Tezepelumab in patients with allergic and eosinophilic asthma.

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease commonly driven by allergic and/or eosinophilic inflammation, both of which may be present in severe disease. Most approved biologics for severe asthma are indicated for specific phenotypes and target individual downstream type 2 components of the inflammatory cascade. Tezepelumab, a human monoclonal antibody (immunoglobulin G2λ), binds specifically to thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), an epithelial cytokine that initiates and sustains allergic and eosinophilic inflammation in asthma. By blocking TSLP, tezepelumab has demonstrated efficacy across known asthma phenotypes and acts upstream of all current clinically used biomarkers. In a pooled analysis of the phase 2b PATHWAY (NCT02054130) and phase 3 NAVIGATOR (NCT03347279) studies, compared with placebo, tezepelumab reduced the annualized asthma exacerbation rate over 52 weeks by 62% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 53, 70) in patients with perennial aeroallergen sensitization (allergic asthma); by 71% (95% CI: 62, 78) in patients with a baseline blood eosinophil count ≥300 cells/µL; and by 71% (95% CI: 59, 79) in patients with allergic asthma and a baseline blood eosinophil count ≥300 cells/µL. This review examines the efficacy and mode of action of tezepelumab in patients with allergic asthma, eosinophilic asthma and coexisting allergic and eosinophilic phenotypes.

Impact of dupilumab across seasons in patients with type 2, uncontrolled, moderate-to-severe asthma.

BACKGROUND: Seasonal variability could influence asthma exacerbations. Dupilumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody, blocks the shared receptor component for interleukin (IL)-4/IL-13, key and central drivers of type 2 inflammation. In the 52-week QUEST study (NCT02414854), add-on dupilumab every 2 weeks vs placebo significantly reduced exacerbations and improved prebronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second in patients with uncontrolled, moderate-to-severe asthma. TRAVERSE (NCT02134028), the open-label QUEST extension study, enrolled patients with moderate-to-severe asthma to investigate long-term safety and efficacy of dupilumab, including patients who previously received placebo that initiated dupilumab therapy. OBJECTIVE: To investigate long-term dupilumab efficacy in reducing exacerbations across yearly seasons in patients with type 2 inflammatory asthma with and without clinical evidence of allergic asthma. METHODS: Unadjusted annualized exacerbation rate and proportions of patients experiencing severe asthma exacerbations are reported by month and season and for both hemispheres. RESULTS: The proportion of patients with type 2 asthma experiencing 1 or more severe asthma exacerbations during QUEST was 20.8% vs 10.0% in spring, 18.2% vs 7.3% in summer, 22.2% vs 12.6% in autumn, and 26.4% vs 12.0% in winter, for placebo- vs dupilumab-treated patients, respectively; P was less than .001 for placebo vs dupilumab in all seasons. Reductions in the proportion of patients experiencing severe exacerbations across seasons in subgroups with and without evidence of allergic asthma were similar to the overall type 2 population. Reductions in severe exacerbations observed during QUEST were sustained during TRAVERSE, up to 96 weeks across both hemispheres. CONCLUSION: Dupilumab reduced asthma exacerbations, with no difference in the reduction between seasons, in patients with type 2 inflammation, with and without evidence of allergic asthma. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT02414854, NCT02134028.

The Incredible Adventure of Omalizumab.

The basis of our current understanding of allergies begins with the discovery of IgE in the mid-1960s. The whole theory of the physiology and pathophysiology of allergic diseases, including rhinitis and asthma, dates from that period. Among the key regions of IgE identified were the FAB (fragment antigen binding) portion that has the ability to capture allergens, and the Cε3 domain, through which IgE binds to its membrane receptor. It was then postulated that blocking IgE at the level of the Cε3 domain would prevent it from binding to its receptor and thus set in motion the allergic cascade. This was the beginning of the development of omalizumab, a monoclonal antibody with an anti-IgE effect. In this article, we review the pathophysiology of allergic disease and trace the clinical development of omalizumab. We also review the benefits of omalizumab treatment that are apparently unrelated to allergies, such as its effect on immunity and bronchial remodeling.

Diagnosed and undiagnosed cough-related stress urinary incontinence in women with refractory or unexplained chronic cough: Its impact on general health status and quality of life.

Background: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is common in women with chronic cough but may be overlooked. Objective: To determine the frequency of underdiagnosis of cough-related SUI and its impact on women's general health status and quality of life (QoL). Methods: Data were analyzed for 147 women with refractory/unexplained chronic cough. Relevant details were collected from clinical charts and a patient-completed survey. General health status was assessed using the EuroQoL visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) and QoL with the cough-specific Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ). Results: Women were classified into diagnosed (n = 32; 21.8%) or undiagnosed (n = 33; 22.4%) cough-related SUI, and no SUI (n = 82; 55.6%) groups. Women with versus without cough-related SUI perceived poorer health status and greater impact of cough on everyday lives. Mean LCQ scores were significantly lower in cough-related SUI groups versus no SUI group. In multivariate analysis, the presence of cough-related SUI was significantly associated with lower EQ-VAS and LCQ scores. Conclusion: In our cohort, 44% of women had cough-related SUI, and half were undiagnosed. Irrespective of diagnosis, impairment to everyday lives and QoL was similar. Diagnosing cough-related SUI may identify additional patients who can benefit from therapies to suppress cough and improve QoL.

Dupilumab sustains efficacy in patients with moderate-to-severe type 2 asthma regardless of inhaled corticosteroids dose.

BACKGROUND: Dupilumab, a human monoclonal antibody, blocks the shared receptor component for interleukins-4/13, key and central drivers of type 2 inflammation. The TRAVERSE (NCT02134028) open-label extension study demonstrated the long-term safety and efficacy of dupilumab in patients ≥12 years who completed a previous dupilumab asthma study. The safety profile was consistent with that observed in the parent studies. Here, we assess whether dupilumab sustains long-term efficacy in patients regardless of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) dose at parent study baseline (PSBL). METHODS: Patients from phase 2b (NCT01854047) or phase 3 (QUEST; NCT02414854) studies receiving high- or medium-dose ICS at PSBL and enrolled in TRAVERSE were included. We analyzed unadjusted annualized severe exacerbation rates, change from PSBL in pre-bronchodilator (BD) forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1 ), 5-item asthma control questionnaire, and type 2 biomarkers in patients with type 2 asthma at baseline (blood eosinophils ≥150 cells/µL or fractional exhaled nitric oxide [FeNO] ≥25 ppb), and subgroups defined by baseline blood eosinophils or FeNO. RESULTS: Of patients with type 2 asthma (n = 1666), 891 (53.5%) were receiving high-dose ICS at PSBL. In this subgroup, unadjusted exacerbation rates for dupilumab versus placebo were 0.517 versus 1.883 (phase 2b) and 0.571 versus 1.300 (QUEST) over the parent study (52 weeks) and remained low throughout TRAVERSE (0.313-0.494). Improvements in pre-BD FEV1 were sustained throughout TRAVERSE. Similar clinical efficacy was observed among patients receiving medium-dose ICS at PSBL and biomarker subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Dupilumab showed sustained efficacy for up to 3 years in patients with uncontrolled, moderate-to-severe type 2 asthma on high- or medium-dose ICS.

Dupilumab reduced impact of severe exacerbations on lung function in patients with moderate-to-severe type 2 asthma.

BACKGROUND: Severe asthma exacerbations increase the risk of accelerated lung function decline. This analysis examined the effect of dupilumab on forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1 ) in patients with moderate-to-severe asthma and elevated type 2 biomarkers from phase 3 LIBERTY ASTHMA QUEST (NCT02414854). METHODS: Changes from baseline in pre- and post-bronchodilator (BD) FEV1 and 5-item Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ-5) scores were assessed in patients with elevated type 2 biomarkers at baseline (type 2-150/25: eosinophils ≥150 cells/µl and/or fractional exhaled nitric oxide [FeNO] ≥25 ppb; type 2-300/25: eosinophils ≥300 cells/µl and/or FeNO ≥25 ppb), stratified as exacerbators (≥1 severe exacerbation during the study) or non-exacerbators. RESULTS: In exacerbators and non-exacerbators, dupilumab increased pre-BD FEV1 by Week 2 vs placebo; differences were maintained to Week 52 (type 2-150/25: LS mean difference (LSMD) vs placebo: 0.17 L (95% CI: 0.10-0.24) and 0.17 L (0.12-0.23); type 2-300/25: 0.22 L (0.13-0.30) and 0.21 L (0.15-0.28)), in exacerbators and non-exacerbators, respectively (p < .0001). Similar trends were seen for post-BD FEV1 . Dupilumab vs placebo also showed significantly greater improvements in post-BD FEV1 0-42 days after first severe exacerbation in type 2-150/25 (LSMD vs placebo: 0.13 L [0.06-0.20]; p = .006) and type 2-300/25 (0.14 L [0.06-0.22]; p = .001) patients. ACQ-5 improvements were greater with dupilumab vs placebo in both groups. CONCLUSION: Dupilumab treatment led to improvements in lung function independent of exacerbations and appeared to reduce the impact of exacerbations on lung function in patients who experienced a severe exacerbation during the study.

Assessment of dupilumab in children with moderate-to-severe type 2 asthma with or without evidence of allergic asthma.

BACKGROUND: Cytokines, such as interleukins (IL)-4/5/13, play a key role in multiple type 2 inflammatory diseases, including allergic asthma. Dupilumab, a human monoclonal antibody, blocks the shared receptor component for IL-4/IL-13, inhibiting signaling. In this post hoc analysis of VOYAGE (NCT02948959), dupilumab efficacy was evaluated in patients aged 6-11 years with type 2 asthma with or without evidence of allergic asthma (baseline serum total IgE ≥30 IU/mL and ≥1 perennial aeroallergen-specific IgE ≥0.35kU/L). METHODS: Annualized severe exacerbation rates (AER) and changes in pre-bronchodilator (Pre-BD) forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1 ), percent-predicted pre-BD FEV1 (ppFEV1 ), and Asthma Control Score (ACQ)-7 were assessed during the treatment period. RESULTS: 350 children (261 with and 89 without evidence of allergic asthma) were included. Dupilumab versus placebo significantly reduced AER in patients with (0.24 vs. 0.62, relative risk reduction [RRR]: 62% [95% CI, 39-76], P < .0001) and without (0.39 vs. 0.80, RRR: 51% [95% CI, 0-76], P < .05) evidence of allergic asthma. Significant improvements in ppFEV1 , pre-bronchodilator FEV1 , and ACQ-7 scores were observed in dupilumab versus placebo throughout the treatment period in patients with evidence of allergic asthma. In patients without evidence of allergic asthma, numerical improvements in pre-bronchodilator FEV1 and asthma control were observed by Week 52. CONCLUSION: Dupilumab versus placebo reduced asthma exacerbations in children with type 2 asthma irrespective of evidence of allergic asthma; similar trends were observed in changes in lung function. Significant improvement in asthma control was observed in patients with evidence of allergic asthma, but not in those without.

Dupilumab pharmacokinetics and effect on type 2 biomarkers in children with moderate-to-severe asthma.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 inflammation is common in children with asthma. Dupilumab, a human antibody, blocks the signaling of interleukin -4 and -13, key and central drivers of type 2 inflammation. In the LIBERTY ASTHMA VOYAGE (NCT02948959) study, dupilumab reduced severe asthma exacerbations and improved lung function in children aged 6 to 11 years with uncontrolled, moderate-to-severe asthma. OBJECTIVE: To assess the pharmacokinetics of dupilumab and type 2 biomarker changes in children with type 2 asthma in VOYAGE. METHODS: Patients were randomized to dupilumab 100 mg (≤30 kg) or 200 mg (>30 kg) or placebo every 2 weeks for 52 weeks. Dupilumab concentrations and changes in type 2 biomarkers were assessed at each visit. RESULTS: Dupilumab concentrations in serum reached a steady state by week 12, with mean concentrations of 51.2 mg/L and 79.4 mg/L in children receiving dupilumab 100 mg every 2 weeks and 200 mg every 2 weeks, respectively (therapeutic range in adults and adolescents: 29-80 mg/L). Reductions in type 2 biomarkers were comparable between regimens, and greater in patients treated with dupilumab vs placebo. In children treated with dupilumab 100 mg and 200 mg every 2 weeks, the median percent changes (Q1-Q3) from baseline at week 52 were, respectively, -78.6% (-86.3 to -69.80) and -78.6% (-84.9 to -70.1) for serum total immunoglobulin E, -53.6% (-66.4 to -34.6) and -43.7% (-58.6 to -28.5) for thymus and activation-regulated chemokine; -25.7% (-60.0 to 27.6) and -33.3% (-60.6 to 16.6) for blood eosinophils, and -47.7% (-73.8 to 18.9) and -55.6% (-73.6 to -20.0) for fractional exhaled nitric oxide. CONCLUSION: Weight-tiered dose regimens achieved mean concentrations within the dupilumab therapeutic range. The median decreases in type 2 biomarker levels were similar between dose regimens. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02948959.

Consensus on mild asthma management: results of a modified Delphi study.

OBJECTIVE: In order to understand the role of regular controller inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) versus as-needed ICS-formoterol in managing mild asthma, we performed a modified Delphi procedure. METHODS: Opinions from 16 respiratory experts to three surveys and during a virtual scientific workshop helped to develop final consensus statements (pre-defined as 70% agreement). RESULTS: Thirteen participants completed all rounds (response rate 81%). At the end of the procedure, there was final consensus on: regular daily ICS being the recommended treatment approach in mild persistent asthma, with better symptom control and robust long-term clinical data compared with as-needed ICS-formoterol (85%); to avoid noncompliance, frequently seen in mild asthma patients, regular ICS dosing should be accompanied by ongoing education on treatment adherence (100%); treatment aims should be targeting asthma control (92%) and reduction of exacerbation risk (85%). No consensus was reached on whether GINA or national guidelines most influence prescribing decisions. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to encourage patients to be adherent and to target both asthma control and exacerbation risk reduction. There is robust clinical evidence to support proactive regular dosing with ICS controller therapy plus as-needed short-acting beta-agonists for the management of patients with mild asthma.

Characteristics and Management of Patients with Refractory or Unexplained Chronic Cough in Outpatient Hospital Clinics in Spain: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

PURPOSE: Chronic cough (cough that persists for ≥ 8 weeks) can cause a range of physical symptoms and psychosocial effects that significantly impair patients' quality of life. Refractory chronic cough (RCC) and unexplained chronic cough (UCC) are challenging to diagnose and manage, with substantial economic implications for healthcare systems. METHODS: This retrospective multicenter non-interventional study aimed to characterize the profile and health resource consumption of patients with RCC or UCC who attended outpatient clinics at Spanish hospitals. Data were collected from medical records of patients with RCC or UCC for up to 3 years before study inclusion. RESULTS: The patient cohort (n = 196) was representative of the chronic cough population (77.6% female, mean age 58.5 years). Two-thirds of patients (n = 126) had RCC. The most frequently visited doctors were pulmonologists (93.4% of patients) and primary care physicians (78.6%), with a mean of 5 visits per patient over three years' observation. The most common diagnostic tests were chest x-ray (83.7%) and spirometry with bronchodilation (77.0%). The most commonly prescribed treatments were proton pump inhibitors (79.6%) and respiratory medications (87.8%). Antibiotics were prescribed empirically to 56 (28.6%) patients. Differences between RCC or UCC groups related mainly to approaches used to manage cough-associated conditions (gastroesophageal reflux disease, asthma) in patients with RCC. CONCLUSION: RCC and UCC are responsible for high health resource utilization in Spanish hospitals. Specific treatments targeting the pathological processes driving chronic cough may provide opportunities to reduce the associated burden for patients and healthcare systems.

From the Allergic Cascade to the Epithelium-Driven Disease: The Long Road of Bronchial Asthma.

In medicine, much of the progress made is due to the emergence of new drugs [...].

Irritant-induced Asthma Caused by Aerotoxic Syndrome.

PURPOSE: Case series on respiratory features of Aerotoxic Syndrome (AS). The term AS has been coined to describe the spectrum of clinical manifestations after aircraft fume events. Among these manifestations, neurological and respiratory symptoms are the most frequently reported complaints. METHODS: Three cases of AS with relevant respiratory features are presented. RESULTS: Cough and shortness of breath for 6 to12 months were the predominant symptoms in the first two cases. The first case also developed neurological symptoms affecting his central nervous system. In the third case, the patient complained for nine years about an unbearable cough triggered by odors, smells, and a variety of indoor and outdoor irritants, among other symptoms of multiple chemical sensitivity. In all three cases, the respiratory symptoms resolved after appropriate treatment. CONCLUSION: Our report aims at raising awareness on AS and calls for actions to improve the management of patients suffering from this syndrome.

The prostaglandin D2 receptor 2 pathway in asthma: a key player in airway inflammation.

Asthma is characterised by chronic airway inflammation, airway obstruction and hyper-responsiveness. The inflammatory cascade in asthma comprises a complex interplay of genetic factors, the airway epithelium, and dysregulation of the immune response.Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) is a lipid mediator, predominantly released from mast cells, but also by other immune cells such as TH2 cells and dendritic cells, which plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of asthma. PGD2 mainly exerts its biological functions via two G-protein-coupled receptors, the PGD2 receptor 1 (DP1) and 2 (DP2). The DP2 receptor is mainly expressed by the key cells involved in type 2 immune responses, including TH2 cells, type 2 innate lymphoid cells and eosinophils. The DP2 receptor pathway is a novel and important therapeutic target for asthma, because increased PGD2 production induces significant inflammatory cell chemotaxis and degranulation via its interaction with the DP2 receptor. This interaction has serious consequences in the pulmonary milieu, including the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and harmful cationic proteases, leading to tissue remodelling, mucus production, structural damage, and compromised lung function. This review will discuss the importance of the DP2 receptor pathway and the current understanding of its role in asthma.

A step-down protocol for omalizumab treatment in oral corticosteroid-dependent allergic asthma patients.

AIMS: There are no specific criteria for a step-down or withdrawal dose of omalizumab (OMA). Our purpose was to evaluate the viability of a protocol for OMAlizumab DOse REduction (the OMADORE study) in severe allergic asthma (SAA). METHODS: The study population included 35 SAA patients treated during a minimum period of 1 year with oral corticosteroids (OC) equivalent to a mean daily dose of 4 mg of methyl-prednisolone. To qualify for the protocol, the patients had to have received treatment with OMA for at least one and a half years, OC dose had to have reached the lowest tolerated dose and spirometry had to be greater than or equal to that at entry. The interventions were (a) OMA dose was reduced by half; (b) if patients were clinically stable after 6 months, the dose was halved again; (c) if repeated OC boosters were needed and/or spirometry worsened by more than 10%, OMA dose was raised to the previous figure until stabilization. RESULTS: Mean age was 52.5 (17) years, median monthly OC dose was 120 (IQR: 225) mg. Pulmonary function: FVC: 79.7 (20.2)%; FEV1 : 64.8 (21.7)%; FEV1 / FVC: 61.7(13.8)%. OMA could be withdrawn in 34.3% of the patients; 22.9% tolerated a reduction, and in 42.9% the dose could not be modified. Follow-up time after reduction or withdrawal ranged from 12 to 30 months. There were no severe exacerbations requiring emergency assistance or admission. CONCLUSIONS: The OMADORE study found that in more than 50% of SAA patients on OC, OMA dose can be safely reduced or withdrawn based on a progressive dose reduction protocol.

The respiratory microbiome in bronchial mucosa and secretions from severe IgE-mediated asthma patients.

BACKGROUND: The bronchial microbiome in chronic lung diseases presents an abnormal pattern, but its microbial composition and regional differences in severe asthma have not been sufficiently addressed. The aim of the study was to describe the bacterial community in bronchial mucosa and secretions of patients with severe chronic asthma chronically treated with corticosteroids in addition to usual care according to Global Initiative for Asthma. Bacterial community composition was obtained by 16S rRNA gene amplification and sequencing, and functional capabilities through PICRUSt. RESULTS: Thirteen patients with severe asthma were included and provided 11 bronchial biopsies (BB) and 12 bronchial aspirates (BA) suitable for sequence analyses. Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria showed relative abundances (RAs) over 5% in BB, a cutoff that was reached by Streptococcus and Prevotella at genus level. Legionella genus attained a median RA of 2.7 (interquartile range 1.1-4.7) in BB samples. In BA a higher RA of Fusobacteria was found, when compared with BB [8.7 (5.9-11.4) vs 4.2 (0.8-7.5), p = 0.037], while the RA of Proteobacteria was lower in BA [4.3 (3.7-6.5) vs 17.1 (11.2-33.4), p = 0.005]. RA of the Legionella genus was also significantly lower in BA [0.004 (0.001-0.02) vs. 2.7 (1.1-4.7), p = 0.005]. Beta-diversity analysis confirmed the differences between the microbial communities in BA and BB (R2 = 0.20, p = 0.001, Adonis test), and functional analysis revealed also statistically significant differences between both types of sample on Metabolism, Cellular processes, Human diseases, Organismal systems and Genetic information processing pathways. CONCLUSIONS: The microbiota in the bronchial mucosa of severe asthma has a specific pattern that is not accurately represented in bronchial secretions, which must be considered a different niche of bacteria growth.

dIvergEnt: How IgE Axis Contributes to the Continuum of Allergic Asthma and Anti-IgE Therapies.

Asthma is an airway disease characterised by chronic inflammation with intermittent or permanent symptoms including wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and cough, which vary in terms of their occurrence, frequency, and intensity. The most common associated feature in the airways of patients with asthma is airway inflammation. In recent decades, efforts have been made to characterise the heterogeneous clinical nature of asthma. The interest in improving the definitions of asthma phenotypes and endotypes is growing, although these classifications do not always correlate with prognosis nor are always appropriate therapeutic approaches. Attempts have been made to identify the most relevant molecular and cellular biomarkers underlying the immunopathophysiological mechanisms of the disease. For almost 50 years, immunoglobulin E (IgE) has been identified as a central factor in allergic asthma, due to its allergen-specific nature. Many of the mechanisms of the inflammatory cascade underlying allergic asthma have already been elucidated, and IgE has been shown to play a fundamental role in the triggering, development, and chronicity of the inflammatory responses within the disease. Blocking IgE with monoclonal antibodies such as omalizumab have demonstrated their efficacy, effectiveness, and safety in treating allergic asthma. A better understanding of the multiple contributions of IgE to the inflammatory continuum of asthma could contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the disease.

Omalizumab Is Equally Effective in Persistent Allergic Oral Corticosteroid-Dependent Asthma Caused by Either Seasonal or Perennial Allergens: A Pilot Study.

Omalizumab is marketed for chronic severe asthma patients who are allergic to perennial allergens. Our purpose was to investigate whether omalizumab is also effective in persistent severe asthma due to seasonal allergens. Thirty patients with oral corticosteroid-dependent asthma were treated with Omalizumab according to the dosing table. For each patient with asthma due to seasonal allergens, we recruited the next two consecutive patients with asthma due to perennial allergens. The dose of oral methyl prednisolone was tapered at a rate of 2 mg every two weeks after the start of treatment with omalizumab depending on tolerance. At each monthly visit, a forced spirometry and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurement were performed and the accumulated monthly methyl prednisolone dose was calculated. At entry, there were no differences between groups in terms of gender, body mass index or obesity, year exacerbation rate, monthly dose of methyl-prednisolone (MP), FeNO and blood immunoglobuline E (IgE) MP, FeNO and IgE values, or spirometry (perennial: FVC: 76%; FEV1: 62%; seasonal: FVC: 79%; FEV1: 70%). The follow-up lasted 76 weeks. One patient in each group was considered a non-responder. Spirometry did not worsen in either group. There was a significant intragroup reduction in annual exacerbation rate and methyl prednisolone consumption but no differences were detected in the intergroup comparison. Omalizumab offered the same clinical benefits in the two cohorts regardless of whether the asthma was caused by a seasonal or a perennial allergen. These results strongly suggest that allergens are the trigger in chronic asthma but that it is the persistent exposure to IgE that causes the chronicity.

Asthma patients' and physicians' perspectives on the burden and management of asthma: Post-hoc analysis of APPaRENT 1 and 2 to assess predictors of treatment adherence.

INTRODUCTION: Patient adherence to maintenance medication is critical for improving clinical outcomes in asthma and is a recommended guiding factor for treatment strategy. Previously, the APPaRENT studies assessed patient and physician perspectives on asthma care; here, a post-hoc analysis aimed to identify patient factors associated with good adherence and treatment prescription patterns. METHODS: APPaRENT 1 and 2 were cross-sectional online surveys of 2866 adults with asthma and 1883 physicians across Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Italy, Mexico, and the Philippines in 2020-2021. Combined data assessed adherence to maintenance medication, treatment goals, use of asthma action plans, and physician treatment patterns and preferences. Multivariable logistic regression models assessed associations between patient characteristics and both treatment prescription (by physicians) and patient treatment adherence. RESULTS: Patient and physician assessments of treatment goals and adherence differed, as did reporting of short-acting ß2-agonist (SABA) prescriptions alongside maintenance and reliever therapy (MART). Older age and greater patient-reported severity and reliever use were associated with better adherence. Patient-reported prescription of SABA with MART was associated with household smoking, severe or poorly controlled asthma, and living in China or the Philippines. CONCLUSIONS: Results revealed an important disconnect between patient and physician treatment goals and treatment adherence, suggesting that strategies for improving patient adherence to maintenance medication are needed, focusing on younger patients with milder disease. High reliever use despite good adherence may indicate poor disease control. Personalised care considering patient characteristics alongside physician training in motivational communication and shared decision-making could improve patient management and outcomes.

Basic assessment of chronic cough in primary care and referral pathways of patients to different specialists: plain language summary of publication.

People with chronic cough (a cough lasting more than 8 weeks) are often referred to different specialists and undergo numerous diagnostic tests, but clear guidance is lacking. This work summarizes a consensus (an agreement) among medical specialists who are involved in managing people with chronic cough: primary care physicians (family doctors), pulmonologists (doctors who specialize in lung conditions), allergists (medical professionals specializing in allergies) and ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists. They discussed how to perform a basic assessment of people with chronic cough in primary care (day-to-day healthcare given by a general practitioner or family doctor) and how to refer them to different specialists based on clinical findings or test results.