Emphysema

Approximately 14% of the U.S. population lives in rural areas, where access to health care may be limited by insurance coverage, geography and infrastructure, and provider shortages, according to HHS.

In 2022, chronic lower respiratory disease was the sixth highest cause of death in the U.S., according to results published in National Vital Statistics Reports.

Medicare beneficiaries with emphysema who received an endobronchial valve vs. lung volume reduction surgery faced elevated risk-adjusted odds for poor outcomes, according to data presented at the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Annual Meeting.

Patients with severe emphysema had lasting lung function improvement 5 years after bronchoscopic lung volume reduction with Zephyr Valves, according to a poster presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress.

SAN DIEGO — Among patients with moderate to very severe COPD receiving tezepelumab vs. placebo, the annualized rate of exacerbations dropped by 17%, according to research presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference.

Ever current and former adult smokers with a diet high in nutritionally rich, plant-centered foods had lower odds for emphysema, according to results published in Journal of the COPD Foundation.

WASHINGTON — Patients with severe emphysema had improved lung function at 5 years after receiving treatment with a support expiration valve system, according to research presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference.

Former smokers with COPD who experienced exacerbations had larger lung density declines than those without exacerbations, according to a letter to the editor published in Annals of the American Thoracic Society.

Individuals who smoked marijuana were more likely to have emphysema, airway changes and gynecomastia than tobacco-only smokers and nonsmokers, according to a study published in Radiology.

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