Top news of January: Lung transplant for COVID-19, sleep apnea-COPD overlap and more

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

Highlights include new research on hyperbaric oxygen as an adjuvant treatment for patients with COVID-19 and hypoxemia; lung transplantation for severe, irreversible lung damage caused by COVID-19; outcomes associated with obstructive sleep apnea-COPD overlap syndrome; updates in chronic cough; and more.

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

Hyperbaric oxygen safe, effective adjuvant treatment for patients with COVID-19, hypoxemia

Hyperbaric oxygen was safe and effective for treating patients with COVID-19 and severe hypoxemia, researchers reported in Emergency Medicine Journal. Read more

Lung transplant ‘may be an acceptable treatment’ for some with COVID-19 respiratory failure

Of more than 3,000 lung transplants performed in the U.S. from August 2020 to Sept. 30, 2021, 7% were performed to treat severe, irreversible lung damage caused by COVID-19, researchers reported in The New England Journal of Medicine. Read more

Obstructive sleep apnea-COPD overlap syndrome common, linked with poor outcomes

Obstructive sleep apnea and COPD overlap syndrome is common and is associated with worse outcomes, poorer quality of life and a higher prevalence of comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension compared with COPD only. Read more

FDA declines approval of gefapixant for chronic cough

The FDA has issued a complete response letter declining to approve a new drug application for gefapixant to treat adults with refractory and unexplained chronic cough, according to a press release issued by Merck. Read more

Asthma severity tied to more severe COVID-19 outcomes

In a new study, all asthma phenotypes were associated with risk for more severe COVID-19 outcomes, except for type 2 inflammation. Read more

Secondhand nicotine vape exposure linked with risk for bronchitic symptoms in young adults

In young adults, secondhand nicotine vape exposure was associated with an increased risk for bronchitic symptoms and shortness of breath. Read more

Study identifies two distinct subphenotypes of ARDS

Researchers identified two new distinct subphenotypes of adults with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Read more

COVID-19 pandemic impacting smoking prevalence in minority populations

A media briefing hosted by the University of California, San Francisco, Smoking Cessation Leadership Center and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on smoking disparities in minority populations. Read more

Chronic cough common, especially in older adults

Chronic cough is common among adults living in Austria and is highly prevalent among older individuals. Read more

Daily e-cigarette use boosted odds of cigarette discontinuation in those without a plan to quit

Among smokers who did not have an initial plan to stop smoking, daily e-cigarette use was associated with higher odds of cigarette discontinuation. Read more