Top news of November: Pulse oximeter disparities, conducting home mold assessments

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

Highlights include an FDA panel’s discussion on pulse oximeter accuracy among patients with darker skin pigmentation; an ineffective higher dose of early active mobilization for patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation; the importance of home mold assessments; a greater risk for ischemic heart disease among patients with asthma; two screening tools for predicting underlying cardiopulmonary disease in sleep studies; and more.

Read these and more top stories in pulmonology below:

FDA panel: Pulse oximeters show clear ‘disparate performance’ for darker skin pigmentation

At a Medical Devices Advisory Committee meeting held Nov. 1, panelists recommended improvements to the FDA regarding pulse oximeters and their accuracy among patients with darker skin pigmentation. Read more.

Higher dose of early active mobilization appears ineffective, ‘potentially harmful’

Patients receiving mechanical ventilation who underwent early active mobilization at a higher dose than usual did not survive significantly longer than patients receiving standard mobilization, according to study results. Read more.

Speaker: Clinicians should be prepared to advise patients on home mold remediation

As climate change increases the prevalence of damp indoor environments, which can exacerbate respiratory symptoms and diseases, clinicians should be able to advise patients on safe home mold assessment, a speaker said at CHEST Annual Meeting. Read more.

Moderate, severe asthma increases risk for ischemic heart disease

Patients with asthma had a greater risk for ischemic heart disease compared with those without asthma, according to research presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting. Read more.

Sleep study measurements predict underlying cardiopulmonary disease

Among patients undergoing a sleep study, two oxygenation benchmarks demonstrated utility as screening tools for predicting underlying cardiopulmonary disease, according to study results. Read more.

FDA panel votes against sabizabulin EUA for COVID-19 at risk for ARDS

The FDA’s Pulmonary-Allergy Drug Advisory Committee voted 8-5, leaning against granting sabizabulin emergency use authorization to treat patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who are at risk for acute respiratory distress syndrome. Read more.

Military personnel exposed to inorganic dust at risk for COPD

Researchers found a 25% increased risk for COPD among U.S. military veterans who took part in duties that had moderate or high likelihoods of exposure to inorganic dust, according to a research letter published in Chest. Read more.

All-cause mortality rates in COPD similar for Black, white individuals

In a cohort of patients with COPD, researchers observed no significant differences in all-cause mortality between Black and white individuals, although there were differences regarding comorbidity-related mortality, study results showed. Read more.

Albuterol-budesonide decreases asthma deteriorations, exacerbations

Patients treated with albuterol and budesonide experienced less asthma deteriorations and exacerbations over 12 weeks compared with patients who received the mono-components or placebo, according to DENALI study results. Read more.

Tezepelumab only biologic to consistently reduce exacerbations in severe allergic asthma

Of approved biologics for severe, allergic asthma, tezepelumab was the only one to consistently reduce the annualized exacerbation rate across patient subgroups, according to a literature review. Read more.