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Conference Coverage: American Thoracic Society’s (ATS) annual meeting

May 24, 2024

The American Thoracic Society’s annual meeting wrapped up on May 22, 2024. Below are selected highlights of the research presented at the meeting.

Study finds wide-ranging implications of removing race from lung function estimates

According to new research from scientists at Harvard Medical School, the use of race-based and race-neutral equations generated similarly accurate predictions of respiratory outcomes but assigned different disease classifications, occupational eligibility, and disability compensation for millions of persons, with effects diverging according to race. These findings suggest that adjusting lung function tests to include race likely normalized worse lung function and downplayed disease severity among Black patients. Read more.

Dupilumab associated with better lung function than placebo

Results from the NOTUS trial show that in patients with COPD and type 2 inflammation, dupilumab was associated with fewer exacerbations and better lung function than placebo. Read more.

No mortality benefit for IV acetaminophen in sepsis

IV acetaminophen is safe but does not significantly improve days alive and free of organ support in critically ill sepsis patients, according to results of the Acetaminophen and Ascorbate in Sepsis: Targeted Therapy to Enhance Recovery (ASTER) trial. Read more.

Beta-blocker fails to cut COPD exacerbations

Observational studies have suggested reduced risk of COPD exacerbations with β-blocker use. However, a recent trial reported that among patients with COPD at high risk of exacerbation, treatment with the β1-selective β-blocker bisoprolol didn’t reduce the number of self-reported COPD exacerbations requiring treatment with oral corticosteroids, antibiotics, or both. Read more.

Clinical trial shows benefits of finding, treating undiagnosed asthma and COPD

Researchers identified adults in the community with undiagnosed asthma or COPD and found that those who received pulmonologist-directed treatment had less subsequent health care utilization for respiratory illness than those who received usual care. The findings were presented at the American Thoracic Society annual meeting and simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine.