Four special sessions at CHEST 2023, presented by the journal CHEST^®, will highlight some of the most anticipated and impactful research findings in pulmonary and critical care medicine published over the past year.

This year’s program includes one Best of CHEST Journal session, showcasing some of the most important research in diffuse lung disease published in the journal CHEST; two Practice-Changing Research sessions, which will feature key research in critical care and chest infections published in other journals; and one Practice-Changing Guidelines session, which will feature a review of a new guideline in COPD.

“In looking at all of the great research published over the last year, we try to make sure that the research we’re highlighting is not only clinically impactful but will change the way we practice pulmonary and critical care medicine,” journal CHEST Editor in Chief, Peter Mazzone, MD, MPH, FCCP, said. “And having the actual researchers present their work offers a great opportunity to get important insight into both the study methods and rationale, the interpretation of the results, what limitations there may be, where they see that research going, and how it applies to practice.”

Practice-Changing Research in Critical Care, Presented by CHEST Journal
Sunday, October 8 | 8:15 am to 9:15 am | Room 310

In this session, investigators will present findings from recently published and highly debated studies looking at important questions in critical care, including whether clinicians should prioritize mortality or survival with good neurological function as outcome.

“This study will provide insight into how to best judge outcomes of somebody in the intensive care unit—is it whether they live or not, or is surviving with good neurologic function a more important outcome measure?” Dr. Mazzone said. “As you might imagine, this question has both ethical implications as well as clinical implications, so it will be very interesting to hear the take of the authors of this paper. I expect it will also inspire a lot of discussion from the audience about the topic.”

The session will also include findings from a study looking at how the use of video laryngoscopy vs direct laryngoscopy might alter the endotracheal intubation procedure.

“Determining the best approach to intubating somebody who needs to be on a mechanical ventilator is an important and evolving topic for everyone working in the ICU,” Dr. Mazzone said. “As the video laryngoscopes have made their way into practice over the last 5 to 10 years, it’s important that we have evidence for which of the two approaches is safest and best at different levels of expertise.”

Practice-Changing Research in Chest Infections, Presented by CHEST Journal
Monday, October 9 | 8:30 am to 9:30 am | Room 313B

This session will cover new research into pneumonia in specific high-risk populations, including immunocompromised individuals and those with COPD, and treatment outcome measures for Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease.

For the first presentation, the author will discuss bacterial patterns and empiric antibiotic use in patients with COPD and community-acquired pneumonia and definitions and diagnostic criteria for immunocompromised host pneumonia. This research will be further contextualized with an exploration of recent CHEST consensus statement on initial treatment strategies for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia in immunocompromised adults.

The second presentation will highlight a current gap in the effective treatment of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) pulmonary disease. Although improvements in symptoms and health-related quality of life are important outcomes to measure treatment effectiveness, no patient-reported outcome measure currently exists. The author will discuss recent research into the validity and responsiveness of existing scales and key health-related quality of life measures during the first 6 months of treatment for MAC pulmonary disease.

Best of CHEST Journal: Diffuse Lung Disease
Tuesday, October 10 | 7:15 am to 8:15 am | Room 313B

In this session, researchers will review recent advances in the understanding of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) and key recent and upcoming publications that will influence clinical practice.

“Researchers in this session will discuss new insight we’re gaining into the management of ILDs and new understanding of gender disparities and whether there are genetic ties to outcomes,” Dr. Mazzone said. “We’ll also take an interesting look ahead and hear about future research that is likely to come out in 2024 and that is likely to have some clinical impact.”

Practice-Changing Guidelines in COPD, Presented by CHEST Journal
Wednesday, October 11 | 7:15 am to 8:15 am | Room 313B

This session will take a deep dive into the newly published Canadian Thoracic Society (CTS) Guideline on Pharmacotherapy in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Building on the organization’s 2019 guideline, this update stems from a comprehensive systematic review with a meta-analysis and expert-informed clinical remarks. The resulting publication offers recommendations for optimal maintenance pharmacologic therapy for individuals with stable COPD and a practical treatment pathway based on new evidence.

The author will explore key changes and recommendations in the new guideline, including changes in recommended first-line therapies for patients with differing symptom burdens and patients with acute exacerbations, and further review how clinicians can integrate into clinical practice the comprehensive management of COPD and a new “pharmacotherapy pathway” for individuals with stable COPD.