Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

Nuvaira‘s Lung Denervation System, under clinical investigation for its use in treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), has been designated a breakthrough device by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This designation is given to devices that have the potential to substantially improve the…

Following a stop due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) has become the first medical center to restart the AIRFLOW-3 clinical trial, which is testing a procedure called targeted lung denervation as a potential therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). “We’re…

People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who are overweight have increased levels of the protein that the SARS-CoV-2 virus — the virus that causes COVID-19 — uses to get into cells, a new study shows. The results suggest that these individuals may be at greater risk of contracting…

Pulmonx’s  Zephyr Endobronchial Valve significantly reduces breathlessness and improves physical activity and quality of life in people with severe emphysema, a post-hoc analysis of clinical trial data shows. The study, “Effect of Zephyr Endobronchial Valves on Dyspnea, Activity Levels and Quality of Life at One…

Triple therapy with fluticasone furoate (FF), umeclidinium (UMEC), and vilanterol (VI) can reduce mortality rates among people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) more than VI treatment with either FF or UMEC, a new analysis of trial data suggests. The findings were published in the American…

New official guidelines have been published by the American Thoracic Society (ATS) for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Among the new recommendations, the combination of long-acting beta two agonists (LABA) and long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA) is recommended over either therapy alone to treat people with COPD…

Low levels of the protein CC16 in blood are associated with worse lung function and more severe disease among people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a new study suggests. The study, “Reduced Serum Concentration of CC16 Is Associated with Severity of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease…

Use of chemical disinfectants might increase the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in nurses, a study suggests. The study, “Association of Occupational Exposure to Disinfectants With Incidence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Among US Female Nurses,” was published in the journal JAMA Network…

The criteria used to diagnose chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) should be expanded beyond measurements of lung function, a new study suggests. The study, “COPDGene 2019: Redefining the Diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease,” was published in the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases: Journal of the COPD…

Former smokers and people who smoke relatively few cigarettes per day may experience a faster decline in lung function than people who have never smoked, although they still have a slower decline in lung function than current smokers, a new study suggests. The study, “Lung function decline…