Asthma research and management needs to meet the priorities of the end user-patients, carers and clinicians. A better understanding of the natural history of asthma and the progression of disease has highlighted the importance of early identification of patients with asthma and the potential role of early intervention. Management of mild asthma requires a consistent approach with the same detail and consideration used when managing severe disease. Evidence around treatable traits approaches continues to evolve, supporting the role of a personalized medicine in asthma. Oral corticosteroid (OCS) stewardship continues to be an urgent issue in asthma management. Strategies to taper OCS doses and the implementation of biologic therapies for their steroid sparing benefits will be important steps to address this problem. The concept of remission in asthma provides an ambitious target and treatment outcome.

See related article

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of death worldwide that frequently presents with concomitant cardiovascular diseases. Despite the pathological distinction between individual COPD phenotypes such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, there is a lack of knowledge about the impact of COPD phenotype on cardiovascular disease risk. Thus, this study aimed to utilize a nationally representative sample to investigate cardiovascular disease prevalence in patients with COPD with emphysema and chronic bronchitis phenotypes. Data from 31,560 adults including 2504 individuals with COPD, collected as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2018), were examined. A significantly increased cardiovascular disease risk, including coronary heart disease, heart failure, myocardial infarction and stroke, was identified in patients with COPD among all disease phenotypes. Particularly, compared to those without COPD, individuals with chronic bronchitis presented with 1.76 (95% CI: 1.41-2.20) times greater odds, individuals with emphysema with 2.31 (95% CI: 1.80-2.96) times greater odds, while those with a concurrent phenotype (combined chronic bronchitis and emphysema) exhibited 2.98 (95% CI: 2.11-4.21) times greater odds of reporting cardiovascular diseases. Our data confirms that patients with COPD present an elevated risk of developing cardiovascular disease among all phenotypes, with the most marked increase being in those with concurrent chronic bronchitis and emphysema phenotypes. These findings emphasize the need for awareness and appropriate cardiovascular screening in COPD.