National survey on the presence of multidisciplinary meetings for interstitial lung diseases (ILD-MDM) in hospitals in Germany.

Background: Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) represent an interdisciplinary clinical challenge and are not uncommonly associated with rheumatological diseases. Interstitial lung disease multidisciplinary meetings (ILD-MDM) provide a structured platform for interdisciplinary case discussions and decision making. Despite their great importance in patient care, data on the prevalence, structure and function of ILD-MDM in Germany are lacking.

Long-term outcomes of dupilumab therapy in severe asthma: A retrospective, multicenter, real-world study.

Background: Dupilumab is an IL-4Rα antibody approved for treatment of severe asthma. Real-world data on the continuation and cessation patterns of dupilumab and long-term treatment efficacy are scarce.

Objective: We sought to analyze real-world, long-term treatment outcomes and to evaluate trajectories of patients continuing or discontinuing dupilumab therapy over a 3-year period.

[National survey on the presence of multidisciplinary meetings for interstitial lung diseases (ILD-MDM) in hospitals in Germany].

Background:  Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) represent an interdisciplinary clinical challenge and are not uncommonly associated with rheumatological diseases. Interstitial lung disease multidisciplinary meetings (ILD-MDM) provide a structured platform for interdisciplinary case discussions and decision making. Despite their great importance in patient care, data on the prevalence, structure and function of ILD-MDM in Germany are lacking.

[National survey on the presence of multidisciplinary meetings for interstitial lung diseases (ILD-MDM) in hospitals in Germany. German version].

Background: Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) represent an interdisciplinary clinical challenge and are not uncommonly associated with rheumatological diseases. Interstitial lung disease multidisciplinary meetings (ILD-MDM) provide a structured platform for interdisciplinary case discussions and decision making. Despite their great importance in patient care, data on the prevalence, structure and function of ILD-MDM in Germany are lacking.

Characteristics of Older Individuals with Asthma Being Treated with Biologics.

Purpose: Biologic (antibody) therapy is a safe, effective, and guideline-recommended treatment for patients with severe and otherwise uncontrolled asthma. The number of older individuals with asthma is increasing but there is a lack of data on the use of biologics in this cohort. Therefore, this study reports the characteristics of older individuals receiving biologic therapy for severe asthma.

Unmet needs of patients with COPD in Germany: a retrospective, cross-sectional study.

Background: Earlier diagnosis and treatment of COPD, particularly preventing exacerbations, are key to slowing disease progression and reducing mortality. This study focused on the identification of patients in Germany with unstable COPD due to suboptimal treatments.

Methods: The IQVIA™ LRx database, capturing 80% of Statutory Health Insurance prescriptions was used to identify patients with COPD using a machine-learning model.

Real-life characteristics and management of patients with fibrosing interstitial lung disease: INSIGHTS-ILD registry.

Background: This study aims to report real-life data on the characteristics and treatment patterns of patients with fibrosing interstitial lung disease (ILD; except idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) across multiple specialised centres in Germany. Eligibility criteria included ILD affecting >10% of lung parenchyma on high-resolution computed tomography, a single breath diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide ( ) ≤80% predicted and active treatment of lung disease.

Methods: As of the interim analysis cut-off, 655 patients (mean±sd age 65.

Which people with severe asthma attend pulmonary rehabilitation? Insights from the German Asthma Net.

https://bit.ly/4fjzoo1.

(Pre-) atherosclerotic vessel changes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and eosinophilia.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is accompanied by systemic inflammation and an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis and abdominal aortic aneurysms. Eosinophilic inflammation is common in COPD, but little is known about the role of eosinophilia in atherogenesis.

Objective: The study aims to investigate a possible link between the blood eosinophil count (BEC) in stable COPD patients and arterial vessel changes of the infrarenal abdominal aorta (AA) and common carotid arteries (CCAs).

Factors Associated With Relapse in Patients With Neurosarcoidosis.

Background And Objectives: Five to 10 percent of patients with sarcoidosis show involvement of the nervous system. Given the serious nature of neurosarcoidosis and the high risk of irreversible neurologic damage, rapid diagnosis, accurate prognostication, and individualized treatment are crucial. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with relapses in neurosarcoidosis.

Mono and combination therapies in pulmonary arterial hypertension patients with comorbidities: A COMPERA analysis.

Aims: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is often diagnosed in elderly patients with comorbidities. Although initial monotherapy is recommended for these patients, the value of combination therapy remains unclear. Here, we compare the efficacy of initial monotherapy and combination therapy in PAH patients with cardiovascular comorbidities.

Blood Eosinophil Count in Asthma Is Associated With Increased Abdominal Aortic Diameter and Increased Vascular Stiffness.

Background: Asthma is associated with atherosclerosis and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). However, the underlying pathomechanisms remain elusive. Blood eosinophil count (BEC) is implicated in both eosinophilic asthma and arterial wall inflammation.

German Asthma Net: Characterisation of responders to anti-IL-5 and anti-IL-5(R) therapy.

Introduction: Previous studies of anti-IL-5/IL-5(R) therapies in severe asthma found that response was mainly predicted by indicators of good baseline disease control. However, long-term response predictors remain unclear.

Methods: Responders to anti-IL-5/IL-5(R) therapy in the well-characterised, real-life, international German Asthma Net (GAN) registry were analysed using regression analyses.

The Impact of Smoking History on Baseline Characteristic in Patients With Severe Asthma in the German Asthma Net (GAN).

Background: Patients with asthma with >10 pack-years are frequently excluded from asthma trials. Little is known about how smoking affects their characteristics and therefore may impact treatment choices.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of cumulative smoking history on the characteristics of patients with severe asthma.

Impact of Smoking on Biological Treatment Response in Patients From the German Severe Asthma (GAN) Registry.

Background: Clinical studies of biologics in severe asthma exclude smokers or ex-smokers (ExS) with over 10 pack-years (py). Thus, the effectiveness of this therapy in ExS with severe asthma is not well understood.

Objectives: To assess the impact of smoking on clinical efficiency of biologics in patients with severe asthma from the German Asthma Net, a comprehensive international registry.

Comparing multi-texture fibrosis analysis versus binary opacity-based abnormality detection for quantitative assessment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Automated tools for quantification of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) can aid in ensuring reproducibility, however their complexity and costs can differ substantially. In this retrospective study, two automated tools were compared in 45 patients with biopsy proven (12/45) and imaging-based (33/45) IPF diagnosis (mean age 74 ± 9 years, 37 male) for quantification of pulmonary fibrosis in CT. First, a tool that identifies multiple characteristic lung texture features was applied to measure multi-texture fibrotic lung (MTFL) by combining the amount of ground glass, reticulation, and honeycombing.

The Influence of Emphysema on Treatment Response to Biologic Therapy in Severe Asthma.

Background: Patients with severe asthma (SA) benefit from biologic therapy substantially. However, the impact of smoking-related comorbidities remains unclear due to the exclusion of patients with ≥10 pack-years from asthma studies. Our aim was to examine the effects of emphysema on biologic treatment response in SA in this retrospective cohort study.

Maintenance OCS Were Used More Frequently Than Biologics in Patients with Uncontrolled GINA 4/5 Asthma in Germany in 2019.

Purpose: Asthma is affecting 4-5% of all adults (10% of children) in Germany, ≥ half are inadequately controlled. In 2019 up to 54 thousand patients suffered from severe uncontrolled asthma, 52% were treated/co-treated by pneumonologists. 45% of them had continuous oral corticosteroid (OCS)- and short-acting β2-agonist (SABA) overuse for ≥2 years.

Unleashing the potential of eHealth in outpatient cancer care for patients undergoing immunotherapy-a quantitative study considering patients' needs and current healthcare challenges.

Background: The use of online information and communication is globally increasing in the healthcare sector. In addition to known benefits in other medical fields, possible specific potentials of eHealth lie in the monitoring of oncological patients undergoing outpatient therapy. Specifically, the treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) requires intensive monitoring due to various possible negative side effects.