Top news of December: New asthma guidance, COVID-19, home oxygen therapy for COPD and ILD

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

Highlights from last month include new guidance from the NIH on diagnosis, management and treatment of asthma in adolescents and adults; the association between antibiotic exposure and maternal prenatal medication on childhood asthma development; the impact of COVID-19 preprint data on critical care practice; and new recommendations for home oxygen therapy for adults with COPD and interstitial lung disease.

Read these articles, and others, below, in no particular order.

NIH updates guidance for diagnosis, management, treatment of asthma

The NIH released new recommendations for the diagnosis, management and treatment of asthma in adolescents and adults, the first updates to federal comprehensive asthma guidelines in more than a decade. Read more

Early life antibiotic exposure linked to respiratory conditions in childhood

Early antibiotic exposure during the first 2 years of life was significantly associated with the development of several distinct respiratory conditions, including asthma and allergic rhinitis, later in childhood. Read more

COVID-19 preprint data led to ‘immediate, dramatic change’ in critical care practice

Preprint data on the use of dexamethasone influenced clinical practice in treating patients with COVID-19 in Australia, researchers reported. Read more

Maternal asthma medication associated with premature birth, low birth weight

Asthma medication prescription before or during pregnancy was associated with a higher prevalence of premature birth and lower birth weight among infants, particularly if medication was discontinued during pregnancy. Read more

ATS issues new guidance on home oxygen therapy for adults with COPD, ILD

A new guideline issued by the American Thoracic Society addresses long-term and ambulatory home oxygen therapy use in patients with COPD and interstitial lung disease. Read more

Steep decline in pediatric ED visits for asthma during COVID-19 shutdown

Pediatric ED visits for asthma in Massachusetts decreased 80% this year during the spring COVID-19 surge and lockdown, researchers reported in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society. Read more

Obesity, overweight worsen health-related quality of life in patients with PAH

Obesity and overweight were associated with worse health-related quality of life and increased risk for hospitalization in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, according to data published in Annals of the American Thoracic Society. Read more

One-third of young adults with asthma ignore COVID-19 preventive measures, study finds

Awareness of COVID-19 guidelines is high among young adults with asthma in Mexico, but nearly one-third do not comply with basic prevention measures to mitigate the spread of infection, researchers reported in the Journal of Asthma. Read more

Pulse oximeter readings more likely to be inaccurate in Black vs. white patients

New data published in The New England Journal of Medicine suggest potential racial bias in pulse oximetry measurement. Read more

Hormonal contraceptive use may reduce severe asthma exacerbations in women

Previous and current use of hormonal contraceptives was associated with a small beneficial effect on asthma exacerbations in reproductive-aged, according to data published in Thorax. Read more