Asthma

Cancer drug shows potential in treating severe asthma

US researchers explore the effects of imatinib on reducing mast cell activity in poorly controlled asthma.…

‘Concerning’ drop in standards on A&E asthma care, report warns

Emergency departments are failing to meet a wide range of standards on monitoring and treatment of patients with asthma, a report by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine is warning.…

Genetic study finds no evidence vitamin D linked to atopic disease

Observational studies have suggested that low levels of vitamin D might increase the risk of asthma, atopic dermatitis and raised immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels.…

AstraZeneca asthma drug fails in phase III trial

An experimental drug being tested as a treatment for severe asthma by pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has failed to meet its primary endpoint of significantly reducing the annual rate of asthma exacerbations in the first of two phase III studies.…

Pharmacist review of asthma patients is cost-effective, Italian study finds

A study conducted in Italy has found that a medicines use review (MUR) for asthma, with a protocol adapted from the UK, had a beneficial effect on patients’ asthma control and was cost effective compared with usual care.…

Advice to give to asthma patients about air pollution

Two-thirds of people with asthma in the UK say poor air quality makes their asthma worse, which puts them at higher risk of an asthma attack. There is also evidence that being exposed long-term to high concentrations of air pollution plays a part in causing asthma. Women who are exposed to hig…

Smart inhalers: will they help to improve asthma care?

Smart inhalers use Bluetooth technology to detect inhaler use, remind patients when to take their medication and gather data to help guide care. They have the potential to improve patients’ adherence to asthma therapies and keep their condition under control, but it is clear they need to be de…

Study identifies most important inhaler technique errors that are linked to poor asthma outcomes

A study of 3,660 patients across eight countries has identified the types of inhaler technique errors that are associated with the greatest impact on asthma outcomes.…

A quick intervention recommendation by community pharmacists for patients using inhalers

Many pharmacists are probably busy reviewing inhaler use and technique as part of their medicines use reviews and new medicine service processes for patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The long-acting beta-2 agonist formoterol is a common ingredient in step-u…

Asthma patients deserve better care

The 2016 Asthma UK annual asthma survey has produced some shocking findings. There are 5.4 million people in the UK diagnosed with asthma, but we found that two-thirds were not receiving the basic care that they need in order to stay well. This is worrying in the context that the majority of t…