Debbie Rigby presents the latest clinical findings that pharmacists need to know
A a retrospective and multicenter study of over 2,000 patients with asthma has demonstrated that inhaler devices influence patients’ compliance for long-term asthma medication.
Patients experiencing more than two exacerbations during the study period were more likely to comply with their medication regimen. The impact of Accuhaler and Turbuhaler on medication compliance was negative.
Patient Preference and Adherence 2016;10:135–145.
The asthma–COPD overlap syndrome: how is it defined and what are its clinical implications?
This expert opinion discusses the clinical presentation, prognosis and pharmacological treatment of asthma–COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS) and its sub-phenotypes, asthma–ACOS and COPD–ACOS. ICS may have beneficial effects in patients with ACOS defined as COPD with asthmatic features, such as bronchodilator reversibility.
Journal of Asthma and Allergy 2016:9 27–35
Prenatal and infant paracetamol exposure and development of asthma
Paracetamol exposure has been positively associated with asthma development. Analysis of data from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study shows modest associations with asthma development and prenatal (RR 1.13) and infant paracetamol (RR 1.29) exposure.
Prenatal ibuprofen exposure was positively associated with asthma at 3 years but not asthma at 7 years.
Int. J. Epidemiol. (2016) First published online: February 9, 2016
NAC comments
Incretin based drugs and the risk of pancreatic cancer
In this large, population based study the use of incretin based drugs was not associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer compared with sulfonylureas.
Incretin based drugs include dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. The risk did not vary by duration of use or by drug type.
BMJ 2016;352:i581.
