients with persistent respiratory symptoms 3 months after recovery from COVID-19 were evaluated by two pulmonologists and a radiologist. post-COVID ILD was defined as the presence of respiratory symptoms, hypoxemia, restrictive defect on lung function tests, and interstitial changes on follow-up high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Results: At the three-month follow-up, 375 patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome were evaluated, and 262 patients were found to have postCOVID ILD. The most prevalent complaints were dyspnea (n = 238, 90.8%), exercise intolerance (n = 166, 63.4%), fatigue (n = 142, 54.2%), and cough (n = 136, 52%). The mean Medical Research Council dyspnea score was 2.1 +/- 0.9, oxygen saturation was 92.2 +/- 5.9%, and 6-minute walking distance was 360 +/- 140 meters. The mean diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide was 58 +/- 21, and the forced vital capacity was 70% +/- 19%. Ground glass opacities and fibrotic bands were the most common findings on thoracic HRCT. Fibrosis-like lesions such as interlobular septal thickening and traction bronchiectasis were observed in 38.3% and 27.9% of the patients, respectively. No honeycomb cysts were observed. Active smoking [odds ratio (OR), 1.96; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.44-2.67), intensive care unit admission during the acute phase (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.1-1.95), need for high-flow nasal oxygen (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.42-1.9) or non-invasive ventilation (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.8-2.07), and elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase levels (OR, 1.23; 95% CI 1.18-1.28) were associated with the development of post-COVID ILD. At the 6-month follow-up, the respiratory symptoms and pulmonary functions had improved spontaneously without any specific treatment in 35 patients (13.4%). The radiological interstitial lesions had spontaneously regressed in 54 patients (20.6%). Conclusion: The co-existence of respiratory symptoms, radiological parenchymal lesions, and pulmonary functional abnormalities which suggest a restrictive ventilatory defect should be defined as post-COVID-19 ILD. However, the term "fibrosis" should be used carefully. Active smoking, severe COVID-19, and elevated lactate dehydrogenase level are the main risk factors of this condition. These post-COVID functional and radiological changes could disappear over time in 20% of the patients.

The aim of the study was to assess the effects of interventions during bronchoscopy on ventilation and determine the risk factors for hypoventilation related to both interventions and patients' demographical and clinical characteristics. A total of 74 patients who underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) were included in the study. Oxygen saturation (SpO2) and partial carbon dioxide pressure (PCO2) were measured transcutaneously (TcSO2 and TcPCO2) using a sensor consisting of a probe placed on the earlobe. The demographic characteristics and basal, mean, peak and minimum values of TcSO2 and TcPCO2 during FOB were retrospectively analyzed and assessed in terms of the risk factors for hypoventilation. During the procedure, the device automatically recorded the TcSO2 and TcPCO2 values. The mean TcPCO2 level was 37.09 ± 5.6 (27.1-60.6) mmHg. The mean increase in the TcPCO2 level from baseline was 3.25 ± 2.12 mmHg. The mean TcSO2 measurement was 95.9 ± 2.27 (80-100%). The measured mean and peak TcPCO2 values were significantly higher in men. In the whole group, the patients with a history of smoking more than 20 packyears also had significantly higher TcPCO2 values compared to the nonsmokers and light smokers. In the patients with endobronchial lesions, the decrease in the TcSO2 level was higher during FOB (p= 0.03), and the mean difference between the lowest and mean TcSO2 levels was significantly greater (6.2 vs 4.55%, p= 0.03). Changes in ventilation during FOB have multifactorial causes. The best indicator of ventilation is PCO2, and monitorization of PCO2 is very important in detecting hypoventilation. In this study, we determined some risk factors for hypoventilation in order to predict ventilation problems in patients planned to undergo FOB. We recommend that in male patients with endobronchial lesions, those with a longer smoking history, and those with a longer duration of FOB, SpO2 should be monitored together with PCO2.

Introduction: A significant proportion of patients with chronic airway diseases continue to smoke even after the diagnosis. In addition, smoking cessation support continues to be a neglected issue in real-life settings by physicians for that patient group. Therefore, in our search for a...