Top news of November: Long COVID symptoms, virtual reality training, FeNO guidance and more

The Healio Editors compiled the most-read news in pulmonology posted in November.

Highlights from the previous month include updates on COVID-19 symptoms; the promise of virtual reality for airway management training; news from the North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference; guidance from the American Thoracic Society on use of FeNO to guide asthma treatment; USPSTF recommendations on COPD screening; and more.

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

COVID-19 symptoms present after 1 year in half of patients at NJ medical center: Study

Nearly half of patients who had COVID-19 and received treatment at a New Jersey medical center still experience persistent symptoms 1 year later, according to research presented at the CHEST Annual Meeting. Read more

Long-term employment in operating room linked with increased risk for COPD in female nurses

Female nurses who worked in the operating rooms for 15 years or more had an increased risk for developing COPD compared with nurses who never worked in an OR, according to data published in JAMA Network Open. Read more

Cystic fibrosis triple therapy likely contributed to exacerbation decrease during pandemic

A new study highlighted a decrease in pulmonary exacerbations during the COVID-19 pandemic among patients with cystic fibrosis receiving triple therapy with elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor. Read more

Virtual reality has potential to change airway management training

Virtual reality is being used in medicine to improve airway education and training. Read more

New ATS guideline addresses use of FeNO to guide asthma treatment

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide testing is beneficial and is recommended in addition to usual care in patients with asthma being considered for treatment, according to a new clinical practice guideline from the American Thoracic Society. Read more

USPSTF continues to recommend against screening for COPD in people without signs, symptoms

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force posted a new draft recommendation in which it continues to recommend against screening for COPD in people without signs or symptoms. Read more

Global burden of asthma decreased from 1990 to 2019

A new study in Chest highlighted a decrease in the global burden of asthma from 1990 to 2019, but prevalence of asthma continues to increase in regions with lower socioeconomic development. Read more

Short-term increases in air pollution associated with rise in pneumonia in children

Short-term increases in ambient air pollution were associated with a rise in the incidence of pneumonia in children, according to a large, community-based study in Bangladesh. Read more

Obstructive sleep apnea associated with presence, burden of coronary plaque

A new study highlights an independent association between obstructive sleep apnea and coronary plaque presence and burden, suggesting it may be a risk factor for coronary events. Read more

Role of flavored e-cigarettes on cigarette smoking uptake, cessation unclear in youth

Flavors are an important motivator for e-cigarette uptake in youth, but the role of flavored e-cigarettes on uptake of tobacco smoking or cessation remains unclear, according to a systematic review published in Addiction. Read more