Pulmonology news.

A JAMA paper by World Trade Center Health Program staff reviews long-term care and health outcomes among people affected by 9/11. A CDC announcement reports 54% lung cancer screening uptake among eligible members in 2024 and lower cancer mortality among enrolled responders, but provides no sample sizes or detailed methods.

The 2026 Annual Report to the Nation reports declining cancer death rates among men and women from 2019 to 2023, driven largely by lung cancer progress. The population-based analysis uses cancer registry and mortality data; overall cancer incidence rose slightly each year from 2018 to 2022.

An observational analysis of 880 SPIROMICS participants found that one-year progression of two CT-defined emphysema subtypes predicted faster subsequent FEV₁ decline. The findings support further evaluation of these imaging measures as potential intermediate endpoints in COPD trials.

A substudy of the randomized, placebo-controlled INBUILD trial evaluated quantitative CT measures in 474 patients with progressive pulmonary fibrosis. Higher baseline scores predicted worse outcomes in placebo recipients, while nintedanib reduced changes in two imaging measures versus placebo.

A review examines evidence on antibiotic duration in critically ill patients with sepsis and severe infections. It reports support for shorter courses in selected infections, while highlighting uncertainty in immunocompromised patients, difficult-to-treat pathogens and infections involving retained devices.

An observational questionnaire analysis of 963 DCCT/EDIC participants found intermediate/high obstructive sleep apnea risk in 64% and poor sleep quality in 43%. Higher HbA1c was associated with greater odds of sleep problems, while several diabetes complications showed specific associations.

An observational investigation at a UK cardiothoracic hospital identified 40 patients with Mycobacterium abscessus cultures genetically matching a hospital water strain. Incidence declined after extensive water-system controls, but the strain persisted in the water supply.

A prospective US registry study of 585 patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease–associated progressive pulmonary fibrosis found substantial baseline impairment and frequent progression over 24 months. Adjusted analyses found no significant outcome differences by rheumatic disease subtype.

The phase 3b ENCORE randomized trial enrolled 425 adults with newly diagnosed Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease who had not started antibiotics. Adding amikacin liposome inhalation suspension to azithromycin and ethambutol improved respiratory symptom scores and increased culture conversion compared with placebo plus the same antibiotics.

In the multicenter, randomized SAFER trial, 100 adults with acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis received pulse or nonpulse corticosteroids. Pulse methylprednisolone did not demonstrate improved 28- or 90-day survival, although wide confidence intervals leave uncertainty about differences between regimens.

A pragmatic cluster-randomized trial involving 43 US general hospitals and 11,760 pediatric admissions found that respiratory care pathways improved adherence to evidence-based practices. The intervention also reduced the odds of intensive care transfer, without significant effects on length of stay or 30-day readmission or emergency revisit.

An open-label phase Ib study evaluated izalontamab brengitecan in 52 patients with previously treated extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. The objective response rate was 48.1%, with median progression-free survival of 4.1 months; the small, uncontrolled study cannot establish comparative benefit.