Top news of January: COVID-19 updates, expanded use of cystic fibrosis therapies and more

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

Highlights from last month include a study on persistent poor health after COVID-19 and initial severity of infection; a link between obstructive sleep apnea and male infertility; death due to pulmonary dysfunction in COVID-19; and the effect of elevated HbA1c levels on asthma-related hospitalization.

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

Persistent poor health after COVID-19 appears unrelated to initial severity of infection

Persistent poor health following COVID-19 does not appear to be associated with severity of initial infection, researchers reported in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society. Read more

OSA may increase male infertility risk

New data suggest that obstructive sleep apnea may be a risk factor for infertility in men, researchers reported in JAMA Network Open. Read more

Death due to pulmonary dysfunction common in COVID-19

Pulmonary dysfunction and septic shock were the most common causes of death in a cohort of patients hospitalized with COVID-19, according to a new study published in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society. Read more

Behavior change intervention aimed at increasing physical activity improves asthma control

A comprehensive behavior change intervention aimed at increasing physical activity yielded improvements in clinical control, sedentary time, sleep quality and anxiety in adults with moderate to severe asthma. Read more

FDA approves expanded use of three cystic fibrosis therapies

The FDA has approved expanded indications for three medications for the treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis with specific mutations in the CFTR gene, according to press release from Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Read more

Multiple-breath washout testing may identify lung disease in symptomatic military personnel

Use of multiple-breath washout testing was useful for detecting airway disease in symptomatic military personnel following deployment, researchers reported in Respiratory Medicine. Read more

Sexual identity, inhaled substance use may impact adolescent asthma risk

A new study highlights a link between risk for asthma and sexual identity and inhaled substance use among adolescents. Read more

Concomitant statin therapy yields benefit on IPF progression

Statin therapy may have a significant benefit on progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, according to results of a retrospective study published in Respiratory Medicine. Read more

Pulmonary embolism detected in 6% of patients with COPD, worsening respiratory symptoms

Using a diagnostic algorithm, pulmonary embolism was detected in nearly 6% of patients hospitalized with COPD with acute worsening of respiratory symptoms, according to a study published in JAMA. Read more

Elevated HbA1c may raise risk for asthma-related hospitalization, impaired lung function

Elevated HbA1c level was associated with increased risk for asthma-related hospitalizations and a small decrease in lung function in adults with asthma who did not have diabetes, researchers reported. Read more