Managing asthma in the COVID-19 pandemic and current recommendations from professional bodies: a review.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a summary of the management of asthma in the current COVID-19 pandemic by examining and comparing the recommendations from various professional bodies. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SELECTION: Websites of known respiratory professional bodies were searched for COVID-19 guidance related to asthma. Subject matter experts were also consulted for useful resources. Resources that were targeted at healthcare professionals were included, while those targeting patients and the general public were excluded. RESULTS: There is currently little data to suggest that asthma protects from or increases the risk of COVID-19, nor is there any data to support strong recommendations for or against specific asthma treatments. Physicians should continue to manage asthma according to existing accepted asthma guidelines and recommendations. All prescribed medications, especially inhaled corticosteroids, should be continued, and, where indicated, oral corticosteroids and biologic therapies should still be used. Nebulizers and spirometry should be avoided where possible to reduce the risk of viral transmission. A detailed history should be taken to differentiate asthma exacerbations from COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Understanding similarities and differences among the recommendations of the various professional bodies will aid in medical decision-making in managing asthma in the COVID-19 pandemic. Health professionals should also consider the individual needs, preferences and values of their patients and the unique characteristics of their local healthcare systems.

Project Octo-Pills-Engaging community pharmacists in the care of patients from a tertiary hospital: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a pilot model engaging community pharmacists in the collaborative care of patients from a tertiary hospital, in terms of identification and resolution of drug-related problems (DRPs), and patients' acceptance and satisfaction with the program. METHODS: A prospective case series was conducted. Eligible patients were recruited from the tertiary hospital and referred to their preferred community pharmacy for medication reconciliation, review, and counseling. The number and types of DRP identified and resolved during or after the medication review were collated. A patient survey was conducted upon completion of the study. RESULTS: A total of 32 participants completed the study. A total of 63 DRPs were identified from 379 medications reviewed, and 60 (95.2%) were resolved by the community pharmacists. Failure to receive drug (n = 21, 33.3%) and drug interactions (n = 11, 17.5%) were the most common DRPs. Survey feedback indicated that the service was well received. CONCLUSION: In this model, community pharmacists can play an important role in identifying and resolving DRPs by providing patients with medication reconciliation and review services from a more convenient location within their neighborhood.

Dispensing medication refills without counselling.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the safety and efficiency of, and acceptance by, patients for an express refill service (ERS). Design/methodology/approach A pilot uncontrolled, cross-sectional, single-centred study was conducted at the outpatient pharmacy of a tertiary acute care hospital. Under ERS, prescriptions were dispensed without clinical review and counselling for patients refilling prescription medications. Efficiency was assessed by comparing processing times of ERS prescriptions with regular prescriptions. Safety was assessed by independent review of prescriptions by two pharmacists. Patient acceptance was assessed by a survey. Findings ERS reduced processing time of prescriptions by more than 30 per cent compared to the regular fill process. ERS was generally safe for patients, with drug-related problems identified in only one prescription which may have warranted closer monitoring. It was accepted by patients who opted for the service, as 91.4 per cent agreed or strongly agreed that they were satisfied with the service. Research limitations/implications The study was conducted on a small convenience sample of patients in a single centre, with no control group. Practical implications Results showed that ERS was efficient, safe and well-accepted for select patients refilling their prescriptions. This leads to shorter waiting times and greater patient satisfaction. Originality/value This is the first published study that has explored the feasibility of an express prescription refill service. Despite some limitations, this study showed that omitting prospective clinical review and patient counselling for a defined population segment is safe, and can reduce processing time and improve patient satisfaction.

Predictors of persistent poor control and validation of ASSESS score: Longitudinal 5-year follow-up of severe asthma cohort.

Background: Longitudinal predictors of persistent poor asthma control in severe asthma (SA) cohort remain scarce. The predictive value of the asthma severity scoring system (ASSESS) in the SA cohort outside the original study and in the Asian population is unknown. Objective: We sought to determine the 5-year longitudinal outcome of patients with SA and validate the use of ASSESS score in predicting future outcomes in SA. Methods: A prospective longitudinal observational study of patients with SA attending the multidisciplinary specialist SA clinic of the Singapore General Hospital from 2011 to 2021 was conducted. The number of exacerbations and asthma control test results were recorded yearly for 5 consecutive years. The ASSESS score was computed at baseline, and the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve for predicting persistent poor asthma control was generated. Results: Of the 489 patients recruited into the study, 306 patients with 5-year follow-up data were analyzed. Seventy-three percent had type 2 inflammation with increased overall exacerbations over 5 years (rate ratio, 2.55; 95% CI, 1.31-4.96; P = .006) relative to non-type 2 SA. In the multivariate model, bronchiectasis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and an asthma control test score of less than 20 were significantly associated with persistent poor asthma control over 5 years. ASSESS scores were good at predicting persistent poor asthma control with an area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of 0.71 (95% CI, 0.57-0.84). Conclusions: Bronchiectasis and gastroesophageal reflux disease are predictors for persistent poor asthma control and targeted traits for precision medicine in SA. The ASSESS score has a good prediction for persistent poor asthma control over 5 years.

Managing adult asthma during the COVID-19 pandemic: A 2022 review and current recommendations.

INTRODUCTION: This review aims to examine asthma management during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: Relevant recommendations and articles were identified by respiratory professional societies and PubMed search using the terms "asthma" and "COVID-19", and examined for relevance and inclusion in this study. RESULTS: Recommendations for the management of asthma have remained similar but are now supported by new evidence between the years 2020 and 2022. Patients with well-controlled, mild-to-moderate asthma are unlikely to be at increased risk of acquiring COVID-19 or having worse outcomes from COVID-19. All asthma patients should receive COVID-19 vaccination. Spirometry can be performed with the usual strict infection control procedures unless there is a suspicion of COVID-19. Mask-wearing and other health measures remain important for asthma patients. CONCLUSION: While previous recommendations were largely based on expert opinion, the tremendous amount of literature published since the pandemic first emerged 2 years ago has helped guide respiratory professional bodies to update their recommendations. This study provides a timely review of the various recommendations and can be used to guide healthcare professionals in managing asthma patients, as the world prepares for a future with COVID-19 becoming endemic. The long-term consequences of COVID-19 infection in asthma patients and the ripple effects of COVID-19 remain uncertain and deserve ongoing study.

Improving drug allergy label accuracy by supervised safety- and protocol-driven evaluation.

INTRODUCTION: Drug allergies are often self-reported but of unknown accuracy. We carried out a prospective study to examine the utility and safety of formal allergology evaluation, and to identify factors associated with accurate drug allergy labels. METHOD: All patients who underwent drug allergy evaluation in our clinic during the study period were recruited. Baseline demographics, characteristics of index hypersensitivity reaction and outcomes of evaluation were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 331 patients from March 2019 to June 2021 completed drug allergy evaluation to index drugs of concern. There were 123 (37%) male patients, and the mean age was 49 years (standard deviation 17). There were 170 beta-lactam antibiotics, 53 peri-operative drugs, 43 others, 38 non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and 27 non-beta-lactam antibiotic evaluations. Index reaction occurred within 5 years in 165 (50%) patients, with latency of less than 4 hours in 125 (38%) patients. The most common index reactions were rash, angioedema and urticaria. There were 57 (17%) evaluations stratified as low risk, 222 (67%) moderate risk, and 52 (16%) high risk based on multidisciplinary consensus. Allergy label was found to be false (negative drug evaluation) in 248 (75%) patients, while 16/237 (7%) skin tests, 44/331 (13%) in-clinic graded challenge, and 23/134 (17%) home prolonged challenges were positive (true drug allergy). The most common evaluation reactions were rash and urticaria. No cases of anaphylaxis were elicited. CONCLUSION: Seventy-five percent of drug allergy labels are inaccurate. Risk-stratified, protocolised allergy evaluation is safe. Prolonged drug challenge increases the sensitivity of drug allergy evaluation and should therefore be performed when indicated.

Project Octo-Pills - A practice model engaging community pharmacists in the care of patients from a tertiary hospital.

Even while pharmacy practice evolves to a more patient-centric mode of practice, local hospitals, due to high patient load as well as space and resource constraints, find it challenging to conduct thorough medication review and physical medication reconciliation for all patients. In light of this, optimizing the local current healthcare system to involve community pharmacists in the care of patients from public hospitals could potentially better cater to the healthcare needs of the older population. Due to easy accessibility, community pharmacies are often the first point of contact in the healthcare system. Project Octo-Pills aims to engage community pharmacists in the collaborative care of patients from a tertiary hospital, providing patients with quality medication reconciliation and review services from a more convenient location within their neighborhood. This paper describes the model for this pilot initiative.

Effectiveness of a multidisciplinary home-based medication review program in reducing healthcare utilization among older adult Singaporeans.

AIM: The study aimed to: (i) evaluate the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary home-based medication review (HBMR) program in reducing hospital admissions and emergency department (ED) visits, cost of hospital admissions and length of stay (LOS); and (ii) determine the prevalence of drug-related problems (DRP) in elderly Singaporeans. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was carried out at an academic medical center in Singapore. Patients referred between 1 March 2011 and 31 December 2012 were included. Frequency of hospital admissions and ED visits, cost of hospital admissions, and LOS 6 months before and after HBMR, number of DRP, their categories, and their outcomes (i.e. resolved/ unresolved) were recorded. RESULTS: The analysis included 107 patients with a mean (SD) age of 75.6 years (7.6 years). HBMR resulted in a 41% reduction in risk for hospital admissions (Incidence rate ratio 0.59, 95% CI 0.47-0.73, P < 0.001). The same magnitude of reduction was observed for ED visits. The mean (SD) cost of hospital admissions reduced from $16 957.77 ($16 118.35) before HBMR to $7488.76 ($12 773.40) after (P < 0.001). Among 62 patients with hospital admissions before and after HBMR, the mean (SD) LOS decreased from 26.5 days (22.4 days) to 17.6 days (17.8 days; P = 0.010). The team identified 525 DRP from 1353 medications reviewed. Of these, 34 (6.7%) and 174 (34.1%) were resolved with and without physician involvement, respectively. The most common DRP identified were failure to receive drug (n = 163, 31.0%) and untreated indication (n = 140, 26.7%). CONCLUSIONS: The multidisciplinary HBMR program was associated with reduced ED visits, hospital admissions, LOS and costs in older adult Singaporeans with multiple DRP. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 302-307.

Stability of a novel corticosteroid nasal irrigation solution: betamethasone 17-valerate added to extemporaneously prepared nasal irrigation solutions.

BACKGROUND: There are no commercially available nasal irrigation solutions containing corticosteroids. Instead, such preparations are extemporaneously prepared by adding existing corticosteroid formulations to nasal irrigation solutions. The stability of the corticosteroid betamethasone 17-valerate (B17V), in nasal irrigation solutions of different compositions and pH and stored under different temperatures, was studied to determine the optimal choice of solution and storage conditions. METHODS: Triplicate extemporaneous preparations made with B17V were prepared by adding a predetermined volume of B17V lotion to each nasal irrigation solution: normal saline (NS), sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3 ) powder dissolved in tap water, and a commercially available powder mixture (FLO Sinus Care Powder), dissolved in tap water or pre-boiled tap water. Preparations were stored at 30°C and 4°C. Sampling was carried out at 0, 1, 2, 6, and 24 hours. The concentrations of B17V and its degradation compound, betamethasone 21-valerate (B21V), were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Preparations stored at 30°C contained a lower amount of B17V and higher amount of B21V than those stored at 4°C. B17V stability in nasal irrigation solutions decreased in the following order: NS, FLO in fresh tap water, FLO in pre-boiled tap water, and NaHCO3 . The degradation rate of B17V increased with higher storage temperature and higher pH. CONCLUSION: B17V is most stable when added to NS and least stable in NaHCO3 solution. FLO solution prepared with either cooled boiled water or tap water is an alternative if administered immediately. Storage at 4°C can better preserve stability of B17V, over a period of 24 hours.

Heart Wellness Programme: a pilot community-based cardiac rehabilitation programme in a multiethnic society.

INTRODUCTION: Community-based exercise programmes have been shown to be effective in the Western world. However, there is a dearth of literature on their effectiveness in Asia. This pilot study aims to assess the effectiveness of the Asian community-based Health Wellness Programme (HWP) in Singapore. The HWP provides community cardiac rehabilitation services. METHODS: A retrospective database analysis was conducted on cardiac rehabilitation patients who had completed the one-year wellness programme from 2010 to 2011. Patients were included in the programme if they had an underlying cardiac disease such as ischaemic heart disease and were deemed as stable by their cardiologist. Patients with New York Heart Association Class III or IV heart failure were excluded from this programme. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, clinical and laboratory data was recorded. Changes between the baseline and final measurements were analysed. RESULTS: Complete data from a total of 136 patients was analysed. Improvements were noted in body fat percentage (change [Δ] -1.3%, p < 0.01), distance walked (Δ 9.7 m, p = 0.01), total cholesterol (Δ -7.8 mg/dL, p = 0.03), low-density lipoprotein (Δ -7.8 mg/dL, p = 0.03) and triglyceride (Δ -17.8 mg/dL, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The low-to-moderate intensity HWP seems to be effective in a multiethnic community setting. To confirm the quality and effectiveness of such a programme in secondary cardiovascular prevention, more evidence from prospective controlled trials with suitable controls is needed.

Impact of Community-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation on Clinical Parameters of Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programmes have been shown to improve patient outcomes, but vary widely in their components. The impact of Singapore's CR programme on clinical outcomes is currently not known. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a community-based CR programme on important clinical parameters in patients with cardiovascular disease in Singapore. METHOD: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Cardiovascular patients who had completed a hospital-based CR programme were included. Patients who continued with community-based CR (n = 94) during the period of 2009-2013 were compared with patients who received regular care (n = 157). Changes in clinical and physical examination parameters between baseline and one-year post follow-up were analyzed. Within-group differences were compared using the paired t-test, while multivariate linear regression was used to compare the changes in the various parameters between the intervention and control groups. The primary outcome measure was low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. RESULTS: Patients in the intervention group had significant lowering of LDL (2.5 to 2.2 mmol/L, p<0.01), while the control group's LDL increased (2.2 to 2.4 mmol/L, p<0.01). The intervention group had greater improvements in LDL (-0.3 vs. +0.2 mmol/L, p<0.01), triglycerides (-0.1 vs. +0.1 mmol/L, p=0.01), total cholesterol (-0.3 vs. +0.3 mmol/L, p<0.01), fasting blood glucose (-0.5 vs. +0.3 mmol/L, p<0.01), systolic blood pressure (-3.2 vs. +5 mmHg, p<0.01) and diastolic blood pressure (-2.6 vs. +2.8 mmHg, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The community-based CR programme in Singapore is associated with improvements in several cardiovascular clinical parameters and may be of benefit to cardiovascular patients.

Prevalence of dysglycaemic events among inpatients with diabetes mellitus: a Singaporean perspective.

INTRODUCTION: As the effectiveness of intensive glycaemic control is unclear and recommended glycaemic targets are inconsistent, this study aimed to ascertain the prevalence of dysglycaemia among hospitalised patients with diabetes mellitus in an Asian population and evaluate the current standards of inpatient glycaemic control. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted at a secondary hospital. Point-of-care blood glucose (BG) values, demographic data, medical history, glycaemic therapy and clinical characteristics were recorded. Dysglycaemia prevalence was calculated as proportions of BG-monitored days with at least one reading exceeding the cut points of 8, 10 and 15 mmol/L for hyperglycaemia, and below the cut point of 4 mmol/L for hypoglycaemia. RESULTS: Among the 288 patients recruited, hyperglycaemia was highly prevalent (90.3%, 81.3% and 47.6% for the respective cut points), while hypoglycaemia was the least prevalent (18.8%). Dysglycaemic patients were more likely than normoglycaemic patients to have poorer glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels (8.4% ± 2.6% vs. 7.3% ± 1.9%; p = 0.002 for BG > 10 mmol/L) and longer lengths of stay (10.1 ± 8.2 days vs. 6.8 ± 4.7 days; p = 0.007 for BG < 4 mmol/L). Hyperglycaemia was more prevalent in patients on more intensive treatment regimens, such as basal-bolus combination therapy and the use of both insulin and oral hypoglycaemic agents (100.0% and 96.0%, respectively; p < 0.001 for BG > 10 mmol/L). CONCLUSION: Inpatient glycaemic control is suboptimal. Factors (e.g. type of treatment regimen, discipline and baseline HbA1c) associated with greater prevalence of dysglycaemia should be given due consideration in patient management.

Predictors of anemia in a multi-ethnic chronic kidney disease population: a case-control study.

Anemia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, risk factors of anemia in CKD patients in Singapore are not well established. Hence, a retrospective, case-control study involving non-dialysis CKD patients was conducted to determine possible predictors of anemia in the local CKD population. Non-dialysis adult CKD patients, not receiving renal replacement therapy or erythropoiesis-stimulating-agents were included. Parameters collected included demographics e.g. age, sex and race; clinical data e.g. CKD stage and medical/medication histories; and laboratory data e.g. serum electrolytes, urinary and hematologic parameters. Patients were classified as anemic or non-anemic using a threshold hemoglobin level of 10 g/dL. The parameters were evaluated for their predictive value for anemia development using multivariate logistical regression and calculation of odds ratios. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA. A total of 457 patients (162 anemic and 295 non-anemic) were analysed. Multivariate analysis showed that probability of developing anemia was greater for patients with stage 5 CKD (OR 16.76, p < 0.001), with hematological disorders (OR 18.61, p < 0.001) and with respiratory disorders (OR 4.54, p = 0.004). The probability of developing anemia was lower for patients with higher previous hemoglobin concentration (OR 0.32, p < 0.001) and in those receiving iron supplements (OR 0.44, p = 0.031). Gender and race were not found to be significant predictors of anemia. Risk of anemia is increased in patients with advanced CKD, haematological disorders, respiratory disorders, and those not taking iron supplements. This study has increased our understanding of the patient subgroups at risk for anemia.