The National Asthma Council Australia has released an updated version of its popular asthma and COPD medications chart.
Only available from the NAC, the wall chart contains essential information for health professionals managing and caring for patients with asthma.
Associate Professor Debbie Rigby, the NAC’s Clinical Executive Lead, said the updated chart had some important additions, including a new dry powder inhaler called Easyhaler as well as a breakout box on biologic therapies for severe asthma.
The chart is a handy reference that makes it easy to identify and explain different treatments and includes the latest inhalers available and specifies the PBS reimbursement status of each medication as of September 2024.
Associate Professor Rigby said that the wide range of inhalers now available could make it confusing for patients and prescribers to select the right product.
“The wall chart can provide a visual prompt for patients to identify which inhaler they are using, as well as avoiding therapeutic duplication when prescribing,” she said.
“The choice of inhaler device is often as important as the choice of drug. It is critical that the choice of inhaler is tailored to the individual and inhaler technique training is essential when a patient is commenced on a new inhaler or switched from one device to another.
“Inhalers should be selected in discussion with an individual patient, based on their preferences, satisfaction with the inhaler device, dexterity and cognition, peak inspiratory flow rate and preference for inhalers with a low carbon footprint.”
She said biologic asthma therapies were highly effective as add-on treatments to inhaled corticosteroids to improve symptoms, reduce the rate of exacerbations and the use of oral corticosteroids in people living with severe asthma and persistent type 2 inflammation.
“As biologic therapies need to be prescribed by a specialist, it is important that eligible patients with uncontrolled severe asthma are referred appropriately to a respiratory specialist,” she said.
“This is such a changing environment and keeping up to date is a major challenge, so it is important for GPs and pharmacists to keep informed about new inhalers.”
QR codes on the chart enable quick and easy access to the NAC videos on how to use the different inhaler devices.
“Even when patients don’t remember the name of their inhaler, they may recognise it. The wall chart is also an important aid also for those when English is not their first language,” Associate Professor Rigby said.
The wall chart is one of the NAC’s most popular downloadable resources and can be used in the doctor’s room or community pharmacy counselling room to support clinical decisions and patient education.
A PDF version of the chart can be download directly from the NAC website and health professionals can order free hardcopies (A2 size) at nac@nationalasthma.org.au.