This week, the American Thoracic Society hosted it’s 119th International Conference. Research spanned from novel treatment updates to public health warnings. MD /alert compiled a list of the top 10 research breakthroughs you may have missed.

Dupilumab Reduces Severe Exacerbations In Patients With Acute Asthma

Patients with moderate-to-severe asthma who received dupilumab every 2 weeks had reduced acute severe exacerbations and improved lung function regardless of their bronchodilator reversibility status. READ MORE.

Primary Care Visits Reduce Hospital Visits, Critical Care

Visiting the primary care doctor regularly appeared to reduce the rate of all-cause use of critical care. READ MORE.

RCT Results of Smoking Cessation Using a Smartphone App: A Q&A with Kenichiro Nishii

Smoking cessation smartphone apps have the potential to help adults who want to quit smoking. However, to date, there have been few studies examining the efficacy of this treatment resource. READ MORE.

Adhering to Best Practices Improves Care Quality For COPD Patients

A standardized inpatient management care path that incorporates best practices helped improve care quality for patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. READ MORE.

Triple-Drug Combination Improves Lung Function in Patients with Uncontrolled Asthma

The addition of glycopyrronium bromide to inhaler therapy with beclomethasone dipropionate formoterol fumarate improved lung function and exacerbations among patients with uncontrolled asthma receiving medium dose inhaled corticosteroids/ long-acting beta agonists. READ MORE.

Novel Drug Reduces Exacerbations in Elderly Patients with Asthma

Treatment with dactolisib effectively reduced incidence of respiratory tract infections among high-risk elderly patients with asthma. READ MORE.

Pirfenidone Reduced Disease Progression Among Patients With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis who received pirfenidone showed reduced progression of disease, and patients with greater disease severity had a more prominent reduction response. READ MORE.

High COPD Assessment Score Among Smokers May Be Unrelated to Respiratory Function

Veterans who smoke but have preserved lung function who have high chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) assessment scores do not appear to use health care resources as frequently as patients with established COPD, indicating the high score may be unrelated to respiratory function. READ MORE.

Treatment With Budesonide/Formoterol Reduces Severe Exacerbations In Mild Asthma Patients Regardless Of Prior Treatment

Patients with mild asthma who received budesonide/formoterol (BUD/FORM) or BUD 200µg twice daily with as-needed terbutaline had reduced rates of exacerbation regardless of prior treatment. READ MORE.

Homes of Current, Former Smokers Could Be Site of Bacterial Growth, Biofilm Formation