Top news from CHEST: COVID-19, voice-based screening, new treatment options and more

The Healio editors have compiled a list of the most-read news from the virtual CHEST Annual 2020 Meeting.

Highlights from CHEST include a keynote by Anthony S. Fauci, MD, on COVID-19 vaccine development and treatments, possible treatments and risk scores for mechanical ventilation in patients with COVID-19, voice-based screening for respiratory conditions and lung cancer screening guidelines among Black smokers. Read these articles and others, below, in no particular order.

Fauci ‘cautiously optimistic’ about safe, effective COVID-19 vaccine by end of year

COVID-19 took center stage at the virtual CHEST Annual Meeting, with a keynote by Anthony S. Fauci, MD. Read more

Convalescent plasma may be safe, effective late-stage treatment for COVID-19

Results from a small case series provided preliminary evidence that convalescent plasma therapy appears to be a safe and effective late-stage treatment for patients with COVID-19 infection. Read more

Undiagnosed OSA associated with increased costs, readmission in patients with heart failure

Previously undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea in patients hospitalized with congestive heart failure was associated with increased costs and readmissions at 3 and 6 months compared with patients without sleep-disordered breathing, researchers reported. Read more

Simple risk score may predict need for mechanical ventilation in COVID-19

Researchers developed a novel risk score to predict risk for mechanical ventilation among hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Read more

Marijuana use may impact mortality in adults hospitalized with COPD exacerbation

A new study found that marijuana users who were hospitalized for a COPD exacerbation had lower odds of in-hospital mortality compared with nonusers. Read more

Inhaled formulation of vardenafil for as-needed use shows promise in PAH

An inhaled formulation of the PDE5 inhibitor vardenafil, in development for as-needed use for episodic symptoms of pulmonary arterial hypertension, yielded improvements in pulmonary hemodynamics, according to results of a phase 2a trial. Read more

Voice-based screening for chronic respiratory conditions shows promise

In a new study, automated voice and breath analysis was associated with good predictive accuracy of FVC and FEV₁ and classification of obstructed vs. nonobstructed lung disease. Read more

Lefamulin safe, effective monotherapy alternative for older adults with CABP

Lefamulin demonstrated high early clinical response and was safe in patients with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia with advanced age and comorbidities, according to a post hoc, pooled analysis of the LEAP 1 and LEAP 2 trials. Read more

Current lung cancer screening guidelines miss many young, high-risk, Black smokers

A new study that evaluated the applicability of newer individual risk-based prediction models for lung cancer screening highlights a need for new lung cancer screening methods that focus on population demographics and smoking history. Read more

Critically ill patients with cancer, COVID-19 at high risk for severe disease, mortality

New data presented at the virtual CHEST Annual Meeting add to the growing body of evidence of the increased risk for mortality and severe disease in patients with cancer and COVID-19. Read more