The American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST) recently held its annual meeting, CHEST 2024, from October 6 – 9 in Boston, Massachusetts. This esteemed event brought together top experts in the field of chest medicine, providing attendees with an exceptional educational experience and valuable networking opportunities aimed at improving patient care.

A key focus of discussion at CHEST 2024 was asthma. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of 2021, approximately 7.7% of individuals in the United States (US) are currently living with asthma, equating to about 1 in 13 people. This statistic underscores the importance of ongoing research in this critical area.

Below are succinct summaries of studies presented at CHEST 2024 that focus on advancing the most effective treatment options for managing asthma:

IMPACT OF BLOOD EOSINOPHIL LEVEL IN HOSPITAL LENGTH OF STAY AND MORTALITY IN ICU-ADMITTED ASTHMA PATIENTS

  • Asthma can manifest in various phenotypes, with the eosinophilic phenotype being characterized by high levels of eosinophils in the blood or sputum. This particular phenotype has been associated with frequent exacerbations, more severe asthma, and increased healthcare utilization. However, there is a lack of information regarding how this phenotype may impact outcomes in asthmatics admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). The objective of this study is to investigate the influence of the eosinophilic phenotype on mortality and hospital length of stay in patients with asthma who are admitted to the ICU.
  • The findings indicate that critically ill patients with the eosinophilic asthma phenotype experience a longer hospital and ICU length of stay compared to those with a non-eosinophilic phenotype, even after adjusting for clinical factors.
  • Summary

ASTHMA IN DOMESTIC HOUSEHOLD WORKERS

  • Household domestic workers are frequently exposed to a variety of chemical disinfectants within the home, which can result in dermatitis and allergic rhinitis. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of asthma and atopic dermatitis among domestic household workers.
  • In conclusion, implementing proper workplace precautions and maintaining good hygiene practices can significantly decrease the occurrence of atopic dermatitis and asthma in domestic workers. It is important for domestic workers to undergo regular screenings for asthma and atopic dermatitis, and for employers to adhere to workplace ethics to prevent work-related asthma and atopic dermatitis.
  • Summary

IMPACT OF ARTERIAL CARBON DIOXIDE LEVELS ON IN-HOSPITAL MORTALITY IN ICU-ADMITTED PATIENTS WITH ASTHMA

  • Patients with asthma are at a higher risk of developing respiratory complications due to the nature of their condition. Respiratory failure in these individuals is often characterized by rapid breathing (tachypnea) and low levels of carbon dioxide in the blood (hypocapnia). However, it is not clear whether these factors have a significant impact on outcomes for patients with asthma in the intensive care unit (ICU).This study investigates the relationship between hypocapnia upon admission and ICU outcomes in patients with asthma.
  • The findings suggest that critically ill patients with asthma who also have hypocapnia upon admission are more likely to experience higher mortality rates and require intubation compared to patients without hypocapnia, even after accounting for other clinical factors.
  • Summary

ADDRESSING UNMET NEEDS IN ASTHMA MANAGEMENT: A COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH

  • The objective of this study is to showcase how ongoing education utilizing the TeleECHO model can enhance healthcare providers’ capacity to effectively manage individual asthma patients by incorporating the most recent clinical evidence, patient considerations, and guidelines.
  • The TeleECHO program has proven to significantly improve learners’ ability to integrate clinical evidence, guidelines, and patient factors into the treatment of moderate-to-severe asthma. Initial assessment scores indicate a lack of awareness within the community setting when compared to national standards. However, post-assessment scores and subsequent evaluations illustrate how continuing education can enhance learners’ skills and practices. The popularity of the Personalized Posters indicates a strong desire among community practitioners for resources that can assist them in referencing updated guidelines in their day-to-day practice.
  • Summary

SAFETY AND TOLERABILITY OF DUPILUMAB IN PATIENTS LIVING WITH ASTHMA AND CHRONIC RHINOSINUSITIS AGED 65 YEARS AND OLDER

  • Asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) are chronic inflammatory respiratory conditions that share similar pathophysiology involving high- or low-TH2 inflammation. It is noteworthy that there is a significant overlap in these diagnoses, with 22-45% of asthma patients also being diagnosed with CRS. Due to their common pathophysiology, there is a growing interest in treating both diseases with common biologic medications, such as dupilumab, an anti-IL4/IL13 therapy. While dupilumab has demonstrated safety and efficacy in the general population, it is important to note that patients over the age of 65 were underrepresented in the initial clinical trials. To address this gap in knowledge, researchers conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study focusing on patients over the age of 65 to evaluate the safety profile of dupilumab in the geriatric population.
  • The study findings revealed that the rates of adverse events in our geriatric cohort were consistent with previous studies involving dupilumab treatment for atopic dermatitis. However, it was observed that the rate of therapy cessation among patients experiencing adverse events was higher in our study. This suggests that patients aged 65 and older may be more susceptible to developing adverse events of varying types and severity compared to their younger counterparts.
  • Summary

Thank you for joining us for this recap of the CHEST 2024. We recommend visiting this link to explore all the posters presented at the event, including ongoing trials. We look forward to seeing you at CHEST 2025 in Chicago, IL!

Sign up for alerts and stay informed on the latest published guidelines and stay tuned for our conference recaps.

Copyright © 2024 Guideline Central, All Rights Reserved.