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Mark D Eisner

Publications and source records attributed to Mark D Eisner.

46 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Pulmonary dead-space fraction as a risk factor for death in the acute respiratory distress syndrome.

BACKGROUND: No single pulmonary-specific variable, including the severity of hypoxemia, has been found to predict the risk of death independently when measured early in the course of the acute respiratory distress syndrome. Because an increase in the pulmonary dead-space fraction has been described in observational studies of the syndrome, we systematically measured the dead-space fraction early in the course of the illness and evaluated its potential association with the risk of death. METHODS: The dead-space fraction was prospectively measured in 179 intubated patients, a mean (+/-SD) of 10.9+/-7.4 hours after the acute respiratory distress syndrome had developed. Additional clinical and physiological variables were analyzed with the use of multiple logistic regression. The study outcome was mortality before hospital discharge. RESULTS: The mean dead-space fraction was markedly elevated (0.58+/-0.09) early in the course of the acute respiratory distress syndrome and was higher among patients who died than among those who survived (0.63+/-0.10 vs. 0.54+/-0.09, P<0.001). The dead-space fraction was an independent risk factor for death: for every 0.05 increase, the odds of death increased by 45 percent (odds ratio, 1.45; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.15 to 1.83; P=0.002). The only other independent predictors of an increased risk of death were the Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, an indicator of the severity of illness (odds ratio, 1.06; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.03 to 1.08; P<0.001) and quasistatic respiratory compliance (odds ratio, 1.06; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.01 to 1.10; P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Increased dead-space fraction is a feature of the early phase of the acute respiratory distress syndrome. Elevated values are associated with an increased risk of death.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Airway pressures and early barotrauma in patients with acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

The determinants of barotrauma in mechanically ventilated patients with acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) have not been clearly established. Using data from ARDS Network randomized controlled trials, we retrospectively examined the association between airway pressures and the risk of early barotrauma in a cohort of 718 patients with ALI/ARDS and no baseline barotrauma. We studied airway pressures at three exposure intervals: baseline, one day preceding the barotrauma event (one-day lag), and concurrent with the barotrauma event. During the first four study days, the cumulative incidence of barotrauma was 13% (95% confidence interval [CI] 10.6 to 15.6%). In a forward stepwise Cox proportional hazards analysis using time-dependent variables, higher concurrent positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) was associated with an increased risk of early barotrauma (relative hazard [RH] 1.67 per 5-cm H2O increment; 95% CI 1.35-2.07). Once concurrent PEEP was selected into the model, no other airway pressure was related to barotrauma, including plateau pressure. In the multivariate analysis, higher concurrent PEEP was also related to a greater risk of barotrauma (RH 1.93; 95% CI 1.44-2.60), controlling for age, ventilator group (6 versus 12 ml/kg), baseline PEEP, baseline plateau pressure, baseline tidal volume, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation score, vasopressor use, serum albumin, hepatic failure, and coagulopathy. When one-day lagged values of PEEP were analyzed, higher PEEP was associated with a greater risk of barotrauma (RH 1.38 per 5-cm H2O increment; 95% CI 1.09-1.76). Controlling for the covariates, higher PEEP was related to an increased risk of barotrauma (RH 1.50; 95% CI 0.98- 2.30). In conclusion, higher PEEP may increase the likelihood of early barotrauma in ALI/ARDS.

Airway Resistance↗

Environmental tobacco smoke and adult asthma.

The long-term health consequences of ETS exposure have been established over the past two decades. Consistent epidemiologic evidence links ETS exposure with serious chronic health effects, including lung cancer and cardiovascular disease [1, 48, 49]. In this article, the evidence suggests a causal relationship between ETS exposure and new-onset asthma and asthma exacerbation among adults. Despite the growing knowledge of ETS-related health effects, smoking is still permitted in many public locations and workplaces [50, 51]. Because asthma is a visible condition among the general public, the evidence that links ETS exposure with adverse asthma health outcomes should provide policymakers with additional impetus for regulating public smoking and creating smoke-free public environments.

Adult↗

Health-related quality of life and future health care utilization for asthma.

BACKGROUND: Although health-related quality of life (HRQL) has been increasingly used as an outcome in asthma, its utility for identifying patients at risk for adverse asthma outcomes has not been established. OBJECTIVE: In a prospective cohort study, to evaluate the longitudinal impact of HRQL on future health care utilization and cost among adults with asthma, accounting for known risk factors for utilization. METHODS: A stratified random sample of 3,482 adult Northern CA Kaiser Permanente members with asthma was selected using computerized utilization databases and a screening survey item. Subjects completed a mail survey that included measures of generic (SF-12) and asthma-specific HRQL (ITG-Asthma Short Form battery). During the 12 months after survey completion, computerized utilization and cost data were ascertained. RESULTS: Better baseline asthma-specific HRQL was associated with a decreased risk of asthma-related emergency department visit or hospitalization during longitudinal followup (odds ratio per 10-point score increment 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.74 to 0.95), controlling for demographic and clinical factors. Better baseline generic physical HRQL was associated with a decreased risk of future all-cause hospitalization (odds ratio 0.68; 95% CI 0.60 to 0.77). More favorable asthma-specific HRQL scores were also related to decreased asthma-related health care costs during the ensuing year (-0.086 log-dollars per 10-point score increment; 95% CI -0.11 to -0.06). Better generic physical HRQL scores were associated with lower total costs (-0.24 log-dollars; 95% CI -0.32 to -0.17). CONCLUSIONS: In a large cohort of adult health maintenance organization members with asthma, asthma-specific HRQL was associated with future asthma-related utilization and cost.

Adolescent↗

Perceived control of asthma and quality of life among adults with asthma.

BACKGROUND: Perceived control of certain chronic conditions influences health status outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To explore the impact of perceived control of asthma on asthma-specific and generic health status outcomes among adults with asthma. Perceived control was defined as individuals' perceptions of their ability to deal with asthma and its exacerbations. METHODS: Data were drawn from the baseline and first two followups of a longitudinal study of adults with asthma surveyed by telephone at 18-month intervals. An 11-item questionnaire (Perceived Control of Asthma Questionnaire [PCAQ]) was developed and validated. RESULTS: The PCAQ demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.79). Greater perceived control was associated with less severe asthma, greater asthma self-efficacy, lower perceived asthma severity, lower perceived danger from asthma, and greater perceived usefulness of asthma medicines. Greater perceived control was significantly associated with better asthma-specific quality of life concurrently and 18 and 36 months later, after controlling for demographics, smoking, and severity of asthma. Greater perceived control as also significantly associated with generic mental health outcomes concurrently and 18 and 36 months later, after controlling for covariates. Perceived control was associated with physical function concurrently and 18 months later, but not 36 months later. CONCLUSIONS: The PCAQ is a reliable and valid measure of perceived control of asthma. Perceived control of asthma was associated with both asthma-specific and generic health status outcomes, concurrently and predictively. If perceived control could be modified, better outcomes, particularly better psychologic outcomes, might be achieved for individuals with asthma.

Adolescent↗

Aggressive management of lung donors classified as unacceptable: excellent recipient survival one year after transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: A dire shortage of lungs for transplantation exists. We hypothesized that aggressive organ procurement organization management of lungs usually rated as unacceptable (ratio of Pao(2) to inspired oxygen fraction <150) might make them acceptable for transplantation. We also hypothesized that lungs from donors who died of trauma could be used for transplantation with recipient survival comparable with that seen with lungs from donors who died of nontraumatic causes. METHODS: From January, 1, 1995, through August 31, 2000, a total of 194 donors resulted in 228 lung transplants. Of these, 27 donors were deemed unacceptable for lung transplantation according to organ procurement organization protocol. We used the California Transplant Donor Network database to conduct a retrospective review of all 194 donors, including the 27 supposedly unacceptable donors who were treated with invasive monitoring (central venous pressure), methylprednisolone, fluid restriction, inotropic agents, bronchoscopy, and diuresis. We evaluated survivals at 30 days and 1 year of patients who received lungs rated as unacceptable and acceptable. In addition, we compiled data on recipient survival for a subgroup of 122 recipients with lungs from donors who died of trauma and compared these data with those of recipients who received lungs from donors who died of nontraumatic causes to see whether the donor's death by trauma resulted in higher recipient mortality. RESULTS: After aggressive organ procurement organization management, ratios of Pao(2) to inspired oxygen fraction, central venous pressures, fluid balances, dopamine requirements, and chest radiographs of unacceptable donors according to organ procurement organization criteria were comparable with those of acceptable donors. There were no significant differences in recipient mortality between groups at 30 days or 1 year after transplantation. Moreover, no significant difference was found in mortalities of recipients who received lungs from donors who died of traumatic and nontraumatic causes. CONCLUSION: Aggressive organ procurement organization management of donors initially considered unacceptable may increase the number of lungs available for transplantation.

Adult↗

Environmental tobacco smoke exposure and pulmonary function among adults in NHANES III: impact on the general population and adults with current asthma.

The impact of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure on adult pulmonary function has not been clearly determined. Because adults with asthma have chronic airway inflammation, they may be a particularly susceptible group. Using data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), I examined the cross-sectional relationship between serum cotinine, a biomarker of ETS exposure, and pulmonary function among 10,581 adult nonsmokers and 440 nonsmoking adults with asthma whose cotinine and spirometry data were available. I generated residuals, which are observed minus predicted values (based on Crapo equations), for forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV1/FVC ratio to adjust for age, sex, and height. In addition, I used multivariate linear regression to control for sociodemographic characteristics and previous smoking history. Most adults with and without asthma had detectable serum cotinine levels, indicating recent ETS exposure (85.7% and 83.4%, respectively). Among nonsmoking male participants, I found no evidence that ETS exposure was related to decreased pulmonary function. In the nonsmoking female stratum, the highest cotinine tertile was associated with a lower FEV1 [-100 mL; 95% confidence interval (CI), -143 to -56 mL], FVC (-119 mL; 95% CI, -168 to -69 mL), and FEV1/FVC ratio (-1.77%; 95% CI, -2.18% to -1.36%). Among women with asthma, the highest cotinine tertile was also associated with decreased FEV1 (-261 mL; 95% CI, -492 to -30 mL), FVC (-291 mL; 95% CI, -601 to 20 mL), and FEV1/FVC ratio (-1.6%; 95% CI, -3.3% to 0.19%). In conclusion, ETS exposure is associated with decreased pulmonary function in adult females, especially those with asthma. This analysis should provide further impetus for public policies that promote smoke-free environments.

Adult↗

Environmental tobacco smoke exposure during travel among adults with asthma.

OBJECTIVES: In California, state law now prohibits smoking in most public places. We examined the prevalence and short-term health impact of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure during travel among adults with asthma. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A cohort of 374 nonsmoking adults with asthma recruited from a random sample of allergy, pulmonary, and family practice physicians in northern California underwent structured telephone interviews. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The prevalence of self-reported ETS exposure during travel in the past 12 months was substantial (30%; 95% confidence interval, 25 to 35%). Of the exposed subjects, approximately one third (34%) indicated no other regular source of ETS exposure. ETS-related cough, wheezing, or chest tightness during travel was the most common complaint (66%), followed by eye irritation (46%) and nose irritation (43%). After ETS exposure, many subjects indicated extra inhaled asthma medication use (55%). Subjects with no other regular ETS exposure reported a greater likelihood of eye irritation (58% vs 40%; p = 0.068) and nose irritation (58% vs 36%; p = 0.025) than persons with regular exposure. In contrast, there were no differences in respiratory symptoms, asthma medication use, or asthma exacerbation by regular ETS exposure status. CONCLUSIONS: In adults with asthma, ETS exposure is common during travel. For many subjects, travel is their principal source of exposure.

Adult↗

The influence of chronic respiratory conditions on health status and work disability.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the impact of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on health status and work disability. METHODS: We used data from a population-based sample of 3805 California adults. RESULTS: Compared with adults with no chronic health conditions, adults with COPD or asthma had a greater risk of self-reported diminished general health (odds ratio [OR] = 10.95; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 6.31, 19.0 and OR = 3.92; 95% CI = 2.31, 6.65, respectively). Respondents with COPD or asthma also had worse mental health status, as indicated by a greater risk of depressive symptoms (OR = 10.05; 95% CI = 5.29, 19.08 and OR = 2.59; 95% CI = 1.33, 5.04). COPD was associated with reduced current employment (OR = 0.41; 95% CI = 0.24, 0.71). CONCLUSIONS: Asthma and COPD are associated with poor health status and greater work disability.

Adolescent↗