Lung Function
Prior tuberculosis in children linked to poor lung function, quality of life
Previous tuberculosis in Gambian children was significantly associated with impaired lung function and health-related quality of life, according to a cross-sectional comparative study published in Thorax.
Vitamin C augments concentration of alpha-tocopherol in cystic fibrosis
Among adults with cystic fibrosis, vitamin C decreased the plasma disappearance rate of alpha-tocopherol, thereby augmenting its concentrations, according to a study published in Nutrients.
Incidental diagnosis of IPF common, still portends poor survival outcomes
Almost one-third of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis had an incidental diagnosis, with survival outcomes still comparably poor to those diagnosed non-incidentally, according to a study published in Respiratory Medicine.
COVID-19 leads to high in-hospital mortality for patients with pulmonary hypertension
In a cohort of patients with chronic precapillary pulmonary hypertension, the rates of in-hospital mortality for those who contracted COVID-19 were more than 40%, according to a study.
Airline secondhand smoke exposure tied to worsened respiratory health decades later
Secondhand tobacco smoke exposure on airlines was strongly associated with worse respiratory health nearly 3 decades after exposure, researchers reported in Chest.
Favipiravir may improve severe COVID-19 recovery, ventilator-free survival in younger patients
Treatment with oral favipiravir had a beneficial effect on recovery and mechanical ventilation-free survival among patients younger than 60 years who were hospitalized with COVID-19, researchers reported.
Pirfenidone may slow lung function decline in patients with rheumatoid arthritis-ILD
In the phase 2 TRAIL1 trial, treatment with pirfenidone slowed the rate of lung function decline in patients with rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease and demonstrated a similar safety profile to that observed in other trials of the drug.
Spiration valve system for emphysema yields sustained quality of life benefit at 2 years
Patients with severe heterogeneous emphysema treated with a support expiration valve system had a sustained clinically significant benefit in health-related quality of life at 24 months in the EMPROVE trial.
More frequent asthma exacerbations associated with rapid, long-term lung function decline
In a large study of people with asthma in the United Kingdom followed for up to 60 years, more frequent asthma exacerbations were associated with a faster decline in lung function, according to data published in Thorax.
Impact of breathing diesel exhaust fumes may be more severe for women, study finds
In a study presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress, researchers found sex-related differences in the impact of diesel exhaust in blood plasma.