The 27th Congress of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology (APSR 2023)

Asthma is a highly prevalent disease that can affect anybody regardless of age, race, and location. The overall burden of asthma remains severe. Despite the range of available therapies and well-established guidelines, there remains a significant unmet need in the management of asthma. [BMC Public Health 2012;12:860; Respir Res 2023;24:169; Eur Respir J 2014;43:343-373]

In the phase III BOREAS trial, the monoclonal antibody dupilumab conferred multiple benefits for individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and type 2 (T2) inflammation.

Multiple risk factors for pulmonary hypertension such as age, sex, and weight, among others, do not appear to influence the severity of interstitial lung disease (ILD), according to a recent study presented at APSR 2023.

Simply developing evidence-based recommendations is not enough to improve asthma care. These recommendations should also be disseminated and implemented at national and local levels, then integrated into routine clinical practice to have a positive effect on patient outcomes, according to an expert.

In patients with poor asthma control, switching from fluticasone propionate (FP) monotherapy to inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) plus a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) combination therapy may help improve symptom control and reduce the use of reliever or rescue medications, according to a study.

Results of nintedanib use in patients with early-stage idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) show a stable change in forced vital capacity (FVC) and a gradual decline in diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO) at week 52, according to an ongoing study presented at APSR 2023. In addition, treatment discontinuation is comparable to that in previous clinical trials.

Remdesivir and favipiravir does not appear to be heart-friendly in patients with COVID-19, according to a study presented at APSR 2023.