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.
Doubts raised about fish oil supplements
The New England Journal of Medicine has released two studies about the impact of omega-3 supplements on major cardiac events and cancer. While one...
The story of lithium and mental health
Lithium is an invaluable and lifesaving treatment for a range of psychiatric disorders, but its origins lie in patent medicine and the pioneering work...
Practice advice: registration in New Zealand
I’m planning a working holiday in New Zealand. What do I have to do to be registered over there?
A pharmacist who is currently registered...
Inside oncology pharmacy
The same day Jessica Chapman-Goetz MPS became a registered pharmacist in late 2015 she received a diagnosis for breast cancer. But she wasn’t about...
The essential role of the pharmacist in adult vaccination
Pharmacists, consistently regarded as one of the most highly trusted groups of healthcare professionals, are in a unique position to promote and support the uptake of vaccination in older adults.
Dosing off: melatonin risk for kids
Last year, it was reported that Australian poisons hotlines received almost 1,500 calls about child ingestion of melatonin.
