Recent developments in allergy, asthma care during the height of the season

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America designates May as National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month each year to raise awareness for these common diseases, as it is peak season for both conditions.

Although there is no cure for asthma or allergies, proper treatment and care can prevent many deaths, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). More than 24.5 million people in the United States, including more than 6 million children aged younger than 18, have asthma, and 10 people die from asthma each day, according to AAFA. Allergies of all types, including pollen, skin and latex, affect more than 50 million Americans and the number is rising, according to AAFA.

In recognition of National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, Healio Internal Medicine compiled a list of the most recent research, meeting news and FDA approvals regarding asthma and allergies.

FDA approves OTC Xyzal to treat allergies

Sanofi recently announced that Xyzal Allergy 24-hour has been approved by the FDA for over-the-counter use to relieve seasonal and year-round allergy symptoms, according to a press release. Read More.

Heartburn drug use in pregnancy may be associated with childhood asthma

Children whose mothers took medications to treat acid reflux during pregnancy were more likely to develop asthma, according to research published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Read More.

Spirometry underutilized, but essential, in diagnosing COPD, asthma

SAN DIEGO — Clinicians should be taking steps to confirm the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma in practice, according to a presentation at the ACP Internal Medicine Annual Meeting. Read More.

Online epinephrine autoinjector costs vary significantly

ATLANTA — Significant online cost differences among epinephrine autoinjector devices do not correspond with incremental benefit, according to findings presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Read More.

EpiPens remain effective well beyond expiration date

Although concentrations of epinephrine weaken over time, significant amounts of epinephrine are retained in EpiPens long after their expiration dates, and the dose available 50 months after expiration will likely have a beneficial pharmacologic response, according to a research letter published in Annals of Internal Medicine. Read More.

Higher disease burden seen in patients with severe uncontrolled asthma

Patients with severe uncontrolled eosinophilic asthma faced costs of asthma-related health care and medications three to four times greater than patients with controlled asthma, according to research presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Read More.

FDA approves two new asthma maintenance inhalers

The FDA has approved two new RespiClick maintenance inhalers for the treatment of asthma in patients aged 12 years and older, according to their manufacturer, Teva Pharmaceuticals. Read More.

EpiPen settlement proposal not enough, researchers say

The $465 million settlement proposed by Mylan, the manufacturer of the epinephrine autoinjector EpiPen, to resolve its misclassification of EpiPen as a generic drug for the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, underestimates the actual cost of Mylan’s strategy, according to a recent research letter published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Read More.

Patients with asthma see improvement from Xolair

ATLANTA — Patients with asthma who were treated with Xolair reported fewer exacerbations and other improvements, according to findings presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Read More.

Nearly 5 million adults have work-related asthma

ATLANTA — Data showed as many as 4.7 million working adults have work-related asthma, with health care support workers facing the most significant risk, according to findings presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Read More.