TableShellsv4_MLH_KF.xlsx (17.2 KB)

For Table 3 "Alternative Explanations", suggest adding a category for chronic respiratory disease since some (e.g. COPD) may be risk factors for pneumothorax. For comparing to EVALI, consider adding comparison of symptoms to evaluate differences in clinical presentation. 

I agree with both of these comments. 

Additionally, a few thoughts:
- Table 1: Heart Disease and Anxiety/Depression are listed as "Clinical Risk Factors" but I have found no evidence in the literature that this is the case for either pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum (and do we have any evidence that these are EVALI risk factors either? I know there was an association between EVALI cases an Anxiety/Depression, but I believe it's more plausible that those are risk factors for vaping/smoking/substance use in general, NOT for EVALI.) 
Reccomend that these are removed or at least put under a section of "comorbidities" 

- Table 3: There are risk factors for PT/PM that are not captured in the EVALI investigation, such as: Blebs on chest X-Ray, episodes of strenuous coughing or vomiting, possibly other recreational activities such as strenous exercise or motorcycle riding. I propose that we include these, although we won't have the same data to compare to EVALI cases (unless they're the few cases that meet both descriptions and we can ask thoses cases specifically)

- Table 4: For cases with NO infiltrates, there are both Pneumo and EVALI cases listed under this category. However, EVALI is defined by the presence of infiltrates, so this doesn't make sense. If we are comparing the NO Infiltrates PT/PM cases with total EVALI cases that's fine, but we'll need to move EVALI cases out from under the "NO infiltrates" header.

- I guess we can only look at risk factors that are shared by EVALI and PT/PM in this section? There are other clinical/behavioral risk factors that we won't have comparison data for. (See comments on Table 3 above)

 I am trying to work those in to the tables now and will upload a new version shortly. I'd greatly appreciate feedback/discussion. 

And one more comment re: Table 2: If we have cases that vape something other than THC/NICOTINE, we will need to include additional columns to capture this.