Reducing Risks in Asthma

Target Audience

The educational design of this activity addresses the needs of pulmonology and clinical immunology clinicians who manage patients with severe asthma who are at risk for mucus plugs.

Program Overview

This Point-of-Care 201 program has been designed to educate and promote critical thinking through a discussion-based format that is accompanied by 3-dimensional animation. Expert faculty examine various sides of key clinical issues in asthma—including exploration of the pathogenic processes that lead to mucus plugging, the potential role of mucus plugs as a biomarker, assessment of patients at risk for mucus plugging, and evidence for the use of targeted biologic therapies in this patient population. This engaging educational program incorporates the clinical experiences of our expert faculty along with the latest published clinical evidence to provide practical recommendations for strategies to optimize diagnosis and management of severe asthma with accompanying mucus plugs in clinical practice.

Educational Objectives

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

• Discuss asthma pathophysiology, focusing on processes that cause mucus plugging, airway hyperresponsiveness, and airway obstruction
• Describe recent evidence examining mucus plugs in patients with asthma, including potential consequences, evaluation strategies, and roles as a biomarker
• Tailor severe asthma treatment regimens to address risks of mucus plugs, lung function testing, symptom severity, and evidence for therapeutic efficacy

Physician Accreditation Statement

Integritas Communications is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Physician Credit Designation

Integritas designates this live activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Disclosures of Relevant Financial Relationships

Integritas adheres to the policies and guidelines, including the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited CE, set forth to providers by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and all other professional organizations, as applicable, stating those activities where continuing education credits are awarded must be balanced, independent, objective, and scientifically rigorous. All persons in a position to control the content are required to disclose all financial relationships with any ineligible company within the past 24 months to Integritas.  All financial relationships reported are identified as relevant and mitigated by Integritas in accordance with the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited CE in advance of delivery of the activity to learners. The content of this activity was vetted by Integritas to assure objectivity and that the activity is free of commercial bias. 

All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

The faculty have the following relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies:

Steve N. Georas, MD:  Consulting Fees: ARS Pharma, AstraZeneca plc, Chiesi USA, Inc.

Monica Kraft, MD:  Consulting Fees: AstraZeneca plc, Chiesi USA, Inc., Sanofi S.A.; Contracted Research: AstraZeneca plc, Sanofi S.A.; Honoraria: Chiesi USA, Inc.

The planners and managers at Integritas Communications have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use

This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Integritas Communications does not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications. 

The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization associated with this activity. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Disclaimer

Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of patient conditions and possible contraindications or dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.

Instructions to Receive Credit

In order to receive credit for this activity, the participant must score at least 75% on the posttest and complete the program evaluation.

Fee Information & Refund/Cancellation Policy

There is no fee for this educational activity.

Integritas Contact Information

For questions about this activity, please contact Integritas Communications at info@exchangecme.com.