Welcome to our April research update! Getting involved with research is an important way to impact asthma and allergy treatments, education, and awareness.

This month, we are highlighting clinical trials, surveys, and news on:

• Adults with asthma
• Approval of a treatment for kids with severe asthma
• Asthma and allergy control and quality of life
• Gaps in care for people with severe uncontrolled asthma
  
  

Note: The links below will take you to external websites.

Latest Asthma and Allergy News

Asthma

FASENRA Approved for Treatment of Children Aged 6 to 11 with Severe Asthma
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved AstraZeneca's FASENRA® (benralizumab) as an add-on treatment for kids aged 6 to 11 who have severe asthma with high levels of eosinophils. This approval expands the use of FASENRA, a biologic treatment. It was already approved for people aged 12 and older with the same type of severe asthma.

The decision was based on evidence from a study called TATE, which showed that FASENRA was as safe in younger children as it was in people aged 12 and older. FASENRA is given as an injection under the skin every 4 weeks for the first 3 doses, and then every 8 weeks. This approval offers more treatment options for kids with severe eosinophilic asthma.

Poor Asthma and Allergy Control Is Linked to Lower Health-Related Quality of Life
A new study from Europe looks at how asthma and allergic nasal and eye symptoms affect people's health-related quality of life. The researchers used data from over 7,000 people in Europe with self-reported asthma or allergies who used an app called MASK-air®. This app was developed in Europe and aims to reduce the burden of allergic nasal and asthma symptoms by measuring quality of life through a questionnaire.

The researchers found that when asthma or allergy symptoms were well-controlled, people had a better quality of life. But when they were not well-controlled, their quality of life got worse.

In general, having asthma or nasal and eye allergies has an effect on quality of life, but especially when they're not well-managed. This information can help doctors and scientists understand how to better care for people with asthma and nasal and eye allergies to improve their overall quality of life.

Gaps in Care Among People with Uncontrolled Severe Asthma in the United States
A new study takes a closer look at how non-specialist doctors follow treatment guidelines for severe asthma in the United States. The researchers wanted to see if people with uncontrolled severe asthma got appropriate guidelines-based treatment after having a serious asthma event that resulted in an emergency department visit and/or hospital stay.

Researchers looked at data from over 180,000 patients with severe asthma from 2015 to 2020. Half of the severe asthma patients were considered not well-controlled. They found that many patients didn't see a specialist or increase their medicine after having a severe asthma event. They also found that these patients were more likely to have more asthma attacks later. Severe asthma treatment guidelines include a recommendation for a referral to a specialist after a serious asthma event or attack.

The study authors also found that Black or Hispanic/Latino patients were less likely to get specialist care or a medicine increase after their asthma attack compared to non-Hispanic White patients. The study highlights the need for improved guideline-based care for people with severe asthma, especially if uncontrolled, and for those facing social disparities.

Medical Review: April 2024 by Mitchell Grayson, MD, and Jerry Shier, MD