Top 10 COPD stories of 2022

Healio Pulmonology has compiled the top news on COPD posted in 2022.

Readers were most interested in the burden associated with the misclassification of COPD, the impact dietary flavonoids have on the risk for COPD in smokers, lung function declines related to smoking, frequent coughing as an indicator for adverse events and data on available and new treatments.

Here are Healio’s top 10 most-read stories on COPD from 2022.

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, researchers reported. Read more.

Dietary flavonoids may mitigate some risk for smoking-related COPD

Higher intake of dietary flavonoids may mitigate some risk for COPD in current and former smokers, according to a study published in European Respiratory Journal. Read more.

‘Demonstrable’ lung function decline over 10 years in current, former smokers

Ten-year follow-up data from the COPDGene study show that changes in lung function, respiratory symptom burden and functional capacity in current and former smokers appear to be slow. Read more.

Frequent cough important indicator of adverse outcomes in asthma, COPD

Frequent productive cough is an important indicator of adverse outcomes among individuals with asthma and/or COPD, according to results of the NOVELTY study published in Respiratory Medicine. Read more.

Lemborexant appears safe in adult, older patients with moderate to severe COPD

In a cohort of adult and older patients with moderate to severe COPD, 10 mg of lemborexant (Dayvigo, Eisai) was associated with respiratory safety after single and multiple dosing, concluded data presented at CHEST Annual Meeting. Read more.

Home dust allergen exposures common in patients with COPD

Home dust allergen exposures are common for patients with COPD and exposure is associated with adverse outcomes among those who also have allergen sensitization, researchers reported in American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Read more.

Icenticaftor shows promise for patients with COPD, chronic bronchitis

Icenticaftor (Novartis) did not yield a dose response for trough FEV₁ at 12 weeks, but treatment was associated with improved symptoms at 24 weeks among patients with COPD and chronic bronchitis on inhaled triple therapy, researchers reported. Read more.

Coal fire fine exposure increases COPD risk in nonsmokers

Exposure to high concentrations of fine particulate matter from a coal mine fire over a 6-week period was associated with an increased risk for COPD among nonsmokers nearly 4 years later, researchers reported. 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.

Major cardiovascular risk factors common yet undertreated in patients with COPD

Among patients with COPD, major cardiovascular risk factors were common but inadequately monitored, treated and controlled, researchers reported in Annals of the American Thoracic Society. Read more.