Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

Standardized questionnaires can effectively be used to help diagnose chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in settings where healthcare resources may be limited, according to a new study. The study, “Discriminative Accuracy of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Screening Instruments in 3 Low- and Middle-Income Country Settings,” was…

An international team of researchers has published a new framework, dubbed the Rome proposal, for defining and classifying exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). “The ‘Rome Proposal’ represents an important milestone for better understanding and treating a very important and troubling component of COPD progression and, the prospect…

NuvoAir Aos, a sensor developed by NuvoAir that can track how inhalers are used by people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or asthma, is now available in Europe, the company announced. The sensor is designated a Class I medical device in Europe, essentially indicating that it is…

In people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the ability of the heart both to beat faster during physical exercise and to slow down after a workout is impaired, a new study suggests. The results indicate that such heart dysfunction is less severe in patients who engage more regularly…

Cipla has launched Spirofy — its wireless, portable device capable of performing lung function tests outdoors and in remote areas — in India, with the hope of better diagnosing people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. The device is the first of its kind in the country,…

A combination of antibiotics may be more effective at killing harmful bacteria in the lungs of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who are having disease exacerbations, or flare-ups, than single-antibiotic therapies, a study based on a trial’s findings reports. However, the study found no difference between combination…

A protein called ABCC1 lets a specific signaling molecule leak out of muscle cells in the airways, which may contribute to the airway constriction that makes it harder for people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to breathe, a recent study reported. “This protein has been recognized…

Seven days of treatment with ensifentrine, given using a pressurized metered-dose inhaler — called a pMDI — resulted in marked lung function improvements in people with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to data from a Phase 2 clinical trial. “This study demonstrates that ensifentrine administered…

A mucus protein called MUC5AC may contribute to the abnormally thick and sticky mucus that develops in people with respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a new study shows. “MUC5AC seems to be crucial to the formation of stagnant, thicker mucus we see in pulmonary…

Two additional Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) plans are now covering Pulmonx’s Zephyr Endobronchial Valve and similar devices to treat severe emphysema, a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). With the addition of these two plans to similar previous policy decisions, valves will be now covered for the…