Respiratory tract diseases

Lack of evidence to support statin use in non-cardiovascular conditions

There is a lack of ‘convincing’ evidence that statins improve outcomes in non-cardiovascular conditions, such as diabetes, a review has shown.…

Role of dual and triple fixed-dose combination inhalers in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

A review of the current evidence, including the safety and efficacy of dual and triple-combination inhalers for the treatment of stable COPD, and their place in therapy.…

Antibiotics ‘do not cut hospitalisation risk’ in children with respiratory infections

Analysis of children presenting in primary care has found that delaying or withholding antibiotics is the most appropriate way of treating suspected respiratory tract infections.…

Alternative to steroids could ‘transform’ the lives of people with severe asthma, charity says

Monoclonal antibodies could significantly improve quality of life for individuals with severe asthma and reduce the need for oral corticosteroids and their side effects, a leading asthma charity has said.…

Asthma care in England needs to be more proactive, researchers say

An audit of data from Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group in England has found inconsistencies in asthma care that could leave high-risk patients unidentified and at risk of death.…

Healthy diet linked to improved asthma symptoms

Research across a large cohort using three different quality measures has shown that a healthy diet is associated with a reduced likelihood of experiencing asthma symptoms.…

Testing annual asthma reviews for those who fail to attend: proof-of-concept study

Asthma is one of the most common respiratory conditions in the UK. Around 30% of asthma patients fail to attend their annual asthma review, which leads to an increase in the number of preventable asthma-related hospital admissions. By using SIMPLE methodology and the PharmOutcomes® web-ba…

Dupilumab helps severe asthma patients cut glucocorticoid use

Research has shown dupilumab reduces glucocorticoid use by more than 70% and the number of severe asthma exacerbations by almost 60%.…

NICE tells health professionals to consider AMR when prescribing antibiotics for COPD

Healthcare professionals should consider antimicrobial resistance when prescribing antibiotics for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to new draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.…

SSRIs and SNRIs associated with increased morbidity and mortality in older adults with COPD, study results show

New use of serotonergic antidepressants is associated with small but significant increases in rates of respiratory-related morbidity and mortality among older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, a retrospective study has shown.…