Respiratory tract diseases

Coarse, as well as fine, particulate matter increases asthma risk in children

Study finds that exposure to coarse particulate matter is significantly associated with an increased relative rate of asthma diagnosis, independent of exposure to fine particulate matter.…

Diagnosis and management of hospital-acquired pneumonia in older adults

Hospital‑acquired pneumonia increases the length of in-patient hospital stay and is associated with high mortality rates, particularly in older people. Pharmacists and healthcare professionals need to know how to diagnose and manage the condition, and be cognisant of the gaps in …

Helping respiratory patients breathe easy

Sometimes as pharmacists we undervalue what impact we can have and how much patients appreciate our skills, says Lucy Lelliott.…

Basic asthma care comes down to ‘postcode lottery’ Asthma UK survey finds

Just 35% of people with asthma are receiving the most basic level of asthma care, according to the fifth annual asthma survey from charity Asthma UK.…

Fructose increases risk of childhood asthma, independent of obesity

A study of 1,068 mother-child pairs has shown that high fructose intake increases risk of mid-childhood asthma…

Over-55s should have more regular asthma checkups

Patients with asthma aged over 55 are more likely to experience symptom ‘flare-ups’ and need more regular check-ups than younger asthmatics, according to research presented at the British Thoracic Society Winter Meeting…

Asthma care can be improved through new ways to diagnose and manage the condition, NICE says

New ways to diagnose and manage asthma can improve care, according to new guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence…

Bronchiectasis: diagnosis, treatment and management

Bronchiectasis is a common chronic disease where the airways of the lungs become abnormally widened. Patients present with recurrent cough, sputum production and are at risk of respiratory tract infections. Pharmacists and healthcare professionals need to be aware of the latest management strategies…

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.…