Asthma is increasingly recognised as a heterogeneous disease, with several phenotypes defined by clinical and inflammatory characteristics. Common phenotypes include allergic (eosinophilic, IgE-mediated), non-allergic (often neutrophilic or paucigranulocytic), late-onset adult asthma, obesity-associated asthma, and asthma with persistent airflow limitation.14 Identifying phenotypes supports individualised treatment strategies, particularly in those with severe asthma, and better long-term outcomes.
Steps 2 and 3: Maintenance and reliever therapy (MART)
Comorbid conditions can complicate asthma management. Assess for and help address factors such as allergic rhinitis, which affects up to 80% of people with asthma,24 as well as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), anxiety, depression, obstructive sleep apnoea and smoking.
Free influenza vaccine update
Four Australian jurisdictions enacted a free influenza vaccine program for patients 6 months and over this month, to stave off rising rates of the virus.
Not as easy as ABCD or X
How to provide current, evidence-based information, advice and recommendations on the safety of medicines during pregnancy.
Dr Rosie Nash is on a mission to improve health literacy
Health literacy is key to every conversation pharmacists have with their patients, says Dr Rosie Nash MPS, a pharmacist who is channelling her 18 years of experience into community education.
Pharmacogenomics: what pharmacists should know
Pharmacogenomic testing is a tool that can be used to personalise medicine management. It has been shown to reduce adverse events, healthcare utilisation and healthcare costs.
What happens when patient identification goes wrong?
Identifying patients should be a routine task, but missteps have occurred at an increased rate, sometimes leading to disaster.
The professional services specialist
For Bradley Butt MPS at his Cooleman Court Pharmacy in Canberra, dispensing robots and automation are just tools that help him focus on delivering award-winning pharmacy services to patients.
