A Pandemic Lesson for Global Lung Diseases: Exacerbations Are Preventable

A dramatic global reduction in the incidence of common seasonal respiratory viral infections has resulted from measures to limit the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during the pandemic. This has been accompanied by falls reaching 50% internationally in the incidence of acute exacerbations of preexisting chronic respiratory diseases that include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cystic fibrosis. At the same time, the incidence of acute bacterial pneumonia and sepsis has fallen steeply worldwide. Such findings demonstrate the profound impact of common respiratory viruses on the course of these global illnesses. Reduced transmission of common respiratory bacterial pathogens and their interactions with viruses appear also as central factors.

This review summarizes pandemic changes in exacerbation rates of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, and pneumonia. We draw attention to the substantial body of knowledge about respiratory virus infections in these conditions, and that it has not yet translated into clinical practice. Now that the large scale of benefits that could be gained by managing these pathogens is unmistakable, we suggest that the field merits substantial academic and industrial investment. We consider how pandemic-inspired measures for prevention and treatment of common infections should become a cornerstone for managing respiratory diseases.

Target Audience

Pulmonologists, critical care specialists, translational researchers, and clinicians

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, learners should be able to:

  • Apply knowledge about pandemic changes in exacerbation rates to managing people with asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis, and pneumonia.

  • Effectively communicate the efficacy of nonpharmaceutical interventions to patients.

  • Apply knowledge about which factors have contributed to the reduction in exacerbation events.

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™
    The American Thoracic Society designates this for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
  • 1.00 Participation
Publication Date: 
07/07/2022
Credit Expires: 
06/02/2024
Rating: 
0

Accreditation Statement

The American Thoracic Society is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Disclosure Declaration

It is the policy of the ATS to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, scientific rigor, and integrity in all of its continuing education activities. As an accredited CME provider, the ATS requires that its planners, reviewers and presenters comply with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. The ATS also requires specific disclosure of relationships with companies and organizations associated with tobacco or cannabis and prohibits or limits participation of faculty in official ATS activities, including CME, if any tobacco industry relationship or some types of cannabis industry relationships are present. To see the most recent policies regarding potential conflicts of interest as well as the mechanisms to resolve such conflicts, press the COI Policy link below.

This educational activity may include discussion of unapproved uses of a drug, product, or device. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Article Authorship Disclosures (as submitted to the ATS prior to article publication date)

Jennifer Quint, M.Sc., Ph.D., F.R.C.P., (National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK) reported no relevant financial relationships.

Miriam Moffatt, Ph.D., (National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK) reported reported no relevant financial relationships.

Garth Rapeport, Ph.D., (National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK) reported grants or contracts from SubIntro Ltd. And Pulmocide Ltd.; consulting fees from SubIntro Ltd.; stock or stock options with SubIntro Ltd. And Pulmocide Ltd.; and a provisional patent application for a viral host defense inhibitor with SubIntro Ltd.

William Cookson, Ph.D., F.R.C.P., (National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK) reported no relevant financial relationships.

Off-Label Usage Disclosure

None

Disclosures of AJRCCM CME Planners

The current practice of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (AJRCCM) is to publish high quality, peer-reviewed and evidence-based original research, Concise Clinical Reviews, Guidelines and Consensus Statements. Articles published in AJRCCM include evidence-based summaries of optimal practice (Concise Clinical Reviews), evidence-based guidelines, workshop summaries and original contributions that will influence clinical practice. The publication of these articles by itself is only one piece of a multi-step process for the translation of evidence-based improvements in care to clinical practice. Articles selected for CME credit are designed to be the next step in the process of translating clinically relevant, evidence-based recommendations into clinical practice. This will be accomplished through a series of questions specifically designed by the author(s) to test that readers have the tools needed to translate recommendations for diagnostic and therapeutic clinical care into clinical practice. Members of the AJRCCM editorial board will review these questions and assess the quality of the questions based on (1) clarity, (2) educational content, and (3) the quality of the evidence supporting the response to the question. Posttest questions will assess if practitioners have understood the most important recommendations available for the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary diseases, critical illness, and sleep disorders and are able to implement them into clinical practice.

AJRCCM CME Planners

Harold Collard, M.D.
Associate Editor, AJRCCM

Dr. Collard reported that he is on the advisory committee of Bayer, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Fibrogen, Genentech, Gilead, Intermune, and Promedior; and is a consultant at Five Prime.

Gerard J. Criner, M.D.
Associate Editor, AJRCCM

Dr. Criner reported that he has research awards from Aeris Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Forest Laboratories, GlaxoSmithKline, Ikaria, Medimmune, Novartis, Pearl, PneumRx, Pulmonx, Respironics, Spectral Diagnostics, and Theratechnologies Inc.; and has received lecture fees from Almirall, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celerion, CSA Medical Inc., Johnson & Johnson, and Respivert.

Jadwiga A. Wedzicha, M.D.
Editor-in-Chief, AJRCCM

Dr. Wedzicha reported that she is on the advisory committee of Napp, Pfizer, and Takeda; has research awards from Chiesi, Takeda, and Vifor Pharma; and has received lecture fees from Almirall, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, and Takeda.

Instructions to Receive Credit

To receive CME credit, you must register, attend the webinar and complete the post-activity evaluation. Your certificate will be then be available for download.

Available Credit

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™
    The American Thoracic Society designates this for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
  • 1.00 Participation
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