News

A specific gene variation associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is also linked with autoimmune disorders, according to a large genetic study, suggesting a role for autoimmune responses in the development of COPD. The study, “A Phenome-Wide Association Study Uncovers a Role for Autoimmunity in the…

High frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) vests, a type of airway clearance therapy used in several lung disorders, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), were not found to improve measures of lung function in healthy individuals in a recent study. The study, designed to assess the short-term…

Hospitalized patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who also suffer from atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition where the heart beats faster, have a greater risk of developing liver disease and respiratory failure compared to those not affected by AFib, according to researchers. Their study, “…

Verona Pharma has started a Phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate the potential of its nebulized RPL554 as an add-on treatment to the approved Stiolto Respimat (tiotropium bromide/olodaterol) for the treatment of moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A total of 75 patients are expected to…

Inhaling vaporized cannabis does not improve breathlessness or exercise endurance in patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a small Canadian study. The study reporting the findings, “Effect of vaporized cannabis on exertional breathlessness and exercise endurance in advanced COPD: A randomized controlled…

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s Pulmonary Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee voted that the risk-benefit profile of GSK’s mepolizumab was not adequate to support its approval as an add-on treatment for reduction of exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who are on maximum corticosteroid-based…

Treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with a minimally invasive investigative procedure called targeted lung denervation (TLD) is feasible, safe, and was found to improve lung function, according to researchers. Their study, “Long-term safety of bilateral targeted lung denervation in patients with COPD,” was published in…

Psychological distress, even at low or moderate levels, increases the risk of arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), researchers have found. This finding was reported in the study, “The effects of psychological distress and its interaction with socioeconomic position on risk of developing…

Consistent support from healthcare professionals, interaction with peers, and regular exercise can help people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remain physically active over the long-term, a systematic review of multiple studies shows. The report identifies both barriers and beneficial elements for physical…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Pulmonx’s Zephyr Endobronchial Valve, a device designed to treat patients with severe emphysema who experience difficulty breathing. Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that results from damage to the alveoli, the small air sacs in…