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.
Antioxidants and mineral supplements for slowing age-related macular degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness in developed countries. The prevalence of AMD is 1.4% at 70 years of...
Navigating South Pacific health care on a sea of data
A group of Melbourne pharmacists have developed a data aggregation and visualisation platform used for strengthening health supply chains, disaster response and improving health...
How AI might help identify adverse drug events
The development of natural language processing (NLP) capabilities is opening new avenues for pharmacovigilance and pharmacists can play a key role in the process.
US...
Partnering with patients the most important healthcare standard
While health literacy is key, engaging and educating clinicians about the concept of patient choice is just as critical, a leading clinical expert said at the Choosing Wisely National Meeting yesterday.
The effectiveness and safety of breast cancer medications
The purpose of this evidence summary is to present the best available evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of breast cancer prevention medications (CPM).
Background...
Hepatitis C deaths fall sharply but cure access dropping
The introduction of direct-acting antivirals therapies for hepatitis C in 2016 has contributed to a 20% decline in deaths attributed to the disease, but...
