What’s Changed in Asthma Care?
Asthma treatment is evolving—and its great news for patients. New UK and international guidelines (from BTS, NICE, SIGN, and GINA) recommend a simpler and more effective approach to managing asthma.
Traditional Treatment
Most people were prescribed:
- A brown ‘preventer’ inhaler (ICS) daily to reduce inflammation.
- A blue ‘reliever’ inhaler (SABA) for quick relief during flare-ups.
- Sometimes an extra inhaler for long-term control (LABA).
What’s New?
No more blue inhaler alone: It’s essential to treat inflammation, not just symptoms.
Many patients can now use one inhaler that combines:
- An anti-inflammatory medicine (ICS)
- A long-acting bronchodilator (LABA)
This can be used:
- As needed (AIR: Anti-inflammatory Reliever)
- Or daily + as needed (MART: Maintenance and Reliever Therapy)
Why Is This Better?
- Fewer serious flare-ups: New approaches reduce the risk of needing steroids or hospital visits.
- Better control: Relief and prevention are now linked in one inhaler.
- Simpler routines: Fewer inhalers mean easier management.
- ICS for all: Using a reliever alone is no longer considered safe.
The Evidence Behind the Change
A major study published in JAMA Network Open (2022) by Beasley et al. looked at over 4,800 patients with poorly controlled asthma. They found that using a single inhaler (ICS-formoterol) for both maintenance and relief reduced the risk of a severe asthma attack by about 30% compared to older methods using separate inhalers.