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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 9309

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos

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Guest Editor

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
Interests: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; asthma; tobacco dependence; health equity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the attention on pulmonary and critical care medicine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, improving health in these fields has received a unique spotlight. In regard to pulmonary outcomes and management of pulmonary disease, significant gains have occurred over the last few decades, impacting diseases of the airways, parenchyma, and circulation. These gains have resulted not only in improvement in disease management, but in quality of life. As for critical care medicine, survivors of the intensive care unit have become a cohort of patients in and of themselves. Therefore, attention on interventions occurring in the intensive care unit (ICU), along with mortality outcomes and post-ICU outcomes, have been prioritized to ensure survival is met with an understanding of post-ICU-related sequelae. In our Special issue, we wish to address many of these advancements in recent years. An emphasis on healthy aging, quality of life, and health equity will serve as an additional key interest for the issue, one that shows how interventions in these medical fields help to reaffirm medicine as a public trust. We invite manuscripts addressing these issues to be submitted to our Special issue.

Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

pulmonary disease
critical care medicine
clinical management
therapy
aging
survival
health equity
quality of life

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 1988 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Subtypes of Adult-Onset Asthma at the Time of Diagnosis: A Latent Class Analysis

by Elina M. S. Mäkikyrö, Maritta S. Jaakkola, Taina K. Lajunen, L. Pekka Malmberg and Jouni J. K. Jaakkola

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3072; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043072 - 9 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1536

Abstract

Introduction: Only a few previous studies have investigated the subtypes of adult-onset asthma. No previous study has assessed whether these subtypes are different between men and women, or whether these subtypes have different risk factors. Methods: We applied latent class analyses to the Finnish Environment and Asthma Study population, including 520 new cases of adult-onset asthma. We formed subtypes separately between women and men and analyzed the following determinants as potential predictors for these subtypes: age, body mass index, smoking, and parental asthma. Results: Among women, the subtypes identified were: 1. Moderate asthma, 2. Cough-variant asthma, 3. Eosinophilic asthma, 4. Allergic asthma, and 5. Difficult asthma. Among men, the subtypes were: 1. Mild asthma, 2. Moderate asthma, 3. Allergic asthma, and 4. Difficult asthma. Three of the subtypes were similar among women and men: Moderate, Allergic, and Difficult asthma. In addition, women had two distinct subtypes: Cough-variant asthma, and Eosinophilic asthma. These subtypes had different risk factor profiles, e.g., heredity was important for Eosinophilic and Allergic asthma (RR for Both parents having asthma in Eosinophilic 3.55 (1.09 to 11.62)). Furthermore, smoking increased the risk of Moderate asthma among women (RR for former smoking 2.21 (1.19 to 4.11)) and Difficult asthma among men but had little influence on Allergic or Cough-variant asthma. Conclusion: This is an original investigation of the subtypes of adult-onset asthma identified at the time of diagnosis. These subtypes differ between women and men, and these subtypes have different risk factor profiles. These findings have both clinical and public health importance for the etiology, prognosis, and treatment of adult-onset asthma. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine)

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10 pages, 956 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pulmonary and Functional Rehabilitation Improves Functional Capacity, Pulmonary Function and Respiratory Muscle Strength in Post COVID-19 Patients: Pilot Clinical Trial

by Luana Fagherazzi Hockele, João Vitor Sachet Affonso, Danusa Rossi and Bruna Eibel

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(22), 14899; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192214899 - 12 Nov 2022

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3353

Abstract

Background: Patients affected by COVID-19 may develop an impaired lung function, with reduced lung capacities and volumes, respiratory muscle weakness, changes in radiographic and tomographic findings, limitations in exercising, decreased functional capacity, depression, anxiety and reduced quality of life. Thus, we aimed to analyze the effects of a pulmonary and functional rehabilitation program on the functional capacity, lung function and respiratory muscle strength in patients who were affected by COVID-19 syndrome. Methods: This is a pilot clinical trial, composed of post-COVID-19 patients with mild, moderate or severe involvement, in which, they underwent a pulmonary and functional rehabilitation program. Patients were evaluated for functional capacity by the 6 min walk test, pulmonary function by spirometry, respiratory muscle strength by manovacuometry, handgrip strength by dynamometry, quality of life by the COPD Assessment Test and functional status by the PCFS. After the initial assessments, the patients performed the rehabilitation protocol in 16 sessions (inspiratory muscle training, aerobic exercise and peripheral muscle strength) and, at the end, they were evaluated again. Results: A total of 29 patients completed the program (12.7 ± 2.7 sessions). The functional capacity increased in meters walked from 326.3 ± 140.6 to 445.4 ± 151.1 (p < 0.001), with an increase in the predicted value from 59.7% to 82.6% (p < 0.001). The lung function increased in liters from 2.9 ± 0.8 to 3.2 ± 0.8 (p = 0.004) for forced vital capacity and from 2.5 ± 0.7 to 2.7 ± 0.7 (p = 0.001) for forced expiratory volume in the first second. The respiratory muscle strength increased in cmH₂O from 101.4 ± 46.3 to 115.8 ± 38.3 (p = 0.117) for inspiratory pressure and from 85.8 ± 32.8 to 106.7 ± 36.8 (p < 0.001) for expiratory pressure. Conclusions: The pulmonary and functional rehabilitation program provided an improvement in the functional capacity, pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength in post-COVID-19 patients, restoring their quality of life. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine)

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11 pages, 741 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Together in Care: An Enhanced Meals on Wheels Intervention Designed to Reduce Rehospitalizations among Older Adults with Cardiopulmonary Disease—Preliminary Findings

by Panagis Galiatsatos, Adejoke Ajayi, Joyce Maygers, Stephanie Archer Smith, Lucy Theilheimer, Sherita H. Golden, Richard G. Bennett and William Daniel Hale

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(1), 458; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010458 - 1 Jan 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2197

Abstract

Rehospitalizations in the Medicare population may be influenced by many diverse social factors, such as, but not limited to, access to food, social isolation, and housing safety. Rehospitalizations result in significant cost in this population, with an expected increase as Medicare enrollment grows. We designed a pilot study based upon a partnership between a hospital and a local Meals on Wheels agency to support patients following an incident hospitalization to assess impact on hospital utilization. Patients from an urban medical center who were 60 years or older, had a prior hospitalization in the past 12 months, and had a diagnosis of diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were recruited. Meals on Wheels provided interventions over 3 months of the patient’s transition to home: food delivery, home safety inspection, social engagement, and medical supply allocation. Primary outcome was reduction of hospital expenditure. In regard to the results, 84 participants were included in the pilot cohort, with the majority (54) having COPD. Mean age was 74.9 ± 10.5 years; 33 (39.3%) were female; 62 (73.8%) resided in extreme socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods. Total hospital expenditures while the cohort was enrolled in the transition program were $435,258 ± 113,423, a decrease as compared to $1,445,637 ± 325,433 (p < 0.01) of the cohort’s cost during the three months prior to enrollment. In conclusion, the initiative for patients with advanced chronic diseases resulted in a significant reduction of hospitalization expenditures. Further investigations are necessary to define the impact of this intervention on a larger cohort of patients as well as its generalizability across diverse geographic regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine)

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Other

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13 pages, 484 KiB

Open AccessStudy Protocol

Herbal Medicine Maekmundong-Tang on Patients with Nonspecific Chronic Cough: Study Protocol for a Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

by Boram Lee, Hyo-Ju Park, So-Young Jung, O-Jin Kwon, Yang-Chun Park and Changsop Yang

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(5), 4164; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054164 - 25 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1564

Abstract

As the treatment of nonspecific chronic cough with conventional medications that treat cough according to the cause is limited, Maekmundong-tang (comprising Liriopis seu Ophiopogonis Tuber, Pinelliae Tuber, Oryzae Semen, Zizyphi Fructus, Ginseng Radix, and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) has been used empirically in the clinical setting of East Asian traditional medicine. This study is the first to explore the feasibility, preliminary effect, safety, and cost-effectiveness of Maekmundong-tang for nonspecific chronic cough. This study protocol is that of a double-blind, randomized, active-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial for comparing Maekmundong-tang with Saengmaek-san (comprising Liriopis seu Ophiopogonis Tuber, Ginseng Radix, and Schisandrae Fructus), a Korean national health insurance-covered herbal medicine for cough. A total of 30 nonspecific chronic cough patients will participate and receive the assigned herbal medicine for 6 weeks, and clinical parameters will be assessed at weeks 0 (baseline), 3 (midterm assessment), 6 (primary endpoint), 9, and 24 (follow-up). Study feasibility outcomes, including recruitment, adherence, and completion rates, will be assessed. Preliminary effects on cough severity, frequency, and quality of life will be evaluated using outcome measures, such as the Cough Symptom Score, Cough Visual Analog Scale, and the Leicester Cough Questionnaire. Adverse events and laboratory tests will be monitored for safety evaluation, and exploratory economic evaluations will be conducted. The results will provide evidence of Maekmundong-tang in the treatment of nonspecific chronic cough. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine)

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