Top news of April: COVID-19 updates, COPD misclassification, highlights from SCCM and more

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

Highlights include a study on COPD misclassification in older adults; new electronic nose technology for diagnosis of sarcoidosis; news from the Society of Critical Care Medicine Congress; and more.

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

Long-term lung abnormalities common 1 year after COVID-19 pneumonia

Long-term CT abnormalities were common up to 1 year after COVID-19 pneumonia in a study published in Radiology. Read more

COPD misclassification common in older adults

Among older adults, COPD misclassification is high and is associated with higher respiratory symptom burden, health care utilization and lower physical performance, compared with the general population. Read more

Inhaled therapy receives FDA breakthrough designation for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis

The FDA granted breakthrough therapy designation to colistimethate sodium powder for nebulization solution to reduce pulmonary exacerbations in adults with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Read more

Electronic nose technology may facilitate accurate diagnosis of sarcoidosis

Electronic nose technology accurately distinguished patients with sarcoidosis from those with interstitial lung disease and healthy controls, researchers reported in Chest. Read more

Burnout, stress, uncertainty: Pandemic reaps widespread effects on critical care teams

Caring for the care professional is key during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the topic of a panel discussion at the Society of Critical Care Medicine Congress. Read more

Bronchiolitis tied to respiratory morbidity that persists into young adulthood

Long-term outcomes of bronchiolitis in infancy include a higher prevalence of asthma and more obstructive lung function patterns in young adulthood, researchers reported in BMJ Open Respiratory Research. Read more

Sleep apnea-related mortality continuously increased in Black men in US over past 2 decades

A recent study published in Sleep Medicine highlights an uptrend in sleep-related mortality and associated cardiovascular disease outcomes among Black men in the U.S. Read more

Respiratory muscle wasting associated with mortality in patients with severe COVID-19

The presence of respiratory muscle wasting in patients with severe COVID-19 was associated with increased in-patient mortality, according to a study presented at the Society of Critical Care Medicine Congress. Read more

E-cigarettes contribute to unsuccessful nicotine quit attempts by adolescents

A recent study published in JAMA highlights the prevalence of unsuccessful quit attempts among adolescents who use either e-cigarettes or cigarettes over the past 13 years. Read more

Racial, ethnic disparities persist in pediatric acute care use for asthma

A new study highlights different patterns of clinic and ED acute care use for asthma among non-Hispanic Black and bilingual Latino children compared with non-Hispanic white children. Read more