Top news of February: Insight on poor oxygenation in COVID-19, respiratory muscle training

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

Highlights include a possible mechanism for poor oxygenation in severe COVID-19 patients; improved, lasting results with respiratory muscle training; persistent symptoms of anxiety and depression found in COVID-19 ECMO survivors 1 year later; an FDA clearance for an at-home sleep apnea test sensor; causal links found between GERD, asthma and atopic dermatitis; and more.

Read these and more top stories in pulmonology below:

Researchers discover possible mechanism for poor oxygenation in severe COVID-19

Researchers observed immunoglobulin A autoantibodies that target lung surfactant proteins B and C in patients with severe COVID-19, according to study results published in American Journal of Respiratory Medicine and Critical Care. Read more.

Respiratory muscle training leads to strong, sustained results

Participants who underwent respiratory muscle training for 5 weeks had sustained, improved results after not training for the same amount of time, according to study results published in Experimental Physiology. Read more.

Anxiety, depression symptoms persist at 1 year among COVID-19 ECMO survivors

Patients treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for COVID-19 acute respiratory disease had poorer physical and mental health 1 year later, according to study results published in American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Read more.

FDA grants 510(k) clearance to at-home sleep apnea test sensor

The FDA has granted 510(k) clearance to an at-home test device that can diagnose obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep-related breathing disorders, according to a press release. Read more.

Causal links found between GERD, asthma, atopic dermatitis

Genetic variants related to GERD heightened risks for both asthma and atopic dermatitis by 21%, according to study results published in American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Read more.

FDA grants orphan drug designation to AI-created drug for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

The FDA granted orphan drug designation to INS018_055, an anti-fibrotic small molecule inhibitor, for treating patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, according to a press release from the drug’s manufacturer. Read more.

Q&A: Expanding knowledge, awareness of vaping-related lung injury

Since the CDC declared e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury, or EVALI, an epidemic in 2019, researchers have been working to understand its causes and harms and how to stymie the rise of this disease. Read more.

Early-life exposure to tobacco raises risk for lung cancer, mortality in adulthood

Being exposed to tobacco in utero and in childhood/adolescence was linked to higher risks for lung cancer incidence and death later in life, according to study results published in American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Read more.

Adults with obstructive sleep apnea may have frailer bones

Adults with obstructive sleep apnea demonstrated low predicted bone mineral density, which could impact the strength of their bones and teeth, according to study results published in Cranio. Read more.

Prolonged weaning linked to worse outcomes in mechanically ventilated ICU patients

Patients on mechanical ventilation with delayed weaning attempts after meeting eligibility criteria had a higher risk for failure, according to study results presented at Society of Critical Care Medicine’s Critical Care Congress. Read more.