Top 5 Most-Read Asthma Articles of 2022

The relationship between asthma symptoms and COVID-19, exercise interventions, and vascular outcomes were assessed in the top 5 most-read asthma articles published on AJMC.com.

Here are the top 5 most-read asthma articles of 2022.

5. FDA Approves Generic Symbicort for Asthma, COPD

Budesonide and formoterol fumarate dihydrate (Symbicort) was the first generic metered dose (MDI) inhaler approved by the FDA for the treatment of asthma in patients 6 years and older and for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The MDI of budesonide, a corticosteroid that reduces inflammation, and formoterol, a long-acting bronchodilator that relaxes airway muscles, is used twice a day, 2 inhalations each time, and is approved for 2 strengths: 160/4.5 and 80/4.5 mcg/actuation.

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4. Type 2-High Severe Asthma and Bronchiectasis: A New Phenotype?

Research conducted in Italy indicated that the combination of type 2 (T2)-high severe asthma and bronchiectasis should be considered an emerging phenotype. T2 inflammation, mediated by cytokines such as interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, and IL-13, occurs in most patients with asthma, in which researchers noted that the inflammatory disease can be stratified by levels of T2 into high and low subtypes. T2 inflammation could play a role in the development of bronchiectasis, so early detection of bronchiectasis may be crucial to improve outcomes, the authors said.

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3. Worse Vascular Outcomes Found in Patients With Asthma

A study found lower endothelial function among individuals with a clinical history of asthma than healthy controls, regardless of whether participants had physiological confirmation of the disease. Findings indicated that patients with symptoms of asthma experienced worse vascular outcomes and greater cardiovascular risk, which researchers said may be due to short-acting beta agonist (SABA) use. SABA users exhibited a significantly higher arterial stiffness by an average of 1.5 m/s than those not using SABA.

Read the full article here.

2. Exercise Interventions Benefit Patients With Asthma, Review Shows

A review aimed to understand the effectiveness of interventions that promote physical activity in patients with asthma and identify the behavior change techniques (BCTs) and other components used. Findings of the review examining patients who adhered to aerobic and strength or resistance training exercises showed significant improvements in improving physical activity and quality of life, as well as decreasing asthma symptoms and time spent sedentary. However, researchers added, "Due to the similarities of the BCTs used across all intervention and control groups, it was not possible to identify specific BCTs that showed promise of effectiveness."

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1. What Influences COVID-19 Severity in Patients With Asthma?

The relationship between asthma and COVID-19 during the pandemic has been inconsistent, although findings of a study showed that outcomes may appear to be dependent on the type of asthma one has, sex, and age. Comparing hospitalized patients with COVID-19 with and without asthma in Michigan in 2020, unadjusted analyses showed no difference between 2 patient groups in terms of outcomes. But in the adjusted analyses accounting for demographics, comorbidities, smoking status, and timing of illness, patients with asthma were more likely to experience mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit admission, longer hospital stay, and death than those without asthma.

Read the full article here.