Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) is an infectious disease that has caused significant mortality and morbidity worldwide. COVID-19 is known to cause complications, such as myocardial damage, acute coronary syndrome, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, arrhythmia, heart failure, acute ischemic stroke, liver damage, cytokine storms, ischemia-reperfusion damage and side effects of drug treatments. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the complications that developed during hospitalizations in patients with moderate-to-severe COVID-19 related pneumonia who were hospitalized in our COVID-19 service. Material and Method: This study included patients with moderate-to-severe COVID-19 pneumonia with a positive reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test who were treated in our COVID-19 service between November 2020 and January 2021. Their demographic characteristics, treatment regimens, baseline laboratory values and complications during their hospitalization were retrospectively recorded. Results: The study group had a mean age of 62.92± 14.60 years and 40.6% (n= 55) were female. Approximately 35.3% (n= 48) of the patients developed complications due to COVID-19 during their follow-up period. Of the patients with complications, 63.8% (n: 30) were male, most common complications were elevated liver enzymes (47.9%) and pulmonary thromboembolism (20.8%). Of those patients with complications, the most common comorbidities were hypertension (40.4% [n= 19]), diabetes mellitus (25.5% [n=12]) and cardiovascular disease (23.4% [n=11]). There were no significant relationships between the presence of complications and age, sex or comorbid diseases (p>0.05 for each). Conclusion: There are more underlying conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease in hospitalized patients with moderate-to-severe pneumonia compared to outpatients with COVID-19 pneumonia. Complications develop, especially in the management of COVID-19 pneumonia, which affect the treatment process and patient mobilization.

Aim The aim of our research was to investigate retrospectively the relationship between the symptoms and general characteristics, initial laboratory values and treatments in patients who had COVID- 19 and who applied to the chest diseases outpatient clinic for control after 1 month. Methods Three hundred fifteen patients who were diagnosed with COVID- 19 and applied to the chest diseases outpatient clinic between May 2020 and August 2020 for control in the 1st month were included in the study. Patient information was collected from the hospital information system and the e-pulse system. Results Females accounted for 50.2 % of the our patients and their mean age was 47.9 ± 14.8 (19-88) years. 14.3% (n: 45) of the individuals were 65 years of age and older. 20.6% (n: 65) of our patients were smoking. 70.2% (n: 221) of our patients were treated at home. 133 patients had at least one comorbid disease. The patients most frequently reported cough, dyspnea, weakness, myalgia and diarrhea. The most common symptoms were cough, dyspnea, weakness and myalgia in the first month. Initial D-dimer, initial CRP and the values of platelet, D dimer and CRP in the first month were detected to be higher in patients with persistens symptoms when the laboratory values of patients whose symptoms continue after 1 month were examined. It was determined that the symptoms had persisted in patients who had been hospitalized, had dual therapy, had comorbid diseases and had more common pathologies in their pulmonary imagings. Conclusion Symptoms may persist for a long time in hospitalized patients, in patients with COVID-19-related pneumonia and concomitant chronic diseases and in patients with high D-dimer and high CRP at the time of admission. Patients are informed that their symptoms may last for a long time, unnecessary hospital admissons can be avoided.

Meteorological factors affect the respiratory system, and the most important factor is the change in ambient temperature and humidity. We aimed to investigate the seasonal characteristics of patients diagnosed with cryptogenic organizing pneumonia. The study included 84 cryptogenic organizing pneumonia, 55 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and 42 asthma patients. To determine the characteristics of the disease according to the seasons, the number of attacks and admissions was grouped according to the seasonal characteristics and analyzed for three groups. Among cryptogenic organizing pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, males significantly predominated (p<0.001). The hospitalization rate was highest in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients but similar to cryptogenic organizing pneumonia and asthma patients (p<0.001). The highest admission rate in cryptogenic organizing pneumonia patients was observed in spring (39.3% in spring, 26.2% in fall, 22.6% in winter, and 11.9% in summer). In winter, cryptogenic organizing pneumonia patients were admitted less frequently than chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma patients. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was higher in cryptogenic organizing pneumonia patients than in asthma patients and similar to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. As a result of our study, the high rate of diagnosis and admission in the spring in cryptogenic organizing pneumonia suggested that the effect of allergens on the formation of cryptogenic organizing pneumonia should be investigated. In contrast, it should be kept in mind that cryptogenic organizing pneumonia may develop as a prolonged finding of involvement that may occur in the lung parenchyma due to lung infections and/or cold weather triggering during the winter months. In this regard, further studies can be conducted in which allergens and/or the history of infection in patients and meteorological variables are also evaluated.

Background: Progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) is a life-limiting condition characterized by progressive decline in lung function and poor survival. Malnutrition is a frequent but under-recognized factor influencing outcomes in chronic lung diseases. The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score, derived from serum albumin, cholesterol, and lymphocyte count, may provide a simple prognostic tool in this population. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 58 patients with PPF were evaluated. Patients were categorized into three nutritional risk groups according to their CONUT scores: normal, mild, and moderate malnutrition. Clinical parameters, laboratory findings, pulmonary function decline, and survival outcomes were compared. Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses were performed to assess overall survival and identify independent prognostic factors. Results: Higher CONUT scores were significantly associated with greater reductions in forced vital capacity (FVC) and increased all-cause mortality. Patients with moderate malnutrition showed significantly worse survival compared to those with normal nutritional status (hazard ratio [HR] = 25.92, 95% CI 1.52–40.65, p = 0.024). The CONUT score also correlated with serum cholesterol levels and six-month FVC decline. Steroid use did not significantly affect prognosis. Conclusions: The CONUT score is a simple, low-cost, and objective biomarker of nutritional risk that may help predict clinical outcomes in patients with PPF. Incorporating nutritional assessment into routine evaluation could improve risk stratification and guide clinical decision-making. Further prospective studies are required to validate its prognostic utility in fibrosing interstitial lung diseases.

Background/Aim: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) are two entities categorized fibrotic lung diseases. With a similar clinical presentation and treatment modalities in many cases, the line differentiating two diseases may not be evident. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of antifibrotic treatment and the course of fibrotic lung diseases. Material and Methods: The study included patients diagnosed with IPF and PPF who were given antifibrotic treatment and followed up for one year in our clinic. At one year, treatment response and radiological evaluation were investigated by high-resolution computed tomography. Results: Eighty-seven patients were included in the study (57 with IPF and 30 with PPF). Under antifibrotic treatment, there were no statistically significant losses in 6MWT, FVC, and DLCO values at the 6-month and 12-month evaluations. The most common side effects were photosensitivity for patients under the pirfenidone regimen, while diarrhea was predominantly observed in the PPF group. Radiological progression was observed in 22.9% of all patients at the yearly evaluation. Hospitalization requirements were more evident in the PPF group, with at least one hospitalization history present in 60% (n=18) of patients compared to 12.3% (n=7) of IPF patients. Conclusion: A personalized approach is preferred with similar clinical profiles for both treatment modalities, with specific side effects considered.

The men infected with COVID-19 have been shown to have more severe disease and a higher mortality rate. Morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19 are mediated through intense viral inflammation and increased levels of inflammatory biomarkers. We aimed to retrospectively evaluate any gender difference in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia in terms of inflammatory biomarkers. Our study included 132 patients. The general characteristics, radiological features and laboratory parameters of the patients were recorded. No difference was observed between the genders according to comorbidities, pulse steroid requirement and hypoxemia. There was no difference between the male and female participants in terms of age, white blood cell count, lymphocyte count, red cell distribution width, C-reactive protein, troponin, albumin and D-dimer. However, duration of hospitalization; percentage of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PNL); and haemoglobin, alanine aminotransferase and ferritin values were higher in the males, and lymphocyte percentage and platelet count were higher in the women participants. Larger studies with gender-specific reporting and robust analyses are required to clarify how gender alters the cellular and molecular pathways associated with COVID-19. This would improve the interpretation of biomarkers and the clinical management of COVID-19 patients by facilitating a personalised medical approach to risk stratification, prevention and treatment.