Too many people still die from asthma - doctor weighs in on the new way forward and how it's reducing risks

Asthma is an inflammatory respiratory condition of the airways and affects about 262-million people globally. In South Africa, more than 20% of children and 10-15% of adults have asthma.

For those living with the illness it can reduce quality of life in varying degrees and it's not uncommon to be hospitalised during an attack. In 2019 alone, 461 000 people succumbed to the illness. This despite the fact that there are evidenced-based medications to treat the condition. Clearly fundamental changes are needed to reduce avoidable asthma deaths and the new Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) treatment guidelines are expected to do just that.

Read on to learn more from Johannesburg-based GP, Dr Marlin McKay who shares what has to be done to achieve better control and explains the new treatment strategies that are being followed to reduce risks and attacks. 

1. Asthma is described as a chronic respiratory inflammatory disease but what does that really mean? 

Your airways carry air from your nose and mouth to your lungs. Asthma causes swelling of these airways - which become over-sensitive to certain environmental factors (allergens/triggers) that normally they wouldn't react to. When exposed to these triggers, the airway lining becomes inflamed and swollen and starts producing a sticky mucus or phlegm. The phlegm clogs up the already narrow airway, making it very difficult to breathe. If the swelling is not treated, over time the airway walls may thicken permanently, preventing them from working efficiently. Symptoms include, a wheeze, shortness of breath, chest tightness and cough, which vary in intensity and over time.

2. What are the new developments in treating asthma? 

Asthma causes permanent inflammation of the airways. Reduce your inflammation and you reduce your risks. To illustrate how dangerous this inflammation can be for those who live with asthma, a global study reports that excessive inflammation causes 176-million asthma exacerbations (complications / incidents) annually. 

Using the blue inhaler just three times a week masks the symptoms and actually increases the risk of asthma attacks and death. The paradigm shift in asthma management is that we are moving away from these blue rescue inhalers and advising patients to avoid establishing patterns of reliance on SABA therapy early in the disease. This is in line with the new Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines being followed globally. 

3. So how should asthma be treated now? 

Understanding your specific asthma symptoms is undeniably important for better managing your condition. Everyone is different and needs a unique plan. That said, regardless of your triggers or disease severity, you need to use a low dose inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) formoterol therapy as needed as the preferred reliever therapy. This combination maintenance inhaler contains an anti-inflammatory agent which reduces inflammation. 

4. Asthma can be classified as mild, moderate and severe? Do these new guidelines apply to all classifications of disease severity? 

Chronic control relies on anti-inflammatory maintenance and the new treatment guidelines apply whether you have mild, moderate or severe asthma. The approach to treatment and management of asthma is almost identical and reducing inflammation is at the heart of it. 

5. Is it safe to say that if you have mild asthma - you won't have or are less likely to have an asthma attack? 

Mild asthma doesn't preclude you from having an asthma attack. The risk is equally high regardless of disease severity, adherence to treatment, or level of control. 

6. What final comments would you make on the subject of establishing control? 

In individuals with asthma, starting low dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) early leads to a larger improvement in lung function. It also provides a positive impact on quality of life and airway hyper-responsiveness. Studies have also found that regular low dose ICS also lowers the incidence of severe exacerbations, hospitalisations, and death. Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction is also reduced. None of this can be achieved if your asthma treatment plan relies only on a SABA inhaler. If you are unsure if you are over reliant on your reliever inhaler - take the free Break Over-reliance test today.