Top news of May: Long COVID, new IPF guideline, highlights from ATS and more

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

Highlights include a study that found persistent symptoms following COVID-19 was common; a new clinical practice guideline from the American Thoracic Society on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and progressive fibrotic interstitial lung diseases; research presented at the ATS International Conference on asthma, COVID-19, awake prone positioning; and more.

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

55% of patients have persistent symptoms 2 years after COVID-19 infection

More than half of patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19 reported at least one persistent symptom 2 years post-infection, regardless of initial disease severity, researchers reported in Lancet Respiratory Medicine. Read more

ATS issues new clinical practice guideline on IPF, progressive fibrotic ILDs

Fixed-dose albuterol-budesonide rescue inhaler cuts severe asthma attack risk: MANDALA

In patients with uncontrolled moderate to severe asthma, a fixed-dose combination of albuterol and budesonide used as an as-needed rescue medication lowered risk for severe asthma exacerbations compared with albuterol alone. Read more

Inhaled interferon falls short for COVID-19 discharge, recovery but hints of other benefits: SPRINTER

Treatment with inhaled interferon beta failed to improve discharge and recovery in patients hospitalized with moderate COVID-19, according to results of the phase 3 SPRINTER trial. Read more

High levels of synthetic cooling agents in e-cigarettes may exceed safety thresholds

In a new study, researchers detected the presence of synthetic cooling agents in U.S.-marketed e-cigarettes, at levels that may exceed current safety thresholds. Read more

Oral phosphodiesterase 4B inhibitor shows promise for preventing lung function decline in IPF

Treatment with an oral preferential phosphodiesterase 4B inhibitor prevented lung function decline among patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, regardless of background antifibrotic therapy use. Read more

COVI-PRONE: Awake prone positioning did not reduce endotracheal intubation vs. usual care

Awake prone positioning did not reduce endotracheal intubation at 30 days compared with usual care in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure from COVID-19, according to results of the COVI-PRONE trial. Read more

NAVIGATOR: Nearly half of patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma improved with tezepelumab

A higher proportion of patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma treated with tezepelumab achieved on-treatment clinical response compared with patients treated with placebo, according to a new NAVIGATOR study analysis. Read more

COVID-19 vaccination may cause acute IPF exacerbation

Immune responses to COVID-19 vaccinations may trigger acute exacerbations in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis among susceptible patients, according to data published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Read more

Smartphone-recorded sleep breathing shows promise for obstructive sleep apnea prediction

Sleep breathing sounds recorded via smartphone yielded fair prediction of obstructive sleep apnea, researchers reported in JAMA Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery. Read more