Deep Breaths: Updates from CHEST

Recent therapeutic advances are reshaping our approach to limited-stage small cell lung cancer. In this multidisciplinary discussion, Dr. Gerard Silvestri sits down with Drs. Adam Fox, Mariam Alexander, and Anurag Singh to explore the evolving standard of care and practical considerations for timely and effective care. Dr. Silvestri is a pulmonologist and the Hillenbrand Professor of Thoracic Oncology at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Fox is a pulmonologist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Alexander is a medical oncologist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Singh is a Professor of Radiation Oncology and the Director of Radiation Research at the Roswell Park Cancer Center in New York.

This program is produced in partnership with the American College of Chest Physicians and is sponsored by AstraZeneca.

IL-5 is a key driver of Type 2 inflammation in patients with severe asthma, promoting downstream effects like mucus plugging and epithelial barrier dysfunction. Given these impacts, targeted therapy with biologics can play a role in severe asthma management. Join Drs. Diego Maselli, Anju Peters, and Monica Kraft as they explore the impacts of IL-5 and share perspectives on patient selection and shared decision-making for targeted therapies. Dr. Maselli is a Professor of Medicine at the Long School of Medicine at UT Health in San Antonio. Dr. Peters is a Professor of Medicine and Associate Chief of Clinical Research and Practice Innovation at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. Dr. Kraft is a System Chair of the Samuel Bronfman Department of Medicine and a Professor of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Health Systems in New York.

This episode of Deep Breaths: Updates from CHEST was supported by a non-promotional, non-CME educational program brought to you by CHEST in collaboration with and sponsored by GSK.

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often experience significant delays in diagnosis and treatment due to systemic gaps in management. A recent survey of 400 primary care and pulmonary clinicians uncovered patterns of fragmented care among both specialties. Join Dr. Nate Falk and Dr. Megan Conroy as they dive into the findings and explain how CHEST’s COPD Toolkit can help clinicians address these gaps and provide a coordinated approach to COPD management. Dr. Falk is a board-certified family physician as well as a Professor and Founding Residency Director for Family Medicine at Florida State University in partnership with BayCare Health System. Dr. Conroy is a Chair and Assistant Professor in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at The Ohio State University.

This activity is supported by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Sanofi.

Early recognition and diagnosis of non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) and bronchiectasis are key for optimal patient management. However, these conditions are often misdiagnosed as COPD or asthma, leading to significant challenges and delays in treatment. Join Drs. Nate Falk and Ashwin Basavaraj as they share perspectives on accurately diagnosing NTM and bronchiectasis with early symptom recognition, a thorough patient history, and testing. Dr. Falk is a board-certified family medicine physician, a Professor and Founding Residency Director for Family Medicine at Florida State University in partnership with BayCare Health System, and the Assistant Dean for Graduate Medical Education at Florida State University. Dr. Basavaraj is an Associate Professor of Medicine at New York University Grossman School of Medicine, the Director of the Bronchiectasis and NTM Education Program at NYU Langone Health, and the Section Chief of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at Bellevue Hospital Center.

This program is produced in partnership with the American College of CHEST Physicians and is sponsored by Insmed Incorporated.

Often mistaken for COPD or asthma, bronchiectasis and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) can be difficult to recognize and test for, often delaying diagnosis and effective treatment. However, an emphasis on education and research can help address these diagnostic gaps, and involving a multidisciplinary care team can improve treatment plans and patient outcomes. Joining Dr. Ashwin Basavaraj, Associate Professor of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, to talk about how we can optimize the diagnosis and management of bronchiectasis and NTM are Dr. Keren Bakal, Dr. Nathan Falk, and Ms. Amy Springer. Dr. Bakal is a pulmonologist specializing in critical care medicine at Overlook Medical Center and Morristown Medical Center in New Jersey, Dr. Falk is a Professor and the founding Residency Director for Family Medicine at Florida State University, and Ms. Springer is a Senior Nurse Practitioner at NYU Langone Health.

This program is produced in partnership with the American College of CHEST Physicians, and is sponsored by Insmed Incorporated.

A recent study assessing the impact of implicit bias on uncontrolled asthma treatment found that a patient’s identity and socioeconomic status can unintentionally influence a physician’s decision-making, impacting the quality of care. Additionally, a critical gap exists in clinician awareness and implementation of health equity practices, which play a key role in mitigating these unintended consequences. That’s why Drs. Isaretta Riley, Nicola Hanania, and Jay Peters come together to explore the latest research on unconscious bias in asthma treatment and provide recommendations for more equitable care. Dr. Riley is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina; Dr. Hanania is a Professor of Pulmonary Medicine and the Director of Airways Clinical Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas; and Dr. Peters is a Professor Emeritus of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Texas, San Antonio.

This episode of Deep Breaths: Updates from CHEST was supported by a non-promotional, non-CME educational program brought to you by CHEST in collaboration with and sponsored by GSK.

Primary care providers can play a pivotal role in a patient’s COPD diagnosis by looking out for signs and symptoms and referring patients to pulmonologists when appropriate. The goal of this activity is to educate clinicians about managing patients with COPD symptoms and facilitating earlier diagnosis. Hear both primary care and pulmonary perspectives on diagnostic strategies.

CLINICIANS: To access additional resources for COPD diagnosis, visit chestnet.org/timely- diagnosis-COPD or scan the QR code.

Although there have been several advances in vaccine technology and safety the past few years, the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy among patients is increasing. Since vaccine hesitancy heightens the burden of potentially life-threatening viruses like RSV and influenza, Dr. Ryan Maves speaks with Dr. Susan Corbridge about why patients might be reluctant to get vaccinated and how we can use the First 5 Minutes approach to provide individualized counseling on the importance of vaccines. Dr. Maves is a Professor of Medicine and Anesthesiology in the Sections of Infectious Diseases and Critical Care Medicine at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, and Dr. Corbridge is a Professor Emerita at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing.

This episode is supported by an educational grant from Moderna.

Although the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has decreased in adults aged 18 to 44, it remains elevated in certain patient groups, like women, adults over 65, smokers, and those living in rural areas. This prevalence emphasizes the importance of a patient-centered approach, which is why Dr. Angela Birdwell speaks with Drs. Antonio Anzueto and Susan Corbridge about how open conversations and the First 5 Minutes concept can help personalize the care of COPD patients and lead to better outcomes. Dr. Anzueto is a Professor of Medicine at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System and UT Health San Antonio, and Dr. Corbridge is the Chief Essentials Program Officer at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and a Professor Emerita at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing.

This non-CME education is brought to you by CHEST, and this program is supported by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Sanofi.

Listen in as Farrukh Abbas, MD, FCCP, and Megan Conroy, MD, MAEd, FCCP, discuss the role of the care team in COPD diagnosis, recent changes in classifications and updates to the GOLD guidelines, how triple-inhaler therapies and biologics can be used to treat patients with COPD, and more.

Since the time of this recording, the FDA has recently approved dupilumab as an add-on maintenance treatment for adult patients with inadequately controlled chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with type 2 inflammation.