An 8-year journey to a chronic cough diagnosis, neurogenic cough treatment, e-cigarettes, and COVID-19 risk factors were among the most-viewed respiratory articles.
The top 5 most-viewed respiratory articles on AJMC.com focused on one woman's journey to a chronic cough diagnosis, neurogenic cough treatment, e-cigarettes, and COVID-19 risk factors.
Here are the 5 most-viewed respiratory pieces of 2021.
5. Paulette Nyahay Outlines Journey to a Chronic Cough Diagnosis
When asked about her chronic cough diagnosis journey, Paulette Nyahay said it took about 8 years to be properly diagnosed after being recommended to her doctor. This interview from July focused on how Nyahay distinguished her chronic cough from her asthma cough and how she finally got a diagnosis.
4. Superior Laryngeal Nerve Blocks Effective for Neurogenic Cough
A study covered in June said superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) blocks are effective for treating neurogenic cough, which are coughs that continue and persist after other conditions are ruled out. Patients with evidence of Vocal Fold Motion/Vibratory Abnormalities experienced a greater therapeutic effect and showed long-term improvement that approached statistical significance.
3. e-Cigarettes, Heated Tobacco Products Linked to Lung Damage
A literature review indicated e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products produced lung disease in ways similar to conventional cigarettes, as well as from new mechanisms particular to these devices, this May article reported.
According to studies included in the review, these products share pathways of damage and impairment with conventional cigarettes and present newer damage mechanisms related to the additives, flavors, and metal nanoparticles. Additionally, several lung cell lines exposed to e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products produced increased levels of proinflammatory interleukin-8 and interleukin-16.
2. COPD and Asthma May Not Be Risk Factors for COVID-19, Study Says
A study published at the beginning of the year found that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma were not risk factors for intensive care unit (ICU) admission or death as a result of COVID-19 infection.
This study contradicts the widely accepted assumption that patients with respiratory obstructive diseases are more at risk for ICU admissions and death than those without, largely based on older evidence showing that respiratory diseases are risk factors for more severe reactions to common cold viruses. Factors found to be associated with death during hospitalization were male gender, older age, cardiopathy, and immunosuppressive disease.
1. Flu Vaccine May Protect Against COVID-19 Infection
According to a study covered in this February article, patients immunized against influenza were less likely to test positive for or have serious complication related to COVID-19. These patients had 24% lower odds of testing positive for COVID-19, and if they did contract the virus, they were more likely to have better clinical outcomes compared with those who were not vaccinated against influenza.
Limitations of the study included that the patients and data were specific to Michigan and mostly collected from large hospitals, not community settings.
Health Care Utilization and Cost of Diagnostic Testing for Respiratory Infections
September 17th 2025Syndromic reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction tests for respiratory infections were associated with lower health care resource utilization and costs, implicating potential for improved value in patient care.
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Preventing Respiratory Illness and Death Through Tighter Air Quality Standards
June 1st 2021On this episode of Managed Care Cast, a research scholar at the Marron Institute of Urban Management at New York University discusses the latest findings in the Health of the Air report, which was presented at the recent American Thoracic Society 2021 International Conference.
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Rurality, Long Travel Times Limit Access to Tobacco Treatment for Patients With COPD Who Smoke
August 30th 2025Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who smoke were less likely to receive tobacco dependence treatment (TDT) if they lived in rural areas or had longer travel times to care, highlighting persistent geographic disparities in access.
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Multidisciplinary Approaches to Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Review of Respiratory Therapies
August 13th 2025The treatment of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is moving toward a personalized, multidisciplinary approach that combines surgical options with a growing number of nonsurgical alternatives, to better address the unique needs of each child.
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