Many asthmatic patients have significant nasal problems and proper management requires treatment of both the upper and the lower airway disease. Abstract 9 shows that a pharmacist can improve the management of a chronic condition like asthma in an HMO setting. Abstract 10 shows the benefit of an asthma education program. Abstract 11 indicates that long-term use of inhaled corticosteroids is not totally free of risk. Post-menopausal women, already risk for osteoporosis, may when on steroids get loss of bone mineral density.
Risk is related to dose.
Compared to Bronchodilation. The purpose of this research is to analyze the impact of these recommendations on total costs of asthma care. This treatment effect was essentially unaltered after adjustment for study site, age, sex, smoking, and co-morbidity. These findings add support to current guidelines recommending reliance on anti-inflammatory therapy to control asthma. The emergence of new therapeutic agents to control inflammation may continue to reduce the costs of treating this important disease.