COPD year in review: Screening, increasing temperatures and worsening symptoms, and more

The Healio Editors compiled a list of the most-read COPD news published in 2021.

Highlights from the previous year include a study that found increasing temperatures are linked with worsening COPD symptoms; severe COVID-19 risk predicted by genetics and pre-existing COPD; new USPSTF recommendations for COPD screening; improving inhaler technique; effect of portable air cleaners on respiratory outcomes in former smokers with COPD; and more.

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

Increasing temperatures linked to worsening COPD symptoms

Warmer weather was associated with worsening COPD symptoms, as early as 2 days after a rise in ambient temperature, in adults with COPD, according to data presented at the virtual European Respiratory Society International Congress. Read more

Genetic risk, preexisting COPD may predict risk for severe COVID-19

High genetic risk and preexisting COPD are both independently associated with increased risk for severe COVID-19, researchers reported in the Annals of 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

Paradoxical bronchospasm ‘a rare and unrecognized’ phenotype of veterans with COPD, asthma

According to findings reported at the CHEST Annual Meeting, paradoxical bronchospasm is rare and is not generally reported in spirometry test results of U.S. veterans with COPD or asthma. 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

Many patients with COPD use inhalers incorrectly; short trainings can improve technique

In a new study, a high proportion of patients with COPD used their pressurized metered dose inhalers incorrectly, but inhaler techniques improved with short trainings in the clinic. Read more

Inhaled hyaluronan improves lung function in patients with severe COPD: pilot study

Inhaled high-molecular-weight hyaluronan shortened the duration of respiratory failure and need for noninvasive ventilation in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD. Read more

Portable air cleaners may improve respiratory outcomes in former smokers with COPD

Portable air cleaners improved respiratory outcomes among former smokers with COPD, with the greatest benefit found in those with greater adherence and those who spent more time indoors, according to results of the CLEAN AIR STUDY. Read more

Younger adults with COPD experience significant morbidity, excess mortality

Younger adults with COPD have elevated rates of health care utilization and excess mortality. Read more

Various air pollutants, meteorological factors associated with COPD exacerbations

Researchers reported nine air pollutants and meteorological factors are associated with an increase in the incidence of COPD exacerbations, for a lag time of up to 10 days. Read more