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.
Greater collaboration and funding needed in pharmacy
Greater funding is needed to unite the pharmacy profession with other healthcare professionals. This was the powerful message that came out of PSA’s NSW/ACT...
Q&A: Digital image prescriptions
A digital image prescription is a digital copy of a prescription provided by the prescriber to the patient’s pharmacy following a telehealth consultation.
Rural pharmacists urged to have their say
Recent research has predicted by 2026 there could be just 52 pharmacists per 100,000 people in rural and remote areas, compared with more than...
From the President: Integrate further into primary healthcare and work together
Earlier this year the outgoing Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt announced the government would allocate $345.7 million in the 2022–23 federal Budget for pharmacists in aged care.
Australians’ understanding of their medicines falls short
Research into older Australians taking multiple medicines has highlighted fragmented communication between prescribers and shortcomings in patient understanding of their various medicines.
In a study...
Over-prescribing in the elderly
Pharmacists when co-locating with GPs play a valuable role in reducing over-prescribing in older patients.
Over 12 months, pharmacists in an ACT-based pilot study recommended...
