This document summarizes a presentation on factors affecting health status in chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. The presentation discusses that approximately 70% of patients responded positively to antifungal treatment, while 30% deteriorated. Important factors influencing response and health include underlying diseases, smoking, physical activity, age, nutrition status, and acute chest infections. Previous tuberculosis, asthma, COPD, and pneumonia are common underlying conditions. Smoking negatively impacts lung function, and physical activity is important for health. Nutrition and avoiding chest infections also impact health status in patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis.

1. Support Meeting for
Aspergillosis Patients
LED BY GRAHAM ATHERTON
SUPPORTED BY
GEORGINA POWELL, DEBBIE KENNEDY & DEBORAH HAWKER
NAC CENTRE MANAGER CHRIS HARRIS
FACTORS EFFECTING HEALTH STATUS IN CHRONIC PULMONARY ASPERGILLOSIS
LESSONS WE HAVE LEARNED BY DR KHALED AL-SHAIR
NATIONAL ASPERGILLOSIS CENTRE
UHSM
MANCHESTER
Fungal Research Trust

2. Factors affect health status in
Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis
(CPA): lessons we have learned
Dr Khaled Al-shair MD PhD
National Aspergillosis Centre
South Manchester University Hospital
2

3. I’ve been told that my case is poor/very
poor, can I get better?
3

4. Patients gained therapeutic benefit irrespective of their
illness severity where >50% of those who had “poor”
and “very poor” at baseline improved with reduction of
≥4 scores after 6 months of treatment.
4

5. Do all patients get improved?
5

6. After treatment:
- Approximately 70% responded,
- Approximately 30% deteriorated after 6 months of
treatment,
6

7. Important factors that affect response
to anti-fungal treatment and overall
health in CPA:
1. Underlying disease(s)
2. Precipitating factors eg., smoking,
3. Physical activity
4. Other factors
A- Age
B- Nutritional status
C- Acute chest infections
7

8. Underlying disease(s):
Disease Frequency (n, (%)
Previous classical tuberculosis 15 (17)
Previous non- tuberculous 10 (11.4)
mycobacterium infection
Asthma 12 (13.6)
ABPA 11 (12.5)
COPD (± bullae) 33 (37.6)
Previous pneumothorax 17 (19.3)
Bronchiectasis 25 (28.4)
Lung cancer survivor 9 (10.3)
Pneumonia (with hospital 15 (17)
admission)
Sarcoidosis 5 (5.7)
8 Al-shair et al., Chest 2012
Felton et al., CID. 2010

9. Smoking effect on lung function:
9
Fletcher & Peto Br Med J. 1977

10. 10

11. The importance of physical activity:
11
Al-shair et al., Res. Med. 2009

12. Other Factors:
Nutritional status
Frequent Chest infections
12

13. Thank you
13

14. Thank You
“The best chance we have of beating this illness is to
work together”
Living with it, Working with it, Treating it
Fungal Infection Trust