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.
Cultural safety and responsiveness
Scenario
A patient, who identifies as an Aboriginal person, presents to the pharmacy for her monthly prescriptions. Her prescriptions are not annotated as ‘CTG -...
Why this GP trained pharmacists for the QLD prescribing pilot
The urgent need to train pharmacists as autonomous prescribers to fill healthcare gaps under the Queensland Scope of Practice Pilot.
The new vaping standards explained
On 1 July 2025, new vaping standards came into force for all therapeutic vaping products for smoking cessation and nicotine dependence.
The 2024 PSA events not to miss
Soak up the learning and networking opportunities at these upcoming PSA events while raking in CPD credits.
Pharmacist advice needed in the use of MR paracetamol
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has made an interim decision to upschedule modified release (MR) paracetamol tablets from 1 October 2019 due to safety...
