Exercise programs are a mainstay of pulmonary rehabilitation for COPD. COPD patients with elevated PCO2 are severely impaired and might benefit from rehabilitation more than other patients. However, there is no systematic data to indicate that hypercapnic COPD patients benefit from intensive rehabilitation. Indeed, in patients with hypercapnia, increased exercise might overtax respiratory muscles, which are weak relative to those of eucapnic patients. To investigate this issue, we reviewed all COPD patients admitted to our pulmonary inpatient program from 1983 to 1986 (n = 317). The program includes multiple daily sessions of upper and lower extremity exercise to tolerance. We assessed admission and discharge pulmonary function tests, arterial blood gases (room air), and functional status. Ambulation distance on a 6-min walk test was used as an objective measure of functional status. Patients were grouped according to the results of their admission room air PCO2. We found that eucapnic patients (n = 197) significantly increased ambulation (admission to discharge) from 409 to 816 feet (p less than 0.001). Hypercapnic patients improved as well. Patients with moderate hypercapnia (PCO2, 45 to 54 mm Hg; n = 86) increased their ambulation from 330 to 663 feet (p less than 0.0001). Patients with severe hypercapnia (PCO2 greater than 54 mm Hg; n = 34) increased their ambulation from 336 to 597 feet (p less than 0.0001). We found a small but significant improvement in discharge pulmonary function and arterial blood gas results. We conclude that COPD patients with hypercapnia, despite severe ventilatory impairment and weak respiratory muscles, tolerate exercise well and benefit significantly from intensive inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation.
Venous COHb concentrations predict arterial COHb concentrations with a high degree of accuracy and are correlated at low, moderate, and high concentrations of carbon monoxide exposure. Arterial or venous samples can be used to accurately measure COHb concentrations.
Background The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Uganda Ministry of Health recommend differentiated service delivery models (DSDMs) as patient-centered antiretroviral therapy (ART) mechanisms for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) with undetectable viral loads. We studied patient satisfaction with ART services, and its associated factors amongst PLHIV enrolled in DSDMs in Uganda. Methods This cross-sectional study involved a random sample of PLHIV accessing DSDM-related ART at nine facilities in East Central Uganda. Eligible patients were adult PLHIV (≥18 years), on ART, and enrolled for at least 12 months in one of three DSDMs: Community Client-Led ART Delivery (CCLAD), Community Drug Distribution Points (CDDP), or Fast-Track Drug Refill (FTDR). We collected data from June to July 2019. A validated tool measured satisfaction. General Estimating Equations with modified Poisson regression and exchangeable correlation structures accounted for clustering at health facilities and identified DSDM-related satisfaction factors. Results Of 842 participants enrolled, 530 (63.5%) accessed HIV care through CDDP, 166 (20.1%) through CCLAD, and 146 (16.3%) through FTDR; 541 (64.2%) were satisfied with DSDM services: 78.7% in CDDP, 42.8% in CCLAD, and 36.3% in FTDR. The delivery and treatment factors positively associated with satisfaction included: being enrolled on CDDP [adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) = 1.51, 95% CI:1.47–1.56] or FTDR [aPR = 1.47, 95% CI:1.26–1.71] relative to CCLAD and being enrolled in a DSDM for more than 3 years [aPR = 1.28, 95% CI:1.11–1.48]. Poor ART adherence [aPR = 0.33, 95% CI:0.19–0.56] and having a baseline WHO HIV stage of 3 or 4 [aPR = 0.36, 95% CI:0.20–0.64] relative to stages 1 and 2 were negatively associated. Among socioeconomic factors, having lower transport costs (< $1.35) per clinic visit [aPR = 1.34, 95% CI:1.17–1.53], being employed [aPR = 1.61, 95% CI:1.38–1.87], and being single [aPR = 1.10, 95% CI:1.08–1.13] were positively associated with satisfaction; drinking alcohol at least once a week [aPR = 0.77, 95% CI:0.63–0.93] was negatively associated with patient satisfaction. Conclusions Results showed that 64.2% of patients were satisfied with DSDM services. HIV service delivery and treatment factors (DSDM type, time in DSDM, WHO stage, ART adherence), plus social factors (employment and marital status, transport costs, alcohol consumption), were associated with patient satisfaction. DSDM implementers should tailor services to address these factors to improve patient satisfaction.
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