Respiratory tract diseases

Pharmacy programmes are a cost-effective way to help patients manage COPD

Pharmacy-led adherence programmes are “highly cost effective” in improving self-management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a new report commissioned by the British Lung Foundation and the British Thoracic Society.…

Older smokers more likely to become frail than non-smokers

Study shows that current smokers, aged 60 years or older, had a 60% greater odds of becoming frail during follow-up compared with non-smokers.…

Vitamin D reduces risk of hospitalisation for asthma attacks

Taking oral vitamin D supplements as well as standard asthma medication halves the rate of asthma attacks requiring hospital attendance, and cuts the likelihood an asthma attack will require treatment with systemic steroids by almost a third.…

Steroid inhalers linked to increased risk of mycobacterial infection

Use of steroid inhalers for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease increases the risk of mycobacterial infections, according to a study published in the European Respiratory Journal.…

Children with asthma more likely to be prescribed antibiotics, conference told

Children with asthma are 1.6 times more likely to be prescribed antibiotics than children without the condition, according to the results of a UK and Netherlands study.…

Naturally occurring peptides show antiviral potential against common cold

Cathelicidins could be a new therapeutic strategy for the management of human rhinovirus infection, researchers suggest.…

Air pollution: why we need to act now for public health

The evidence that air pollution is contributing to the ill health of the population continues to grow. Action must be taken now, writes Lois Holliday.…

Fewer children hospitalised with asthma following smoking bans

Smoking bans have reduced the number of children attending hospital with severe asthma exacerbations and respiratory tract infections, a study in Lancet Public Health shows.…

Salbutamol linked to decreased risk of Parkinson’s disease

Research has found that the asthma drug salbutamol is associated with a reduction in the risk of Parkinson’s disease.…

Use pharmacy to help manage NHS winter pressures, PSNC urges

Community pharmacy is well positioned to help keep hospital admission and readmission rates down and ease the burden on acute care services.…