Author: michael

Catch up with the latest REG news and happenings in our February 2026 issue

 

 

NEW REG Publication

Development and validation of the PRECISE-X model: predicting first severe exacerbation in COPD

We are delighted to share our latest publication, “Development and validation of the PRECISE-X model: predicting first severe exacerbation in COPD”, now published in Thorax.

 

Severe COPD exacerbations lead to hospitalisation, increased mortality, reduced quality of life, and substantial healthcare burden. Yet existing tools offer limited guidance for identifying patients at risk of a first severe exacerbation in routine clinical practice.

 

Using UK CPRD Aurum data (2004–2022), we developed PRECISE-X, a novel prediction model that estimates the risk of a first severe COPD exacerbation over 5 years and 12 months using routinely collected clinical data, validated across nine practice regions in the UK.

 

The PRECISE-X model demonstrated strong discrimination, good calibration, and positive net benefit, highlighting its unique potential to identify high-risk patients at the time of COPD diagnosis and support earlier, more targeted management strategies.

 

https://thorax.bmj.com/content/early/2025/12/31/thorax-2025-223770

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REG SUMMIT 2026, Palma de Mallorca - ABSTRACT SUBMISSION IS NOW OPEN!

SUBMIT YOUR WORK NOW and APPLY FOR AN EARLY CAREER TRAVEL GRANT

Submit your work and present your findings in the form of a poster during the Summit! All details about the submission procedure can be found on the REG Summit 2026 website: www.regsummit2026.org

Early Career Travel Grants

Building on the success of 2025, REG will once again support early-career professionals in attending the Summit. Participants will have the opportunity to present their research to a targeted audience, engage with leading experts and peers, receive valuable feedback, and gain recognition within the medical community.

Selected applicants will receive:

• A €700 award for travel and accommodation
• Complimentary registration to the Summit
• A certificate of achievement
• 20% discount on the early registration fee for the 2027 Summit

The Early Career Travel Grant winners will also be invited to present their work both as posters and in an oral session.

We invite you to register and submit your abstracts online by the deadline of January 9th, 2026.  To apply for an Early Career Travel Grant, please indicate your intention on the abstract submission platform.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE FIRST

REG REAL-LIFE RESPIRATORY AWARD

To celebrate the first decade of the Respiratory Effectiveness Group (REG), we are proud to launch the REG Real-Life Respiratory Award. This new annual recognition will honour an individual whose life-time achievements have made an outstanding contribution to lung health through real-life and comparative effectiveness research and advocacy in respiratory medicine.

Who is eligible?
We welcome nominations of individuals worldwide who have significantly advanced respiratory health in any of the following areas:
• Primary Care
• Chest Medicine
• Allied Health Professions (e.g., Nurses, Physiotherapists, Pharmacists, Epidemiologists, Health Economists, Patient Advocates, and Healthcare Policymakers)
• Other disciplines with a strong and lasting dedication to lung health
The nominee should serve as a living tribute by significantly having helped with setting quality standards in the field of real-life research and improving our understanding of the optimum role of real-life data to inform meaningful clinical guidance, policy and decision-making for the benefit of improved patient care.

Candidates should have demonstrated:
• Leadership in real-life or comparative effectiveness research
• Measurable impact on patient care, clinical guidance, or health policy
• Innovation and excellence in using real-world data to improve outcomes
Both REG and non-REG collaborators may be nominated; there are no geographic restrictions (nominees are welcome from any country); self-nominations or posthumous nominations are not permitted.

The Award:
The recipient will receive:
• A commemorative plaque
• Complimentary registration and travel support to attend the next REG
Annual Summit
• An opportunity to deliver an honorary lecture at the REG Annual Summit
• Recognition across REG communications and website

Procedures:
Call for Nominations: A public call for nominations is being made through REG communication channels. Nominations can be submitted by email to any REG Board member  The REG Team – REG – Respiratory Effectiveness Group.

Nomination deadline:
Nominations close at midnight (CET) on Wednesday 3rd December 2025.

Conflict of Interest:
REG Board members must declare any conflicts of interest with any nominee and will be recused from discussion or voting concerning that nominee. The REG Board will decide the awardee by openly discussing the merits of eligible candidates, and voting democratically and blindly, by absolute majority, or if not, by relative majority.
The decision of the REG Board will be final.

The first award ceremony will take place during the REG Summit in Palma de Mallorca, March 19 – 21 2026.

Let's celebrate more than a decade of real-world respiratory impact by honouring those who made it possible!

 

 

NEW REG Publication

Assessment of peak inspiratory flow in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

We are delighted to share our latest publication, “Assessment of peak inspiratory flow in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a multicentre, observational, prospective, real-life study”, now available in BMJ Open Respiratory Research.

Peak inspiratory flow (PIF) is critical for the effective use of dry powder inhalers (DPIs) in COPD management, yet many patients may not achieve the required values for optimal drug delivery. In this multicentre, prospective study across 17 international sites, we recruited 415 patients with COPD and measured PIF at three resistance levels (low, high, and the patient’s maintenance device) using the In-Check Dial device. The baseline results showed that one-third of patients had suboptimal PIF, which was associated with a greater burden of symptoms and lower adherence.

Our study highlights the importance of routine PIF assessment in COPD care. Measuring PIF helps determine whether patients can use a DPI effectively or require an alternative device, ensuring personalised treatment and better disease control.

https://bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/content/12/1/e002408

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEW REG Publication

Expert Perspectives on Next Generation Health Guidelines: How to Integrate RWE in EBM

We are delighted to share our latest publication, “Expert Perspectives on Next Generation Health Guidelines: How to Integrate RWE in EBM" is now available in the Pragmatic and Observational Research journal.

Real-world evidence (RWE) can supplement randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to improve evidence-based medicine (EBM) and clinical guidelines. Insights from the 2nd EAACI/REG Workshop emphasise the importance of standardised methods, education on RWE, and collaboration with patients and regulators. Practical frameworks are suggested to develop and incorporate high-quality RWE into healthcare decision-making, especially for airway diseases.

As the Expert Group noted,  the integration of Real-World Evidence into evidence-based decision-making has become a practical necessity rather than just a theoretical concept. The workshop consensus highlights that high-quality RWE, when generated and interpreted with rigorous methods, can effectively supplement or sometimes replace data from randomised controlled trials.

https://doi.org/10.1089/jamp.2024.0060

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Catch up with the latest REG news and happenings in our September 2025 issue

 

 

REG WEBINARS

REG is pleased to announce the next webinar in the series.
The topic for this webinar is

How can respiratory research and practice be augmented using digital technologies?: an overview of evidence and implementation

The webinar will be presented by Prof. Job van Boven and introduced by Prof. Joan B. Soriano

You are invited to join this webinar on Thursday 18th September from 5 to 6PM CET

 

 

REG WEBINARS

REG is pleased to announce the next webinar in the series.
The topic for this webinar is

Screening and early diagnosis of Interstitial Lung Disease: starting the process from Primary Care

The webinar will be presented by Dr. Pilar Rivera Ortega and introduced by Prof. Joan B. Soriano

You are invited to join this webinar on Thursday 5th June from 5 to 6PM CET

 

 

Respiratory Effectiveness Group Position Statement: Inhaler Choice: Balancing Personalized Health Care and Environmental Responsibility

We are delighted to share our latest publication, “Respiratory Effectiveness Group Position Statement: Inhaler Choice: Balancing Personalized Health Care and Environmental Responsibility”, now available in the Journal of Aerosol Medicine and Pulmonary Drug Delivery.

Inhaled medications are essential for managing asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Delivery systems include dry powder inhalers (DPIs), pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs), soft mist inhalers, and nebulizers. There are currently international efforts to phase down propellants with high global warming potential (GWP), with some governments and societies recommending a switch from pMDIs due to their GWP.

REG conducted a global survey of 468 healthcare professionals (HCPs) and 270 asthma/COPD patients across 39 countries to understand prioritisation of factors in inhaler device selection. Findings revealed that both HCPs and patients prioritise clinical considerations over environmental concerns, emphasising the need to tailor inhaler selection to individual patient needs and promote informed treatment decisions while transitioning to eco-friendly inhaler options.

While REG advocates for environmental responsibility, inhaler choice should be personalised, balancing patient needs and environmental concerns. REG strongly opposes the switching of inhalers for nonmedical reasons without considering the possible clinical consequences of a mismatch between inhaler characteristics and the patient's preferences.

https://doi.org/10.1089/jamp.2024.0060