Prof. Dave Singh talks about regular use of inhaled corticosteroids
According to the 2018 Global Asthma Report, 11 million Filipinos have asthma and 98 percent of them are not getting proper treatment. In addition, according to the 2017 WHO data, asthma deaths in the country reached over 13,000.
The reason for this is most asthma patients have the notion that their condition is amply controlled when the truth is, they experience underlying symptoms and complications that do not get properly treated.
This Sept. 2022, as the World Lung Day is celebrated, Professor Dave Singh, arranged a discussion with the media to further raise awareness regarding the matter. He is a professor of Clinical Pharmacology and Respiratory Medicine at the University of Manchester who conducted a study that highlights the effectiveness of regular use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) or maintenance inhalers.
His research “New Versus Old: The Impact of Changing Patterns of Inhaled Corticosteroid Prescribing and Dosing Regimens in Asthma Management,” proved that the consistent use of ICS delivers successful asthma control which he discussed with the media.
Dr. Gyneth Bibera, country medical director of GlaxoSmithKline Philippines Inc., also echoed Prof Dave’s sentiments. “When it comes to asthma, poor patient perception is a serious risk.
The belief that patients usually have is that their condition is not as serious as it actually is. When in reality, they are already experiencing underlying complications, such as airway inflammation, airway remodeling, decreased lung function, and bronchial hyperreactivity,” says Dr. Gyneth. “The underestimation of their disease’s severity often leads to complacency, assuming that they only need treatment to react to symptoms when experienced. What this does is heightens the risk of asthma attacks, emergency hospital visits, a decreased quality of life, or even death.”
Prof. Dave and Dr. Dyneth also exclaimed that patients must view asthma treatments as preventive rather than a reactive measure to control their condition. Patients are also advised to partner with their physicians in maintaining consistency of treatment to provide them the best outcome in managing a chronic condition.
For more information, visit this website.