FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CALL:
CHRISTINA SHEPHERD
212 315-6441
The following are news tips are based on stories in the January issue of the AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, published by the American Thoracic Society.
WOMEN SUFFER FROM ASTHMA MORE THAN MEN DO
According to a study of 914 patients at Kaiser Permanente in Portland, Oregon, asthmatic women in the 35-55 age group uniformly reported worse physical functioning on a quality of life scale, poorer social functioning, and more bodily pain. Hospital admissions and the use of metered dose inhalers were other categories where differences between the genders were noticable. The researchers opined that the differences may not be in the disease per se as much as how males and females handled or responded to the disease. They concluded that the understanding of these differences is important in order to tailor effective education and management plans to individual patients.
DANISH STUDY FINDS NO EVIDENCE OF BONE DENSITY REDUCTION IN ASTHMATIC
CHILDREN ON LONG-TERM CORTICOSTEROIDS
A Danish study found no evidence of bone damage in asthmatic children despite the belief of many pediatricians that such therapy does lead to bone reduction.
One handred fifty-seven children who had been treated with inhaled corticosteroid budesonide for at least three years were compared with 111 asthmatic children in a control group. Total body bone mineral density, total body bone calcium, total body bone mineral capacity, and body composition were measured. Danish researchers reported that three to six years of treatment of the study group did not result in a statistically significant difference in any category when compared with those in the control group.
NEW TYPE OF CATHETER PREVENTS INFECTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH PULMONARY ARTERY
CATHETERIZATION
The Arrow "Hands Off" (AHO) thermodilution catheter was shown to be effective in preventing systemic infections associated with prolonged pulmonary artery catheterization. The AHO is different from similar catheters in that it is completely shielded during balloon testing, preparation, and insertion. To assess its value, authors of the study conducted a randomized prospective study over an 18-month period. One hundred and fifty-patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups--those who received the thermodilution catheter routinely used in the hospital of the research team and those who received the AHO. Eight cases of infection were reported in the more traditional mode of catheterization and none were reported in the AHO group.
For the complete text of these articles, call Christina Shepherd at the
American Thoracic Society at 212 315-6441 or fax your request to her at
212 315-6456.
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