Top news of November: COVID-19 updates, night-shift raises asthma risk, benralizumab benefit and more

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

Highlights from November include a study that compared outcomes among critically ill patients with COVID-19 vs. those with flu; undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea in patients with heart failure; using high SARS-CoV-2 genomic load at the time of hospital admission to predict adverse outcomes in patients with COVID-19; early tracheostomy in patients with COPD; and more. Read these articles, and others, below, in no particular order.

Critically ill patients with COVID-19 have worse outcomes vs. those with flu, study finds

A new study provides insights on the clinical features and outcomes of critically ill patients hospitalized with COVID-19 vs. influenza, and shows higher risk for mortality and worse outcomes in those with COVID-19. 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

Decreases in pediatric asthma linked to reduced antibiotics, changes in gut bacteria

The incidence of asthma in children declined 26% from 2000 to 2014 in British Columbia, Canada, and researchers have linked the decrease to reductions in early antibiotic exposure, mediated by changes in gut microbiota. Read more

High SARS-CoV-2 genomic load at time of hospital admission may predict adverse outcomes

The amount of RNA, or genomic load, of SARS-CoV-2 detected in swab tests of patients admitted to the hospital with viral pneumonia is associated with more severe outcomes, researchers reported in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society. Read more

Benralizumab eliminates oral corticosteroid use in certain patients with severe asthma

Benralizumab eliminated the use of maintenance oral corticosteroids in oral corticosteroid-dependent patients with severe asthma with a broad range of blood eosinophil counts, according to high-level results of the phase 3b PONENTE trial. Read more

Early tracheostomy yields mortality benefit in mechanically ventilated patients with COPD

Early tracheostomy within 9 days of mechanical ventilation was associated with lower 90-day mortality and hospital length of stay compared with late tracheostomy in patients with COPD, according to results of a retrospective study. 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

Inhaled corticosteroids fail to protect against COVID-19-related death in asthma, COPD

A new study found no benefit of inhaled corticosteroid use in protecting against COVID-19-related mortality in patients with asthma and COPD. Read more

Insights on ventilation management, clinical outcomes in COVID-19

During the first month of the COVID-19 outbreak in the Netherlands, there was broad use of lung-protective ventilation with low tidal volume and low driving pressure and prone positioning, according to results of the PRoVENT-COVID study. Read more

Permanent night-shift work may elevate risk for moderate to severe asthma

Adults who work permanent night shifts may have an increased risk for moderate to severe asthma, according to findings from an observational study published in Thorax. Read more