- Drug Coverage
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
- Vaccines: 2023 Year in Review
- Eyecare
- Urothelial Carcinoma
- Women's Health
- Hemophilia
- Heart Failure
- Vaccines
- Neonatal Care
- NSCLC
- Type II Inflammation
- Substance Use Disorder
- Gene Therapy
- Lung Cancer
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy
- HIV
- Post-Acute Care
- Liver Disease
- Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
- Safety & Recalls
- Biologics
- Asthma
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Type I Diabetes
- RSV
- COVID-19
- Cardiovascular Diseases
- Breast Cancer
- Prescription Digital Therapeutics
- Reproductive Health
- The Improving Patient Access Podcast
- Blood Cancer
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Respiratory Conditions
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Digital Health
- Population Health
- Sleep Disorders
- Biosimilars
- Plaque Psoriasis
- Leukemia and Lymphoma
- Oncology
- Pediatrics
- Urology
- Obstetrics-Gynecology & Women's Health
- Opioids
- Solid Tumors
- Autoimmune Diseases
- Dermatology
- Diabetes
- Mental Health
Children need extra help to control asthma symptoms
Asthma medications for children must match a child's ability to understand and control treatment of symptoms.
Asthma affects one in 12 people in the United States and was once considered a condition of hyperactive airways.
"Now we think of it more as a chronic inflammation, and this has changed our understanding of the appropriate treatment," says Michael Sherman, MD, senior vice president and chief medical officer for Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. "We now recognize the critical importance of taking ongoing maintenance medications, such as inhaled corticosteroids to suppress airway inflammation."
Low daily doses of an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) suppress airway inflammation and reduce the risk of exacerbations, according to Mark Abramowicz, MD, editor of The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics, a non-profit newsletter that critically appraises drugs.
GROWING CONCERNS
Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood. About 1 in 10 children (10%) and 1 in 12 adults (8%) had asthma in 2009.
"For children with mild intermittent asthma, an inhaled short-acting beta-2 agonist (SABA) should be used as needed," says Dr. Abramowicz. "For mild, moderate or severe persistent asthma, ICSs are the preferred long-term treatment for control of symptoms. ICSs do not, however, alter the underlying severity or progression of the disease."
Medications prescribed for children must match their ability to understand and control the device used to deliver the medication.
"In young children, a SABA or an ICS may best be delivered through a metered-dose inhaler with a valved holding chamber and face mask or mouthpiece, or through a nebulizer," says Dr. Abramowicz. "Dry powder inhalers are not suitable for use in young children, who cannot reliably inhale rapidly or deeply enough to use them effectively."
A Conversation With Greg Baker, RPh, CEO of AffirmedRx
March 31st 2024Greg Baker, CEO of AffirmedRx, describes his early career, shares some of his critical opinions about the pharmacy benefit management (PBM) industry and how, in his view, his company is offering a better alternative.
Read More
David Calabrese of OptumRx Talks New Role, Market Insulin Prices and Other Topics 'On His Mind'
April 13th 2023In this month’s episode of the "What's On Your Mind podcast," Peter Wehrwein, managing editor of MHE connects with the now Chief Clinical Officer of OptumRx Integrated Pharmacies, David Calabrese. In this conversation, David touches on his transition in January as OptumRx’s former chief pharmacy officer and market president of health plans and PBMs to his new role as Chief Clinical Officer where he now focuses more on things such as specialty pharmacy to home delivery — with an overall goal of creating whole-patient care. Throughout the conversation, Calabrese also touched on the market’s hot topic of insulin prices and behavioral health services within the OptumRx community, among other topics.
Listen
Florida Gets the OK. But Will Drug Importation from Canada Actually Happen?
March 5th 2024Canadian health officials warn that maintaining a drug supply for Canadians is their priority. The staunch opposition of the U.S. pharmaceutical industry may also be an obstacle to imports from north of the border.
Read More
Briana Contreras, editor of Managed Healthcare Executive, spoke with Nancy Lurker, CEO and president of EyePoint Pharmaceuticals. Nancy shared a bit about EyePoint and how the organization’s innovative therapies are addressing patient needs through eye care, and most importantly, she addressed C-Suite positions like the CEO role. Nancy shared advice for those seeking to reach the CEO level, especially toward women in healthcare and other roles, and what it takes to run a biopharma company.
Listen
