Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pulmonology for January 2020. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
In Early Stages, Novel 2019 Coronavirus Doubling Every 7.4 Days
FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In the early stages, the novel 2019 coronavirus (2019-nCoV)-infected pneumonia (NCIP) epidemic doubled in size every 7.4 days, according to a study published online Jan. 29 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
U.S. Reports First Person-to-Person Transmission of Coronavirus
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The first case of person-to-person transmission of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the United States was reported by federal health officials on Thursday, bringing the total number of cases to six.
CDC Press Release
Illinois Department of Public Health
AP News Article
World Health Organization
2017 to 2018 Saw Increase in Life Expectancy in the United States
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 2017 to 2018, there was an increase in life expectancy in the United States and a decrease in age-adjusted death rates, according to a January data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.
Comorbidities Tied to Higher Rates of All-Cause Admissions in MS Patients
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Comorbidities increase the rate of all-cause, but not multiple sclerosis (MS)-specific, hospital admissions among patients with MS, according to a study published online Jan. 21 in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders.
Exposure to Diesel Exhaust May Impair Endothelial Function
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Short-term exposure to diesel exhaust fumes has an adverse impact on endothelial function and vascular wall properties, according to a study published online Jan. 29 in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
U.S. Spends More on Health Care, but Has Worse Life Expectancy
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The United States spends substantially more than any other wealthy nation on health care, yet it has a lower life expectancy and a higher suicide rate than other wealthy nations, according to a January data brief released by the Commonwealth Fund.
Conservative Tx for Spontaneous Pneumothorax Seems Noninferior
THURSDAY, Jan. 30, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Conservative management with initial observation may be noninferior to immediate interventional management for carefully selected patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax, according to a study published in the Jan. 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Volume CT Screening Cuts Lung Cancer Mortality at 10 Years
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Volume computed tomography (CT) screening results in significantly lower lung cancer mortality at 10 years, according to a study published online Jan. 29 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
New Coronavirus Infections in China Top 2003 SARS Total
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — As the case count in China’s 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak eclipsed those reported in the 2003 SARS outbreak on Wednesday, the United States evacuated 200 Americans from the center of the epidemic.
AP News Article
CNN Article
More Information: CDC
Patients Have Less Dyspnea After Bariatric Surgery for Obesity
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Obese individuals undergoing bariatric surgery have improvement in dyspnea, which is associated with less air trapping and end-expiratory tracheal collapse, according to a study published online Jan. 28 in Radiology.
Gender Gap Persists in Starting Salary for Physicians
TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The gender gap in starting salary for physicians persists, although it is unclear which factors account for this gap, according to a report published online Jan. 22 in Health Affairs.
Dangerous Additives Found in Illegal Pot Vaping Products in Los Angeles
TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Potentially deadly additives were found in marijuana vape cartridges seized in December raids of illegal shops in Los Angeles, officials reported Monday.
AP News Article
Coronavirus Deaths Top 100 in China
TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — As the death toll in China’s coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak surpassed 100 on Tuesday, the United States expanded its travel alert and prepared to evacuate American government workers who are in the center of the epidemic.
The New York Times Article
CDC Media Briefing Transcript
Clinical Features ID’d for First 2019 Novel Coronavirus Patients
TUESDAY, Jan. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — As of Jan. 2, 2020, 41 patients were admitted with laboratory-confirmed 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), all of whom had pneumonia, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in The Lancet.
Wealthy Pay Most to Finance U.S. Health Care
MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Health care payments in the United States are more regressive than previously thought, according to a study published online Jan. 27 in Health Services Research.
Coronavirus Cases Top 2,700 in China, Five in the United States
MONDAY, Jan. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Chinese officials extended the New Lunar Year holiday on Sunday, as the number of cases of a new coronavirus climbed past 2,700 and the death toll reached 81. The Lunar New Year is China’s busiest travel season and officials there said the end of the holiday was pushed back to “reduce mass gatherings” and “block the spread of the epidemic,” the Associated Press reported.
AP News Article
More Information: CDC
Nearly Half of U.S. Smokers Not Advised by Doctors to Quit
FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Too few American smokers are advised by their doctors to quit, according to a report released Thursday by U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, M.D.
The New York Times Article
Office of the Surgeon General
New Hospital Being Built in China for Coronavirus Outbreak
FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A new 1,000-bed hospital just for patients infected with the coronavirus that has caused 830 confirmed illnesses and 26 deaths in China is expected to be completed in the city of Wuhan by Feb. 3, officials said Friday.
AP News Article
CBS News Article
More Information: CDC
Chicago Woman Is Second U.S. Case of Wuhan Coronavirus
FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A Chicago woman in her 60s has been identified as the second U.S. patient to be diagnosed with a new Chinese coronavirus, health officials announced Friday.
Chicago Department of Public Health
More Information: CDC
Many U.S. Adults Misinformed About the Flu, Vaccination
FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Many U.S. adults are misinformed about the influenza virus and the importance of flu vaccination, according to the results of a survey released by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).
Health Care Utilization Up for Seniors With Untreated Apnea
FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Older adult Medicare beneficiaries with untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have increased health care utilization (HCU) and costs, according to a study published online Jan. 15 in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.
Postdischarge Mortality Up for Patients With Heart Failure
FRIDAY, Jan. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Patients with heart failure, but not those with acute myocardial infarction or pneumonia, have demonstrated an increase in postdischarge 30-day mortality, according to a study published online Jan. 15 in The BMJ.
Major Insurers Offer $55 Million to Lower Generic Drug Costs
THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A nonprofit that develops and sells cheaper drugs will receive a $55 million investment from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and associated organizations to create cheaper versions of expensive generic drugs.
The New York Times Article
China Bans Travel in Wuhan, Four Nearby Cities
THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The city of Wuhan was closed off Thursday by Chinese officials in an attempt to stem the spread of a coronavirus that has sickened more than 570 people and killed at least 17.
Fewer Than Half of Clinical Trials Comply With Reporting Laws
THURSDAY, Jan. 23, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Compliance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 is low, with only 40.9 percent of trials reporting results within one year, according to a study published online Jan. 17 in The Lancet.
Fast-Track Review of ACA Lawsuit Rejected by U.S. Supreme Court
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 22, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A fast-track review of a lawsuit that threatens the Affordable Care Act was rejected Tuesday by the U.S. Supreme Court.
AP News Article
ACP: Medicare for All Needed to Fix ‘Ill’ U.S. Health Care System
TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The American College of Physicians (ACP) says the U.S. health care system “is ill and needs a bold new prescription” that includes coverage for all Americans and lower costs.
AP News Article
American College of Physicians
First U.S. Patient With Coronavirus ID’d in Washington State
TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The first U.S. case of a new coronavirus illness that originated in central China has been identified in a patient in Washington State, federal health officials announced on Tuesday.
Human-to-Human Transmission of Chinese Coronavirus Confirmed
TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The leader of a Chinese government team of experts announced Monday that human-to-human transmission of a new coronavirus has been confirmed, the Associated Press reported.
AP News Article
Wearable Device Data May Help Predict Flu-Like Illness Patterns
TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Data from activity and physiological trackers may improve prediction of influenza-like illness (ILI), according to a study published online Jan. 16 in The Lancet Digital Health.
Second Death From New Coronavirus Reported in China
FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Chinese officials have reported a second death from a new coronavirus responsible for an outbreak of pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has implemented enhanced health screenings of travelers flying in from China to three major airports in the United States.
AP News Article
More Information: CDC
Japan Reports First Case of New Coronavirus
THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Japan has reported its first case of a new coronavirus that has caused an outbreak in China.
The New York Times Article
Single-Payer System Would Likely Save Money
THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There is near consensus across 30 years of economic analysis of single-payer plans that a single-payer system would reduce health expenditures in the United States, according to a review published online Jan. 15 in PLOS Medicine.
ACA Tied to Narrowing of Disparities in Access to Care
THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The Affordable Care Act has reduced disparities in access to health care among black, Hispanic, and white adults, according to a January data brief released by the Commonwealth Fund.
Ageism Predicts Significantly Worse Health Outcomes
THURSDAY, Jan. 16, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Ageism predicts significantly worse health outcomes, according to a review published online Jan. 15 in PLOS ONE.
New Coronavirus in China Could Possibly Spread Between Humans
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Human-to-human transmission of a virus causing an outbreak in central China may be possible, but the risk appears to be low, health officials said Wednesday.
AP News Article
Evolution of Approval, Regulation Processes for Drugs Explored
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. approval and regulation processes for pharmaceutical agents have evolved during the last four decades, according to a study published in the Jan. 14 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
N.J. Lawmakers Pass Bill to Ban Flavored Vaping Products
TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A bill that would ban the sale of flavored vaping products was passed Monday by New Jersey lawmakers.
CBS News Article
Doctor Replacement Ratios Higher in Largest, Hospital-Owned Practices
TUESDAY, Jan. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — From 2009 to 2016, more physicians entering the Medicare program worked at large group or hospital-owned practices than small group or independent practices, according to a research letter published online Jan. 14 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Physicians Spend >16 Minutes Per Encounter on EHR Use
MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Physicians spend a considerable amount of time using electronic health records (EHRs) to support care delivery, with wide variation seen in the distribution of time within specialty, according to a study published online Jan. 14 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
China Reports First Death in Coronavirus Outbreak
MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The first death in an outbreak of a new type of coronavirus was announced Saturday by officials in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.
AP News Article
Burnout in Med Students Tied to Perceived Stress, Phone Behavior
MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Higher levels of perceived stress, poorer sleep quality, and smartphone addiction contribute to burnout in osteopathic medical students, according to a study published in the January issue of the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.
Incidental Lymphopenia Linked to Increased Risk for Mortality
MONDAY, Jan. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Incidental lymphopenia is associated with an increased risk for all-cause and cause-specific mortality, according to a study published in the Jan. 13 issue of CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
15-Year-Old Texas Teen Youngest in U.S. to Die From Vaping
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A 15-year-old Texas teen who died from vaping is the youngest victim so far in an outbreak of vaping-related deaths in the United States.
The New York Times Article
More Information: CDC
California May Start Producing Its Own Medicines
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A proposal for California to contract generic drug companies to make medications would make the state the first in the country to produce its own medications.
AP News Article
Neighborhood Disadvantage Impacts Hospital Quality Ratings
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Hospitals caring for neighborhoods with high levels of disadvantage may have lower hospital ratings due to social risk factors (SRFs) in the community, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in Medical Care.
Recruitment Satisfactory for Foreign-Educated Health Providers
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Foreign-educated health professionals (FEHPs) in the United States are overall satisfied with their recruitment experience, according to a study published in the January issue of the American Journal of Nursing.
Reduction in Tongue Fat Can Improve Obstructive Sleep Apnea
FRIDAY, Jan. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For individuals with obesity and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a reduction in tongue fat associated with weight loss correlates with improvement in the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), according to a study published online Jan. 10 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Metabolic Syndrome May Up Risk for VTE Recurrence After DVT
THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), the presence of any component of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is independently associated with an increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) recurrence, according to a study published online Jan. 9 in Blood Advances.
CDC Warns of Tough Flu Season Ahead
THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2019 (HealthDay News) — Flu cases and flu-related hospitalizations have risen sharply since October, with at least 6.4 million reported cases and 55,000 hospitalizations, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At least 2,900 Americans have died from the flu, the CDC reported late last week.
New Coronavirus May Be Cause of Viral Pneumonia Outbreak in China
THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A new type of coronavirus may be responsible for dozens of viral pneumonia illnesses in China, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
AP News Article
Perceived Risks of E-Cigarettes Vary With Demographics
THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For youth, the perceived risks of electronic cigarette products vary with demographics, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status, according to a study published online Jan. 7 in Health Promotion Practice.
Large Gap Found in Health Administrative Spending for U.S., Canada
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There is a large and widening gap in health administrative spending between the United States and Canada, according to a study published online Jan. 7 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Pediatric Respiratory Visits Increased During Lilac Fire
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The Santa Ana Wind-driven fire in San Diego County in 2017 correlated with an increase in pediatric respiratory visits across all pediatric age groups, according to a study published online Dec. 20 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
Cancer Mortality Continuing to Drop, With Lung Cancer a Driver
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Cancer mortality is continuing to decline, driven by progress in lung cancer, although mortality reductions have slowed or stopped for some cancers, according to findings included in Cancer Statistics, 2020, the American Cancer Society’s latest annual report on cancer incidence, mortality, and survival. The report was published online Jan. 8 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
Cancer Statistics, 2020
American Embassy in China Issues Health Alert Over Illness Outbreak
TUESDAY, Jan. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A mysterious pneumonia outbreak in China has prompted the U.S. embassy there to warn Americans traveling in the country to avoid contact with sick people and animals.
CBS News Article
More Information: CDC
Price Hikes for Hundreds of Medications
MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — U.S. drug companies have started the new year by raising the prices of hundreds of medications.
CBS News Article
Poll: Older Adults Frequently Use Online Physician Ratings
MONDAY, Jan. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Older adults commonly use online ratings to choose a doctor, according to a report published online Jan. 6 based on the results of the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging.
National Poll on Healthy Aging
Trump Administration to Ban Most Flavored E-Cigarettes
THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The Trump Administration is expected to announce this week that it will ban mint-, fruit-, and dessert-flavored electronic cigarette cartridges, while allowing the continued sale of menthol- and tobacco-flavored vapes.
The New York Times Article
Statement From the American Heart Association
Patient Experiences Modestly Worse After Hospital Acquisition
THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Modestly worse patient experiences are seen following hospital acquisition by another hospital, according to a study published in the Jan. 2 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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