Advancing the Care of Severe Asthma
Differential Diagnosis, Multidisciplinary Management, and Patient Engagement
Clinical Practice Guidelines
Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention
Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) 2018.
International ERS/ATS Guidelines on Definition, Evaluation and Treatment of Severe Asthma
Chung KF, et al. Eur Respir J. 2014;43(2):343-373.
National Asthma Education and Prevention Program
Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma – Full Report 2007.
Patient Resources
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)
AAFA is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with asthma and allergic diseases through education, advocacy, and research.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI)
The AAAAI is dedicated to the advancement of the knowledge and practice of allergy, asthma, and immunology for optimal patient care.
American College of Allergy, Asthma Immunology (ACAAI)
The ACAAI fosters a culture of collaboration and congeniality in which members work toward the common goals of patient care, education, advocacy, and research.
American Lung Association
The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy, and research.
Asthma Action Plan
This printable reference tool is designed to help patients know when to use their different asthma medications and when to call their health care providers.
Clinical Assessment Tools
Asthma Control Test (ACT)
This 5-question test evaluates asthma control over the past 4 weeks on a 5-point Likert scale. A score of <20 on the ACT suggests asthma that is uncontrolled. Nathan RA, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004;113(1):59-65.
Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ)
This 7-question assessment tool measures asthma control over the past 7 days. Six questions are self-administered by the patient, and 1 question requires a clinician’s input. Scores range from 1 (totally controlled) to 6 (severely uncontrolled). Juniper EF, et al. Eur Respir J. 1999;14(4):902-907.
Asthma Therapy Assessment Questionnaire (ATAQ)
This 4-question test assesses asthma control over the past 4 weeks. Each question has a possible score of 0 or 1; if the sum of the 4 question scores is >1, the patient’s asthma may be uncontrolled. Vollmer WM, et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1999;160(5 Pt 1):1647-1652.
Asthma APGAR Tool
This 6-question assessment tool evaluates asthma control over the past 2 weeks. Any combination with a total score >2 is considered not well controlled. Yawn BP, et al. J Asthma Allergy. 2008;1:1-10.
Suggested Readings
Efficacy and safety of benralizumab for patients with severe asthma uncontrolled with high-dosage inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β2-agonists (SIROCCO): a randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial.
Bleecker ER, et al. Lancet. 2016;388(10056):2115-2127.
Reslizumab for inadequately controlled asthma with elevated blood eosinophil counts: results from two multicentre, parallel, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trials.
Castro M, et al. Lancet Respir Med. 2015;3(5):355-366.
Dupilumab efficacy and safety in moderate-to-severe uncontrolled asthma.
Castro M, et al. N Engl J Med. 2018;378(26):2486-2496.
Tezepelumab in adults with uncontrolled asthma.
Corren J, et al. N Engl J Med. 2017;377(10):936-946.
A review of anti-IgE monoclonal antibody (omalizumab) as add on therapy for severe allergic (IgE-mediated) asthma.
D’Amato G, et al. Ther Clin Risk Manag. 2007;3(4):613-619.
Inflammatory and comorbid features of patients with severe asthma and frequent exacerbations.
Denlinger LC, et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2017;195(3):302-313.
Benralizumab, an anti-interleukin-5 receptor α monoclonal antibody, as add-on treatment for patients with severe, uncontrolled, eosinophilic asthma (CALIMA): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial.
FitzGerald JM, et al. Lancet. 2016;388(10056):2128-2141.
Severe and difficult-to-treat asthma in adults.
Israel E, Reddel HK. N Engl J Med. 2017;377(10):965-976.
Adult asthma biomarkers.
Kim MA, et al. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014;14(1):49-54.
Mepolizumab treatment in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma.
Ortega HG, et al. N Engl J Med. 2014;371(13):1198-1207.
Allergen immunotherapy in asthma; what is new?
Passalacqua G, et al. Asthma Res Pract. 2015;1:6.
Co-morbidities in severe asthma: clinical impact and management.
Porsbjerg C, Menzies-Gow A. Respirology. 2017;22(4):651-661.
Use of asthma APGAR tools in primary care practices: a cluster-randomized controlled trial.
Yawn BP, et al. Ann Fam Med. 2018;16(2):100-110.
Module 1
Module 4
Relevant Resources
Overcoming Pain and Gastrointestinal Distress to Improve Patient Outcomes
Evidence-Based Strategies for Improved Patient Outcomes
Proactive Diagnosis and Targeted Management
Differential Diagnosis and Comprehensive Management Strategies
Optimizing Maintenance Therapy Across Healthcare Settings
Evolving Strategies for Diagnosis and Long-Term Management
Consensus and Controversies for Responsible Opioid Prescribing
Best Practices in Combination Therapy
Evolving Approaches to Insulin Based Therapy
Improving Outcomes for Patients with COPD
New Strategies for Insulin Replacement Therapy
Clinical Updates in LDL-C Management
Improving Comprehensive Patient Care
Identifying Patients and Tailoring Therapy
Collaborative Approaches to Guideline-Concordant Patient Care
New Strategies for Individualizing Long-term Care
A Focus on Patients With Opioid-Induced Constipation
Consensus and Controversies Across the Spectrum of Patient Presentations
A New Era in Precision Medicine
Evolving Treatment Algorithms and Expert Perspectives on Biosimilars
Evolving Best Practices to Optimize Outcomes
Consensus and Controversies on the Road to Precision Medicine
Ongoing Monitoring, Pulmonary Rehabilitation, and Individualized Care
The PCP’s Role in Timely Recognition and Referral
Debates and Discussions About Personalizing Patient Management
Key Issues Impacting OB/GYN Practice
From Guideline Recommendations to Daily Clinical Decision-Making
Improving Patient Outcomes Through Shared Clinical Decision Making
Volume II: Expanding Evidence for the Role of Rapid ART Initiation in HIV Practice
Improving Patient Outcomes Through Shared Clinical Decision Making
Digging Deep on Shared Decision-Making
Mechanistic Insights and Evolving Treatment Options
Clinical Resource Center
A Case-Based Conversation on Managing Asthma and Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyposis
The Clinical and Utilization Benefits of Exacerbation Prevention
Mechanistic Insights and Emerging Treatment Options
A PrEP Primer
A Foundation for Managed Care
A Focus on Exacerbation Prevention
Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes With SGLT2 Inhibitors
Best Practices for Primary Care
New Paths to Chronic Pain Management
What the Pharmacist Needs to Know about PrEP
Unlocking Novel Paths to Patient Care
Evolving Best Practices for Patient Management
The Increasing Role of JAK Inhibitors
Shared Decision-making in the Era of Biologics
New Pathways to Patient Management
From Comprehensive Patient Evaluations to Individualized Evidence-based Care
Preventing COPD Exacerbations to Improve Outcomes
A Whole Patient Case Series
Debates and Discussions about Monoclonal Antibody Therapies
An Update on Monoclonal Antibody Therapies
New Avenues to the Management of Severe Asthma
Getting on the Fast Track to Identify AxSpA
Establishing Clinical Readiness Through Mentored Learning
Evolving Best Practices for Pediatric Patients
Interdisciplinary Strategies for Adult and Pediatric Patients
Interdisciplinary Management of Eosinophilic Esophagitis and Hereditary Angioedema
Reducing LDL-C and a Lifetime of Cardiovascular Risk
Updates, Clinical Scenarios, and Future Directions
A Multidisciplinary Look at Early Diagnosis and Management
Finding the Path in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps
Recent Developments in Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Monoclonal Antibodies for Treatment
Best Practices for Diagnosis and Management
An Update on Best Practices
New Avenues to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
New Pathways to Optimize Patient Outcomes
Are You Aware of New Blood-Based Multi-Cancer Screening Tools
Debates and Discussions About New Upstream Treatment Avenues
A Case-Based Update on Pediatric Patients
A Look at the Changing HIV Playing Field
A “How To” Series Spanning Policy to Practice
Test Your Mastery!
Building Bridges to Reach People who Inject Drugs with the Goal of Employing PrEP for HIV Prevention
Strengthening Your Knowledge of Blood-Based Screening Tools
Bringing HIV Prevention to a New Level
Optimizing HIV Prevention in Primary Care
