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.
Pharmacists vaccinate Australia’s youth
Spikevax arrived in pharmacies across Australia this week, with some already administering the new vaccine to patients.
Reforming Australian mental health care – pharmacists’ roles
Mental health and substance use disorders are among the five leading causes of disease burden in Australia. What role can pharmacists play?
Conjunctivitis – an irritating condition
Conjunctivitis is a common ophthalmic condition characterised by inflammation of the conjunctiva. Causes of conjunctivitis can be either infective (e.g. bacterial, viral) or non-infective (e.g. allergic, chemical irritation).
Interprofessional collaboration and the pharmacist
Pharmacists play a significant role in the optimisation of medicine use across healthcare settings, and should be considered integral participants in multidisciplinary collaboration
Learning objectives...
An insight into pharmacists in general practice
Mina Naguib MPS is a General Practice Pharmacist, Aged Care dispensing Pharmacist and Medication Management Review Pharmacist, placing him on the frontline of medicines...
Pharmacists and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease (CMT) is the most commonly inherited neuromuscular disorder, affecting almost 10,000 Australians.
