With a mean age of 53 years, the survey cohort was already experiencing regular exacerbations, a considerable impact on daily functioning and high levels of healthcare utilization.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients in exacerbation (AECOPD) have considerable cardiovascular risk, and different cardiovascular diseases are common during exacerbations.
The identification and appropriate management of adults with asthma who are prone to exacerbations is of considerable importance as by this means it should be possible to reduce the large number of patients who currently experience uncontrolled disease.
Identification and management of adults with asthma who are prone to exacerbations is of considerable importance as by this means it should be possible to reduce the number of patients who currently experience inadequately controlled disease.
Two recent small clinical trials of mepolizumab in severe asthmatic patients requiring high dose inhaled and oral corticosteroids with persisting sputum eosinophilia have reported efficacy especially in reducing asthma exacerbations accompanied by considerable reductions in both circulating and sputum eosinophils, but interestingly no effect on BHR [ 20, 21].
Acute exacerbations are associated with considerable symptomatic and physiological deterioration, and can worsen the health status in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [ 1, 2].
6 9 In the first systematic review on the health impact of smoke-free policies ('P' in MPOWER) among children, we recently showed important reductions in preterm birth and severe asthma exacerbations, 10 highlighting the considerable potential for tobacco control to benefit child health.
Exacerbations are therefore associated with a considerable burden of health-care costs [ 16] such that preventing exacerbations is a key goal of COPD therapy.
Reductions in hospitalisations also could improve patient welfare and free considerable resources for use towards preventing disease exacerbations.
25 By these criteria, our statin users may have gained considerable protection from asthma symptoms and possibly exacerbations over at least 1 year.
