Tori Rodriguez, MA, LPC, AHC

Specialists emphasized that although shared ventilation may be necessary in times of crisis, innovative alternatives should be used to avoid such extreme measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a general population of patients with latent TB infection (including patients with and without HIV), studies have confirmed the superior safety profile of treatment with rifampicin vs isoniazid.

Pulmonary rehabilitation programs represent a key component in the management of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Shared decision making has been linked to improvements in asthma control, lung function, treatment adherence, and quality of life.

Patients with asthma who underwent exercise training have shown improvements in symptoms, pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and quality of life.

Obstructive sleep apnea was positively associated with worse outcomes in patients hospitalized because of asthma exacerbations, including increased costs, longer lengths of stay, and the need for invasive respiratory therapy.

An increasing body of subsequent research has challenged the usefulness of the healthcare-associated pneumonia label, including studies that have cast doubt on links between multidrug-resistant pathogens and increased mortality.

Pulmonologists may decide to provide a one-time house call after hospitalization, which has been shown to improve outcomes and reduce readmissions, including in patients with COPD.

Black patients appear to have a higher risk for exacerbation-prone asthma.

Despite resources, lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography remains underutilized.

New guidelines on eosinophilic esophagitis management were recently developed with the aim of informing treatment decisions among pediatric and adult allergists and gastroenterologists.

Common comorbidities in OSA such as cardiovascular disease and metabolic abnormalities, may confer a higher risk for the development of mental and cognitive impairment in patients with OSA compared with the general population.

Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of neonatal respiratory distress, and is most commonly acquired at birth.

Emerging evidence suggests that the extrapulmonary effects of pulmonary arterial hypertension may manifest in the form of vascular dysfunction in systemic circulation, metabolic/endocrine dysfunction, and skeletal and respiratory muscle dysfunction.

Individuals with preexisting respiratory diseases including asthma and COPD are among the groups identified as having a high risk for serious influenza-related complications.

The identification of biomarkers to distinguish endotypes that mediate neutrophilic asthma may guide the development of targeted interventions.

There has been ongoing controversy regarding the relative safety of e-cigarettes vs combustible cigarettes.

Challenges pertaining to the correct use of inhalers for asthma and COPD can limit the effectiveness of treatment.

The author suggests improvements for asthma treatment to reduce international mortality rates.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies have improved survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, but they have also been linked to immune-related adverse events affecting various organs, including the lungs.

COPD is more common in older adults, who already have a higher burden of morbidity and mortality from influenza infection.

Among the estimated 235 million people worldwide who have asthma,1 a sizable portion are unable to achieve adequate disease control without high doses of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and/or oral corticosteroids, or are generally unresponsive to these therapies. These individuals, comprising approximately 5% to 10% of the total asthma population,2 are considered to have severe asthma.…

Post-ICU syndrome includes psychological effects — depression, anxiety, and PTSD — as well as worsened physical functioning.

The prevalence of cognitive impairment is higher in patients with COPD compared with healthy individuals.

Ultimately, epinephrine should not be withheld for the treatment of anaphylaxis in patients with long QT syndrome, although certain precautions should be heeded.

Patients with asthma have demonstrated an elevated risk for depression and anxiety that is potentially twice as high as that in the general population.

Further patient advocacy is needed to ensure that recipients of HCV-infected organs have access to direct-acting antivirals as early as possible, including in a prophylactic manner, if data continue to support its benefit.

Implementing pulmonary rehabilitation in patients’ homes may address several barriers, including need for referrals, accessibility to centers, and inability to travel because of chronic respiratory disease.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently updated their 2008 clinical report providing guidance on the prevention of atopic disease through maternal and early infant nutritional interventions.

Although mountaintop removal mining is less expensive and more efficient than conventional methods, opponents have criticized its adverse effects on both the environment and health.