CHEST Meeting Heads to Hawai‘i Amid Recognition of Environmental Impacts on Lung Health

Clinicians and investigators will gather in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, next week for the CHEST Annual Meeting 2023, but it’s not all paradise in the pulmonology field, with the state’s recent wildfires presenting an inescapable reminder of how environmental disasters, air pollution, and climate change are hurting communities worldwide, especially for vulnerable patients with lung disease.

Hands holding lungs | Image credit: SewcreamStudio - stock.adobe.com

In the wake of the devastating wildfires that scarred the island of Maui and killed nearly 100 individuals, leaders at the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) made the decision to proceed as planned with both the main meeting on the island of Oahu and the Master Classes on Maui taking place right after the meeting. The decision was based on feedback from local authorities and community partners that “Hawaiʻi, Maui included, is in need of economic support—including tourism—to rebuild and support local residents.” A statement from CHEST last month encouraged conference attendees to visit respectfully, donate to reputable charities, and patronize locally owned businesses as much as possible.

The organizers’ intentions to respect and celebrate Hawaiian culture are reflected throughout the meeting agenda. Examples include cultural presentations during the opening session, opportunities to sponsor local tree plantings and meet with grassroots community organizations, and a session on the use of traditional Hawaiian healing practices to improve sleep and wellness.

Also featured on the agenda are sessions touching on the role of air and the environment in lung health. Recent research has shown the negative effects of wildfire smoke on individuals with lung cancer and asthma, as well as the associations between air pollution and risks of breast cancer, Parkinson disease, and atopic dermatitis. This knowledge is reflected in CHEST sessions like “Clean Air & Climate Advocacy for the Busy Clinician,” which aims to empower attendees to effect policy change and thus “combat burnout by enriching one’s practice with meaningful community engagement.”

Additionally, speakers during “Air Pollution and Health: From Tailpipes and Smokestacks to Our Patients and Communities” will educate clinicians on the components of pollution and their impacts on health, particularly for vulnerable patients like those with airway and interstitial lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The session will include a discussion of redlining and other inequitable zoning practices that have contributed to disparities in air pollution exposure.

Several other presentations throughout the conference will touch on how to address disparities, whether geographic, technological, or racial. For instance, one session will cover gaps in lung cancer screening among underserved communities, while another will present findings from a telesleep intervention to improve sleep for rural veterans. “Use of Telemedicine for Asthma and COPD Self-Management Among Underserved Populations” will address best practices for using telemedicine-based solutions without inadvertently widening health disparities along the lines of technology access and digital literacy.

The agenda features several debates, including one on the controversial asthma-COPD overlap, as well as several sessions presenting late-breaking developments in 3 areas: managing obstructive lung disease; lung cancer, lung transplantation, and pleural disease; and pulmonary medicine. There will also be ample time for presenters to deliver the findings of the many posters and case reports coming out of the conference, informed by clinical trials, claims analyses, longitudinal databases, and much more.

All of this learning will take place in a unique environment where attendees are encouraged to embody the Hawaiian values of ʻohana (family and community), mahalo (gratitude), and aloha ʻāina (respect for the land).

“During your time in Hawaiʻi, you may notice that things move at a more relaxed pace, and that relaxation extends to your wardrobe! We encourage you to leave your suits and business attire at home in favor of more colorful, less formal outfits,” the conference organizers said in a CHEST blog post. “We hope this change of pace will encourage you to recalibrate your own sense of time and urgency in order to fully embrace and enjoy the experience.”