December 29th 2023
Our top coverage from the CHEST Annual Meeting 2023 explored various topics, including strategies to prevent air pollutant exposure and keys to achieving equity in lung cancer screenings.
Perspectives on Emerging Data for the Use of Immunotherapy in the Treatment of Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
1.5 Credits / Oncology, Pulmonology/Respiratory
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Evolving Treatment Strategies in the Management of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Key Insights for the Pharmacist, featuring a Patient Perspective
1.5 Credits / Pulmonology/Respiratory
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Advances in EGFR Exon 20 Insertion-Positive Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Focus on Specialty Pharmacy Interventions
1.5 Credits / Oncology, Pulmonology/Respiratory
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Advances and Best Practices for Managed Care Pharmacists and the Treatment of Patients with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
1.0 Credit / Pulmonology/Respiratory
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Study Finds Rise in Use of ADHD, Asthma Drugs in Children
May 15th 2018A new study published in JAMA showed that although estimates of prescription medication use for children and teens fell overall from 1999 to 2014, patterns differed by types of medications, with drugs for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), asthma, and contraception all increasing. Use of antibiotics, antihistamines, and upper respiratory combination medications decreased.
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FDA Confirms Short-Term Shortages of EpiPen
May 9th 2018The FDA Wednesday confirmed that there are “intermittent” shortages of Mylan’s EpiPen, an autoinjector device containing epinephrine to counteract the effects of anaphylaxis, but said it expects the delay to be short, while the manufacturer said the issue has to do with supply of third-party components.
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Study Touts CF Drug Ivacaftor as Prime Example of Precision Medicine
May 9th 2018Ivacaftor, the first drug that targeted the underlying defect of cystic fibrosis (CF), which affects about 30,000 people in the United States, improved outcomes and reduced hospitalizations, according to an analysis in the May issue of Health Affairs examining precision medicine.
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Air Pollution Linked to Lung Infections, Especially in Young Children
May 6th 2018Exposure to a short-term increase in pollution-causing airborne particles called fine particulate matter 2.5 is linked to the development of acute lower respiratory infection in young children, as well as additional doctor visits, according to new research.
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FDA, FTC Warn 13 Firms for Selling Vaping Juice With Kid-Friendly Appeal
May 1st 2018The FDA and the FTC issued 13 warning letters Tuesday to manufacturers, distributors, and retailers for selling e-liquids used in e-cigarettes, or vaping devices, with labeling or advertising that bears stark resemblances to kid-friendly food products, such as juice boxes, candy, or cookies.
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Pulmonary Function Test Can Predict Risk of Pneumonitis in Patients With NSCLC on Chemoradiotherapy
April 26th 2018Researchers from Mexico recommend conducting a pulmonary function test in patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy to assess their susceptibility to developing radiation pneumonitis.
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Study Recommends DNA Testing to Solve Legionnaires' Disease Outbreaks
April 12th 2018A DNA test method called polymerase chain reaction can shave days off the time it takes to detect a Legionnaires' disease outbreak to mere hours and should be implemented by health departments to prevent illness, a new study reported.
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Claims-Based Risk Model for First Severe COPD Exacerbation
A health insurance claims-based risk assessment tool to predict patients’ first severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation has been developed and validated.
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Respimat Is First Inhaler to Receive Award for Ease of Use for People With Arthritis
January 24th 2018Respimat from Boehringer Ingelheim is now the first and only inhaler to be awarded the Ease of Use Commendation by the Arthritis Foundation. This award identifies products that make life easier for people with arthritis and other physical limitations.
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Researchers Make COPD Genetic Discovery That Could Identify At-Risk Patients Earlier
January 16th 2018Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but not all smokers develop the condition, and many non-smokers do. Why that is has remained a mystery until now, as a research team, funded by the National Institutes of Health, has discovered genetic variations in the anatomy of the lungs could serve as early-warning indicators.
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CDC Study Puts Economic Burden of Asthma at More Than $80 Billion Per Year
January 12th 2018Asthma costs the U.S. economy more than $80 billion annually in medical expenses, days missed from work and school, and deaths, according to research published online in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society. However, actual numbers are likely to be higher, according to CDC researchers who conducted the study.
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Study Shows Psychological Factors Affect Quality of Life in Patients With COPD
January 10th 2018Psychological factors negatively affect quality-of-life scores in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, according to a recent study published in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
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Study Shows the Efficacy of Vaccination in Patients With COPD
January 3rd 2018Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease should be given the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and influenza vaccines to decrease the risk of exacerbations. However, despite the evidence of vaccine efficacy, improvements are needed in coverage and awareness.
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Researchers Find Low Referral Rates to Pulmonary Rehab for Eligible Patients With COPD
December 25th 2017Less than 10% of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who may benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation received a referral from their physician, according to a new study. However, there was no association found between referral status and COPD exacerbations.
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FDA Announces Public Education Campaign to Encourage Smoking Cessation
December 14th 2017The FDA has announced its launch of the “Every Try Counts” campaign, which will encourage smokers to quit by advertising messages of support underscoring the health benefits of quitting. The campaign will also focus on celebrating each quit attempt as a step towards success.
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Implications of DRG Classification in a Bundled Payment Initiative for COPD
Diagnosis-related group coding determines eligibility for many Medicare bundled payment initiatives. This approach excluded many patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease likely to benefit while including others without the disease.
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Identifying Differences of Symptoms of Patients With Severe COPD in 3 Countries
December 5th 2017A study of patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Poland, The Republic of Korea, and the United States identified substantial differences in respiratory symptoms and other respiratory illnesses.
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Identifying the Most Prevalent and Costly Chronic Conditions in Medicaid
November 29th 2017High prevalence of chronic conditions has been a key driver of healthcare costs in the United States, and Medicaid beneficiaries tend to have higher rates of chronic diseases than people not on Medicaid.
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Eosinophil Count in Sputum, Not Blood, Is Better Predictor of COPD Severity in Smokers
November 21st 2017Data from a study of smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) indicate that the concentration of eosinophils in the sputum, rather than the blood, is a better predictor of COPD exacerbations and lung function.
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Impact of Symptoms and COPD Severity on Health-Related Quality of Life
November 14th 2017Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by persistent and progressive airflow limitation, and a new study examined the factors responsible for a high St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire for COPD based on severity of airflow limitation.
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Long-Term Oxygen Therapy Can Improve Survival in Patients With Oxygen-Dependent COPD
November 9th 2017A new study has shown that long-term oxygen therapy in patients with severe alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency can improve survival; however, their outcomes do not improve following lung-transplantation.
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Study Finds a 47% Increased Risk of COPD Hospitalization Among RA Patients
November 1st 2017Previous studies have revealed a potential connection between chronic inflammatory conditions and the predisposition of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and a new study has found that patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are associated with a greater risk of COPD hospitalization compared to the general population.
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Study Links Anxiety and Depression Symptoms to COPD Patients and Caregivers
October 4th 2017Patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and their caretakers may experience symptoms of anxiety and depression that could impact their mortality, quality of life, and healthcare use.
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Chronic Respiratory Disease Death Toll Rising in Recent Decades
September 26th 2017A new analysis finds that the mortality rate from chronic respiratory diseases has risen by almost 30% between 1980 and 2014 in the United States, and that data reflect significant differences in death rates across counties and regions.
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