CHEST 2018

SAN ANTONIO – Interventions that address variations in inflammation type and metabolism unique to obese patients with asthma or COPD might prove useful for improving their management, Cherry Wongtrakool, MD, of Emory University, Atlanta, said in a presentation at the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians.

Obese patients with asthma or COPD typically have metabolic and inflammatory profiles that differ from those of nonobese patients with the disorders. Obesity is associated with the development of asthma as well as its severity and the risk for exacerbations. Obese patients with asthma are less likely to have controlled disease or to respond to medication.

The variations in asthma related to obesity even can be traced to infancy for some. Children with rapid weight gain after birth, for example, have an increased risk for developing asthma. In the recently published Boston Birth Cohort study, more than 500 babies from urban, low income families were followed from birth until age 16. Babies with rapid weight gain at 4 months and at 24 months had an increased risk for developing asthma by age 16. Even after adjusting for multiple risk factors, the increased risk for developing asthma persisted in these obese infants.

Higher BMIs during infancy may affect lung development, which continues up to age 5-8 years, Dr. Wongtrakool said. Obesity may affect immune system development. Asthma may develop when persistent inflammation during infancy gets a second hit from genetic factors or from risk factors such as atopy or maternal smoking.

Dr. Wongtrakool noted that obese patients with asthma, unlike nonobese asthma patients, tend to have non-TH2 inflammation. Their TH1/TH2 ratio in stimulated T cells is higher and is directly associated with insulin resistance. Similar to obese patients without asthma, they have higher levels of circulating TNF-alpha, interferon-gamma inducible protein 10, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). They are more likely to have insulin resistance, low high-density lipid levels, differences in gut microbiota, increased leptin, decreased adiponectin, increased asymmetric dimethylarginine, and decreased exhaled nitrous oxide (NO).

In broncheoalveolar lavage samples, obese asthma patients have more cells that secrete interleukin-17, Dr. Wontrakool said. TH17-associated inflammation also has an influence in asthma with obesity. A recent study of 30 obese and lean asthma patients found a difference in metabolites measured in breath samples of obese people with asthma, compared with lean people with asthma and obese people without asthma.

In terms of metabolites in their breath, obese asthma patients clustered together and differed from lean patients with asthma and obese patients without asthma.

Obese people with asthma also differ in their gut microbiota, having more firmicutes species and decreased bacteroides species. Studies in mice indicate that these species have a role in body weight and that altering gut microbiota via fecal transplant was associated with weight loss when obese mice received fecal transplants from lean mice, and vice versa.

In the Supplemental Nutrition in Asthma Control (SNAC) study, preadolescents with asthma were given a nutrition bar designed by researchers at the Children’s Hospital Oakland (Calif.) Research Institute. The children also received asthma education and exercise classes, but the intervention was not designed to reduce weight. FVC and FEV₁ improved in all study participants, but those participants in the low inflammation subgroup had the most pronounced improvements in FVC and FEV₁ after 2 months.

Dr. Wongtrakool called the study “intriguing,” as it indicates asthma patients with lower level inflammation appear more likely to benefit from nutritional supplementation.

In another study of 55 obese adult asthma patients, a hypocaloric diet, access to a nutritionist and psychologist, and exercise classes were associated with improved asthma control and an improved inflammatory and metabolic profile.

In a British registry of the outcomes of bariatric surgery for obesity, patients who also had asthma had a decrease in asthma prevalence in the year after surgery that persisted over 5 years.

The association of COPD with obesity has been less studied than asthma and COPD, but metabolic syndrome appears to be on the rise in these patients. In a study performed over a decade ago, 47% of COPD patients met the definition of metabolic syndrome; a more recent study found 77% of COPD patients met the standard.

Admission glucose levels also have been found to influence the severity of COPD exacerbation. With higher blood glucose levels, there was a higher risk of mortality—from 12% in those with glucose levels of less than 6.0 mmol/l to 31% among those with glucose levels exceeding 9.0 mmol/l, one study showed.

Bariatric surgery may reduce the risk of acute exacerbations of COPD in obese patients, another recent study found. In a study of 480 obese patients with COPD who underwent bariatric surgery, their 28% presurgical risk of acute exacerbations of COPD was cut in half by 12 months after surgery, and the reduction persisted at 24 months.

SAN ANTONIO – Interventions that address variations in inflammation type and metabolism unique to obese patients with asthma or COPD might prove useful for improving their management, Cherry Wongtrakool, MD, of Emory University, Atlanta, said in a presentation at the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians.

Obese patients with asthma or COPD typically have metabolic and inflammatory profiles that differ from those of nonobese patients with the disorders. Obesity is associated with the development of asthma as well as its severity and the risk for exacerbations. Obese patients with asthma are less likely to have controlled disease or to respond to medication.

The variations in asthma related to obesity even can be traced to infancy for some. Children with rapid weight gain after birth, for example, have an increased risk for developing asthma. In the recently published Boston Birth Cohort study, more than 500 babies from urban, low income families were followed from birth until age 16. Babies with rapid weight gain at 4 months and at 24 months had an increased risk for developing asthma by age 16. Even after adjusting for multiple risk factors, the increased risk for developing asthma persisted in these obese infants.

Higher BMIs during infancy may affect lung development, which continues up to age 5-8 years, Dr. Wongtrakool said. Obesity may affect immune system development. Asthma may develop when persistent inflammation during infancy gets a second hit from genetic factors or from risk factors such as atopy or maternal smoking.

Dr. Wongtrakool noted that obese patients with asthma, unlike nonobese asthma patients, tend to have non-TH2 inflammation. Their TH1/TH2 ratio in stimulated T cells is higher and is directly associated with insulin resistance. Similar to obese patients without asthma, they have higher levels of circulating TNF-alpha, interferon-gamma inducible protein 10, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). They are more likely to have insulin resistance, low high-density lipid levels, differences in gut microbiota, increased leptin, decreased adiponectin, increased asymmetric dimethylarginine, and decreased exhaled nitrous oxide (NO).

In broncheoalveolar lavage samples, obese asthma patients have more cells that secrete interleukin-17, Dr. Wontrakool said. TH17-associated inflammation also has an influence in asthma with obesity. A recent study of 30 obese and lean asthma patients found a difference in metabolites measured in breath samples of obese people with asthma, compared with lean people with asthma and obese people without asthma.

In terms of metabolites in their breath, obese asthma patients clustered together and differed from lean patients with asthma and obese patients without asthma.

Obese people with asthma also differ in their gut microbiota, having more firmicutes species and decreased bacteroides species. Studies in mice indicate that these species have a role in body weight and that altering gut microbiota via fecal transplant was associated with weight loss when obese mice received fecal transplants from lean mice, and vice versa.

In the Supplemental Nutrition in Asthma Control (SNAC) study, preadolescents with asthma were given a nutrition bar designed by researchers at the Children’s Hospital Oakland (Calif.) Research Institute. The children also received asthma education and exercise classes, but the intervention was not designed to reduce weight. FVC and FEV₁ improved in all study participants, but those participants in the low inflammation subgroup had the most pronounced improvements in FVC and FEV₁ after 2 months.

Dr. Wongtrakool called the study “intriguing,” as it indicates asthma patients with lower level inflammation appear more likely to benefit from nutritional supplementation.

In another study of 55 obese adult asthma patients, a hypocaloric diet, access to a nutritionist and psychologist, and exercise classes were associated with improved asthma control and an improved inflammatory and metabolic profile.

In a British registry of the outcomes of bariatric surgery for obesity, patients who also had asthma had a decrease in asthma prevalence in the year after surgery that persisted over 5 years.

The association of COPD with obesity has been less studied than asthma and COPD, but metabolic syndrome appears to be on the rise in these patients. In a study performed over a decade ago, 47% of COPD patients met the definition of metabolic syndrome; a more recent study found 77% of COPD patients met the standard.

Admission glucose levels also have been found to influence the severity of COPD exacerbation. With higher blood glucose levels, there was a higher risk of mortality—from 12% in those with glucose levels of less than 6.0 mmol/l to 31% among those with glucose levels exceeding 9.0 mmol/l, one study showed.

Bariatric surgery may reduce the risk of acute exacerbations of COPD in obese patients, another recent study found. In a study of 480 obese patients with COPD who underwent bariatric surgery, their 28% presurgical risk of acute exacerbations of COPD was cut in half by 12 months after surgery, and the reduction persisted at 24 months.

SAN ANTONIO – Interventions that address variations in inflammation type and metabolism unique to obese patients with asthma or COPD might prove useful for improving their management, Cherry Wongtrakool, MD, of Emory University, Atlanta, said in a presentation at the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians.

Obese patients with asthma or COPD typically have metabolic and inflammatory profiles that differ from those of nonobese patients with the disorders. Obesity is associated with the development of asthma as well as its severity and the risk for exacerbations. Obese patients with asthma are less likely to have controlled disease or to respond to medication.

The variations in asthma related to obesity even can be traced to infancy for some. Children with rapid weight gain after birth, for example, have an increased risk for developing asthma. In the recently published Boston Birth Cohort study, more than 500 babies from urban, low income families were followed from birth until age 16. Babies with rapid weight gain at 4 months and at 24 months had an increased risk for developing asthma by age 16. Even after adjusting for multiple risk factors, the increased risk for developing asthma persisted in these obese infants.

Higher BMIs during infancy may affect lung development, which continues up to age 5-8 years, Dr. Wongtrakool said. Obesity may affect immune system development. Asthma may develop when persistent inflammation during infancy gets a second hit from genetic factors or from risk factors such as atopy or maternal smoking.

Dr. Wongtrakool noted that obese patients with asthma, unlike nonobese asthma patients, tend to have non-TH2 inflammation. Their TH1/TH2 ratio in stimulated T cells is higher and is directly associated with insulin resistance. Similar to obese patients without asthma, they have higher levels of circulating TNF-alpha, interferon-gamma inducible protein 10, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). They are more likely to have insulin resistance, low high-density lipid levels, differences in gut microbiota, increased leptin, decreased adiponectin, increased asymmetric dimethylarginine, and decreased exhaled nitrous oxide (NO).

In broncheoalveolar lavage samples, obese asthma patients have more cells that secrete interleukin-17, Dr. Wontrakool said. TH17-associated inflammation also has an influence in asthma with obesity. A recent study of 30 obese and lean asthma patients found a difference in metabolites measured in breath samples of obese people with asthma, compared with lean people with asthma and obese people without asthma.

In terms of metabolites in their breath, obese asthma patients clustered together and differed from lean patients with asthma and obese patients without asthma.

Obese people with asthma also differ in their gut microbiota, having more firmicutes species and decreased bacteroides species. Studies in mice indicate that these species have a role in body weight and that altering gut microbiota via fecal transplant was associated with weight loss when obese mice received fecal transplants from lean mice, and vice versa.

In the Supplemental Nutrition in Asthma Control (SNAC) study, preadolescents with asthma were given a nutrition bar designed by researchers at the Children’s Hospital Oakland (Calif.) Research Institute. The children also received asthma education and exercise classes, but the intervention was not designed to reduce weight. FVC and FEV₁ improved in all study participants, but those participants in the low inflammation subgroup had the most pronounced improvements in FVC and FEV₁ after 2 months.

Dr. Wongtrakool called the study “intriguing,” as it indicates asthma patients with lower level inflammation appear more likely to benefit from nutritional supplementation.

In another study of 55 obese adult asthma patients, a hypocaloric diet, access to a nutritionist and psychologist, and exercise classes were associated with improved asthma control and an improved inflammatory and metabolic profile.

In a British registry of the outcomes of bariatric surgery for obesity, patients who also had asthma had a decrease in asthma prevalence in the year after surgery that persisted over 5 years.

The association of COPD with obesity has been less studied than asthma and COPD, but metabolic syndrome appears to be on the rise in these patients. In a study performed over a decade ago, 47% of COPD patients met the definition of metabolic syndrome; a more recent study found 77% of COPD patients met the standard.

Admission glucose levels also have been found to influence the severity of COPD exacerbation. With higher blood glucose levels, there was a higher risk of mortality—from 12% in those with glucose levels of less than 6.0 mmol/l to 31% among those with glucose levels exceeding 9.0 mmol/l, one study showed.

Bariatric surgery may reduce the risk of acute exacerbations of COPD in obese patients, another recent study found. In a study of 480 obese patients with COPD who underwent bariatric surgery, their 28% presurgical risk of acute exacerbations of COPD was cut in half by 12 months after surgery, and the reduction persisted at 24 months.

CHEST Physician reporting staff will provide on-site coverage of CHEST 2018, the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians, held in San Antonio, Tex., Oct. 6 through Oct. 10. They are planning to report on a wide variety of sessions covering the latest research on treating COPD, sleep medicine, pulmonary hypertension, asthma, and other pulmonary disease. Panels, plenaries, original research presentations, and late-breaking studies will all be covered in depth. Stories will be posted daily during the meeting on the CHEST Physician website. They will also be talking to presenters and discussants about their work, so be sure to watch for video interviews, which also will be published daily.

Among the sessions on the coverage calendar are the following:

The Impact of Obesity on Pulmonary Disorders. Sunday, Oct. 7, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., Convention Center 207B

GAMES: Games Augmenting Medical Education. Sunday, Oct. 7, 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., Convention Center 207B

Current Trends and Controversies in the Practice of Sleep Medicine. Monday, Oct. 8, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., Convention Center 214A

Futility? Responding to Nonbeneficial Treatment Requests. Monday, Oct. 8, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Convention Center 212A

Update on Diagnosis and Management of Diffuse Cystic Lung Disease. Tuesday, Oct. 9, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., Convention Center 214A

Lung Cancer Screening: News Questions and New Answers. Tuesday, Oct. 9, 8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., Convention Center 207A



Check here on the CHEST Physician website for the latest news from CHEST 2018!

CHEST Physician reporting staff will provide on-site coverage of CHEST 2018, the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians, held in San Antonio, Tex., Oct. 6 through Oct. 10. They are planning to report on a wide variety of sessions covering the latest research on treating COPD, sleep medicine, pulmonary hypertension, asthma, and other pulmonary disease. Panels, plenaries, original research presentations, and late-breaking studies will all be covered in depth. Stories will be posted daily during the meeting on the CHEST Physician website. They will also be talking to presenters and discussants about their work, so be sure to watch for video interviews, which also will be published daily.

Among the sessions on the coverage calendar are the following:

The Impact of Obesity on Pulmonary Disorders. Sunday, Oct. 7, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., Convention Center 207B

GAMES: Games Augmenting Medical Education. Sunday, Oct. 7, 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., Convention Center 207B

Current Trends and Controversies in the Practice of Sleep Medicine. Monday, Oct. 8, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., Convention Center 214A

Futility? Responding to Nonbeneficial Treatment Requests. Monday, Oct. 8, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Convention Center 212A

Update on Diagnosis and Management of Diffuse Cystic Lung Disease. Tuesday, Oct. 9, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., Convention Center 214A

Lung Cancer Screening: News Questions and New Answers. Tuesday, Oct. 9, 8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., Convention Center 207A



Check here on the CHEST Physician website for the latest news from CHEST 2018!

CHEST Physician reporting staff will provide on-site coverage of CHEST 2018, the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians, held in San Antonio, Tex., Oct. 6 through Oct. 10. They are planning to report on a wide variety of sessions covering the latest research on treating COPD, sleep medicine, pulmonary hypertension, asthma, and other pulmonary disease. Panels, plenaries, original research presentations, and late-breaking studies will all be covered in depth. Stories will be posted daily during the meeting on the CHEST Physician website. They will also be talking to presenters and discussants about their work, so be sure to watch for video interviews, which also will be published daily.

Among the sessions on the coverage calendar are the following:

The Impact of Obesity on Pulmonary Disorders. Sunday, Oct. 7, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., Convention Center 207B

GAMES: Games Augmenting Medical Education. Sunday, Oct. 7, 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., Convention Center 207B

Current Trends and Controversies in the Practice of Sleep Medicine. Monday, Oct. 8, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., Convention Center 214A

Futility? Responding to Nonbeneficial Treatment Requests. Monday, Oct. 8, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Convention Center 212A

Update on Diagnosis and Management of Diffuse Cystic Lung Disease. Tuesday, Oct. 9, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., Convention Center 214A

Lung Cancer Screening: News Questions and New Answers. Tuesday, Oct. 9, 8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., Convention Center 207A



Check here on the CHEST Physician website for the latest news from CHEST 2018!

Interruptions of patients’ refills for combination inhaled corticosteroid medication caused by the Medicare Part D formulary switch may have resulted in increased exacerbations and hospitalizations, according to a study that will be presented at the CHEST 2018 annual meeting.

Katie Devane, PhD, and her colleagues examined pharmacy records of 44,832 patients aged 12 years and older who had received a combination inhaled corticosteroid (budesonide/formoterol) and a long-acting beta-agonist medication in 2016-2017. They were followed to track their refills, medication switches, and use of other medications such as oral corticosteroids, antibiotics, and rescue inhalers.

After the Medicare Part D formulary switch on Jan. 1, 2017, many of these patients experienced disruption of their refills. About half of the patients attempted to get a refill of their inhaled corticosteroid prescription but only 46% were approved. One-third of the patients studied did not replace their medication, 12% switched to monotherapy, and 17% had no inhaled medication, the study found.

The investigators concluded that the formulary block resulted in many patients going without optimal medication and potentially led to more exacerbations and ER visits.

View the study abstract here: https://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0012-3692(18)31877-4/fulltext

The study will be presented in the session Improving Care in COPD, Monday, Oct. 8, 2:15 p.m., Convention Center Room 207A.

Interruptions of patients’ refills for combination inhaled corticosteroid medication caused by the Medicare Part D formulary switch may have resulted in increased exacerbations and hospitalizations, according to a study that will be presented at the CHEST 2018 annual meeting.

Katie Devane, PhD, and her colleagues examined pharmacy records of 44,832 patients aged 12 years and older who had received a combination inhaled corticosteroid (budesonide/formoterol) and a long-acting beta-agonist medication in 2016-2017. They were followed to track their refills, medication switches, and use of other medications such as oral corticosteroids, antibiotics, and rescue inhalers.

After the Medicare Part D formulary switch on Jan. 1, 2017, many of these patients experienced disruption of their refills. About half of the patients attempted to get a refill of their inhaled corticosteroid prescription but only 46% were approved. One-third of the patients studied did not replace their medication, 12% switched to monotherapy, and 17% had no inhaled medication, the study found.

The investigators concluded that the formulary block resulted in many patients going without optimal medication and potentially led to more exacerbations and ER visits.

View the study abstract here: https://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0012-3692(18)31877-4/fulltext

The study will be presented in the session Improving Care in COPD, Monday, Oct. 8, 2:15 p.m., Convention Center Room 207A.

Interruptions of patients’ refills for combination inhaled corticosteroid medication caused by the Medicare Part D formulary switch may have resulted in increased exacerbations and hospitalizations, according to a study that will be presented at the CHEST 2018 annual meeting.

Katie Devane, PhD, and her colleagues examined pharmacy records of 44,832 patients aged 12 years and older who had received a combination inhaled corticosteroid (budesonide/formoterol) and a long-acting beta-agonist medication in 2016-2017. They were followed to track their refills, medication switches, and use of other medications such as oral corticosteroids, antibiotics, and rescue inhalers.

After the Medicare Part D formulary switch on Jan. 1, 2017, many of these patients experienced disruption of their refills. About half of the patients attempted to get a refill of their inhaled corticosteroid prescription but only 46% were approved. One-third of the patients studied did not replace their medication, 12% switched to monotherapy, and 17% had no inhaled medication, the study found.

The investigators concluded that the formulary block resulted in many patients going without optimal medication and potentially led to more exacerbations and ER visits.

View the study abstract here: https://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0012-3692(18)31877-4/fulltext

The study will be presented in the session Improving Care in COPD, Monday, Oct. 8, 2:15 p.m., Convention Center Room 207A.

Children with asthma who are provided with care and medication per National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidelines can improve over time, despite the presence of environmental factors such as second-hand tobacco smoke and domestic pets, according to a study presented at the CHEST 2018 annual meeting.

A study conducted at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, included 395 children aged 2-17 years with a diagnosis of uncontrolled asthma. These children were then treated using the NAEPP guidelines for acute care needs and symptom control. In this sample of patients, 25% were exposed to second-hand smoke, and 55% had a cat or dog in the home.

The investigators followed these patients and observed improvement of symptoms. But in a comparison of those with and without the potentially problematic environmental factors, improvement was independent of the presence of these factors. The findings suggest that NAEPP-recommended treatment of asthma is more important than are some environmental factors.

View the study abstract here: https://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0012-3692(18)31862-2/fulltext.

The findings will be presented in the session on Obstructive Lung Diseases, Wednesday, Oct. 10, at 1:00 p.m.
 

Children with asthma who are provided with care and medication per National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidelines can improve over time, despite the presence of environmental factors such as second-hand tobacco smoke and domestic pets, according to a study presented at the CHEST 2018 annual meeting.

A study conducted at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, included 395 children aged 2-17 years with a diagnosis of uncontrolled asthma. These children were then treated using the NAEPP guidelines for acute care needs and symptom control. In this sample of patients, 25% were exposed to second-hand smoke, and 55% had a cat or dog in the home.

The investigators followed these patients and observed improvement of symptoms. But in a comparison of those with and without the potentially problematic environmental factors, improvement was independent of the presence of these factors. The findings suggest that NAEPP-recommended treatment of asthma is more important than are some environmental factors.

View the study abstract here: https://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0012-3692(18)31862-2/fulltext.

The findings will be presented in the session on Obstructive Lung Diseases, Wednesday, Oct. 10, at 1:00 p.m.
 

Children with asthma who are provided with care and medication per National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidelines can improve over time, despite the presence of environmental factors such as second-hand tobacco smoke and domestic pets, according to a study presented at the CHEST 2018 annual meeting.

A study conducted at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, included 395 children aged 2-17 years with a diagnosis of uncontrolled asthma. These children were then treated using the NAEPP guidelines for acute care needs and symptom control. In this sample of patients, 25% were exposed to second-hand smoke, and 55% had a cat or dog in the home.

The investigators followed these patients and observed improvement of symptoms. But in a comparison of those with and without the potentially problematic environmental factors, improvement was independent of the presence of these factors. The findings suggest that NAEPP-recommended treatment of asthma is more important than are some environmental factors.

View the study abstract here: https://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0012-3692(18)31862-2/fulltext.

The findings will be presented in the session on Obstructive Lung Diseases, Wednesday, Oct. 10, at 1:00 p.m.
 

Former smokers’ adherence to annual follow-up screening for lung cancer was found to be less than optimal, according to a study to be presented at the CHEST 2018 annual meeting.

Paul B. Brasher, MD, and his colleagues from the Thoracic Oncology Research Group at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston studied adherence to recommended low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) among Veterans Affairs patients who were at high risk for lung cancer and whose baseline LDCTs were negative.

A total of 2,106 veterans aged 55-80 years who had at least a 30-pack year smoking history were initially screened within the Veterans Health Administration Lung Cancer Screening Demonstration Project. The study tracked 1,120 of these patients for 18 months to determine their adherence to annual LDCT screening; the rate of adherence was 77.6%.

View the abstract here: https://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0012-3692(18)31772-0/fulltext

The study will be presented in the session Lung Cancer Screening: New Questions and New Answers, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 8:45 a.m., Convention Center 207A.

Former smokers’ adherence to annual follow-up screening for lung cancer was found to be less than optimal, according to a study to be presented at the CHEST 2018 annual meeting.

Paul B. Brasher, MD, and his colleagues from the Thoracic Oncology Research Group at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston studied adherence to recommended low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) among Veterans Affairs patients who were at high risk for lung cancer and whose baseline LDCTs were negative.

A total of 2,106 veterans aged 55-80 years who had at least a 30-pack year smoking history were initially screened within the Veterans Health Administration Lung Cancer Screening Demonstration Project. The study tracked 1,120 of these patients for 18 months to determine their adherence to annual LDCT screening; the rate of adherence was 77.6%.

View the abstract here: https://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0012-3692(18)31772-0/fulltext

The study will be presented in the session Lung Cancer Screening: New Questions and New Answers, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 8:45 a.m., Convention Center 207A.

Former smokers’ adherence to annual follow-up screening for lung cancer was found to be less than optimal, according to a study to be presented at the CHEST 2018 annual meeting.

Paul B. Brasher, MD, and his colleagues from the Thoracic Oncology Research Group at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston studied adherence to recommended low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) among Veterans Affairs patients who were at high risk for lung cancer and whose baseline LDCTs were negative.

A total of 2,106 veterans aged 55-80 years who had at least a 30-pack year smoking history were initially screened within the Veterans Health Administration Lung Cancer Screening Demonstration Project. The study tracked 1,120 of these patients for 18 months to determine their adherence to annual LDCT screening; the rate of adherence was 77.6%.

View the abstract here: https://journal.chestnet.org/article/S0012-3692(18)31772-0/fulltext

The study will be presented in the session Lung Cancer Screening: New Questions and New Answers, Tuesday, Oct. 9, 8:45 a.m., Convention Center 207A.