@article{Jones_2011, title={ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF ASTHMA AND CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONORY DISEASE (COPD) – CONVERGING APPROACHES}, volume={25}, url={https://www.jpmi.org.pk/index.php/jpmi/article/view/1133}, abstractNote={<em><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT,Italic; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT,Italic; font-size: x-small;"><p>This review compares the methods of assessment and treatment objectives used for asthma and COPD.</p><p>There is now a significant amount of convergence between the two diseases in these areas. It is now well</p><p>recognised that both are inflammatory diseases. Anti-inflammatory therapy with inhaled corticosteroids</p><p>(ICS) forms the basis of asthma therapy (and are underused in many countries, including Pakistan), but</p><p>there also is now very good evidence that ICS reduce bronchial inflammation in COPD, especially when</p><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT,Italic; font-size: x-small;"><p>used in combination with long-acting beta -agonists.</p></span></span></span><p><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT,Italic; font-size: xx-small;"></span><p> </p><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT,Italic; font-size: x-small;"><em><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT,Italic; font-size: x-small;"><p>Guidelines recommend that asthma assessment in routine practice, is based upon an evaluation of the level</p><p>of asthma control; COPD assessment is moving towards something very similar, but it is termed health</p><p>status measurement. Simple standardised methods designed for use in routine practice are now available</p><p>for both purposes.</p><p>Treatment in both conditions also now has two objectives:</p><p>1. To reduce symptoms to achieve control (in asthma) and improved health status (in COPD);</p><p>2. Preventative therapy to reduce the risk of exacerbations.</p><p>In asthma, exacerbations are associated with a risk of hospital admissions and death and in COPD the</p><p>same risks apply, but now with good evidence that exacerbations also speed disease progression.</p><p>The treatments that are available for asthma can, if used properly, achieve high levels of control. Whilst</p><p>new drugs are welcome, good application of existing drugs would very greatly reduce the burden of this</p><p>disease on patients and healthcare systems. New treatments are steadily becoming available for COPD and</p><p>there is now much that can be done to reduce the burden of this disease. Both diseases are eminently</p><p>treatable.</p></span></em></span></p><p><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT,Italic; font-size: xx-small;">2</span></p></em>}, number={4}, journal={Journal of Postgraduate Medical Institute}, author={Jones, Paul W.}, year={2011}, month={Dec.} }