Cardiovascular Features

Latest clinical trial data and news on respiratory diseases, including a report from researchers who succeeded in identifying patients with a form of severe asthma (type 2 endotype) by measuring periostin concentrations in their airways, as published in the journal Chest.

Latest clinical trial data and news on respiratory diseases, including the identification of a genetic connection between rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Latest clinical trial data and news on respiratory diseases, including a study published in the European Respiratory Journal which shows that transmission of pneumonia-causing bacteria can occur via contact between the nose and the hands after exposure to pneumococcus bacteria.

Latest clinical trial data and news on respiratory diseases, including the results of a randomised study comparing erlotinib with gemcitabine plus cisplatin as neoadjuvant treatment, as presented at the ESMO 2018 Congress in Munich.

Latest clinical trial data and news on respiratory diseases, including new research published in the European Respiratory Journal which considers physical activity as a protective factor against type 2 diabetes in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).

Latest clinical trial data and news on respiratory diseases, including a study published in European Respiratory Journal which looks at increasing physical activity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

About one quarter of the world’s population is infected with tuberculosis (TB) bacteria. Only a small proportion of those infected will become sick with TB. People with weakened immune systems such as older patients have a much greater risk of falling ill from TB. New figures show rates of TB in England have declined by a third in six years, and are currently at their lowest level in 35 years.

Asthma-COPD overlap (ACO) is when a patient has symptoms of both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These patients experience frequent exacerbations, have worse quality of life, a more rapid decline in lung function and higher mortality, and consume a disproportionate amount of healthcare resources than either asthma or COPD alone.¹

Orthostatic hypotension—also called postural hypotension—is a form of low blood pressure that happens when you stand up from sitting or lying down. This article reviews current advances in the area.

Cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation programmes are a multi-facet intervention that is offered to patients diagnosed with coronary heart disease. The programme is usually delivered over a 6-12-week period by a multi-disciplinary team focusing on the prescription and up-titration of cardio-protective medication, smoking cessation, diet, physical activity and psychological support.