Top 5 Most-Read Respiratory Content of 2022

The top 5 most-read respiratory articles and interviews on AJMC.com this year look at the most pressing issues, including long-term COVID-19, pneumonia, and long-term health effects of vaping.

Here are the most-viewed respiratory pieces in 2022.

5. Short-Course Antibiotic Therapy for Community-Acquired Pneumonia as Effective as Long-Course Therapy

A study published in the journal Clinical Microbiology and Infection found that short-course antibiotic therapy was just as effective as long-course therapy when comparing results in hospitalized patients with mild or moderate community-acquired pneumonia. Minimizing antibiotic use with short-course therapy addresses concerns regarding antimicrobial resistance to antibiotics. The real-world findings added to previous research, which mainly came from randomized controlled trials.

Read the full article here.

4. Nutrition, Pneumonia Severity May Predict Life Expectancy From Aspiration Pneumonia

Poor nutritional status and worse severity of pneumonia were associated with higher mortality rates in aspiration pneumonia, according to a study published in The Clinical Respiratory Journal. Additionally, men were found to have lower survival rates compared with women. When evaluating these risk factors for 90-day survival, the researchers found the non-survival group had higher disease severity, as measured by increased inflammation levels of C-reactive protein, white blood cell count, and dehydration and significantly higher nutritional disorders.

Read the full article here.

3. Vaping Injuries Associated With Long-term Respiratory Problems, Study Finds

Patients with e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury (EVALI) were found to have a higher risk of developing a disability that would keep them being able to work or pay bills, according to a study presented at the American Thoracic Society Meeting. Higher risk of cognitive impairment, depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress were found in patients within 1 year after EVALI.

Read the full article here.

2. COVID-19 Survivors at Increased Risk for Pulmonary Embolism, Respiratory Symptoms

People who were exposed to and infected with SARS-CoV-2 have twice the risk of developing pulmonary embolism or respiratory conditions, researchers found. When evaluating case patients to control patients, 38% of case patients experienced an incidence of pulmonary embolism or respiratory symptoms compared with 16% of control patients. The report was published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Read the full article here.

1. Frequent Productive Cough Associated With Worse Outcomes in Asthma, COPD

Frequent productive cough was found to be an indicator of adverse outcomes for patients with asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The prevalence of frequent productive cough increased with higher disease severity and was linked with significant disease burden. The study was published in in Respiratory Medicine.

Read the full article here.