Top pulmonology news in July: COVID-19 updates, smoking cessation guidance and more

The Healio editors have compiled a list of the most-read pulmonology news published in July.

Healio readers were most interested in the latest research on COVID-19, including potential treatments, prone positioning and racial disparities; new guidance on pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation; FDA approval of inhaled triple therapy for COPD; and more. Read these articles, and others, below, in no particular order.

Advanced age, dyspnea, heart disease risk factors for fatal outcome from COVID-19

A team of researchers created a prognostic nomogram that accurately predicted risk factors associated with mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 based on individual features, according to data published in Chest. Read more

Asthma, allergies more common in adolescents who sleep late

Adolescent circadian preference may be associated with the development of asthma and allergies, according to data published in ERJ Open Research. Read more

Inhaled interferon beta shows promise for severe COVID-19

Inhaled interferon beta lowered the risk for developing severe infection and improved the likelihood of recovery from COVID-19 compared with placebo, according to early data released by Synairgen. Read more

Medical expenditures attributable to asthma, COPD substantial among US workers

In a CDC study, total annualized medical expenditures in U.S. workers from 2011 to 2015 were $7 billion for asthma-related events and $5 billion for COPD-related events, according to data published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Read more

Varenicline recommended over patch, bupropion as initial treatment for smoking cessation

The American Thoracic Society issued a new clinical practice guideline that outlines recommendations for initiating pharmacologic treatment for smoking cessation in tobacco-dependent adults. Read more

Prone positioning may improve oxygenation in patients with COVID-19-related pneumonia

Prone positioning was feasible and effective in rapidly improving blood oxygenation in spontaneously breathing, nonintubated patients with COVID-19-related pneumonia, according to data published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. Read more

FDA approves triple inhaled therapy for COPD

The FDA has approved triple inhaled therapy for maintenance treatment of patients with COPD, according to a press release from AstraZeneca. Read more

COVID-19-related gene expression higher in specific asthma subgroups

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and transmembrane protease serine 2 mediate SARS-COV-2 entry into host cells. Higher expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in sputum cells of patients with asthma identified subgroups at risk of COVID-19 morbidity. Read more

Nintedanib reduces ILD progression irrespective of underlying diagnosis

Treatment with nintedanib slowed the rate of interstitial lung disease progression in patients with chronic fibrosing ILD and progressive phenotype, irrespective of their underlying ILD diagnosis, according to analysis of the INBUILD trial. Read more

Black individuals at higher risk for COVID-19 infection, hospitalization

Black individuals are twice as likely to test positive for SARS-CoV-2 and require hospitalization compared with white individuals, according to a retrospective analysis published in Annals of the American Thoracic Society. Read more