Health Professional News

International asthma guidelines follow the Foundation’s lead

GINA, the Global Initiative for Asthma, has released its strategy framework, and their recommendations have changed to follow a similar approach to the Foundation’s asthma guidelines.

The international strategy now has a separate algorithm based on the preferred option of 2 in 1 reliever therapy for people living with asthma. Last year, the Foundation was the first to recommend a separate stepwise approach like this in its guidelines. GINA have now followed the recommendation.

The 2 in 1 reliever therapy, in which patients receive both a preventer and reliever treatment at the same time, allows close titration of both components of treatment in response to changes in asthma control.

ARFNZ Medical Director James Fingleton says that the 2 in 1 reliever therapy is considered the biggest paradigm advance in the management of asthma for decades. “The ARFNZ guidelines were the first to recommend a separate algorithm with this as the preferred approach, and it is a real validation of our guidelines that the global recommendation is now similar.”

The guidelines were heavily influenced by research undertaken by Professor Richard Beasley, Director of the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand (MRINZ) and lead author of the NZ Adolescent and Adult Asthma Guidelines 2020. Three large randomised controlled trials of the safety and efficacy of this novel approach were conducted, with two of the studies funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand, representing the only independent trials in the field.

To read the GINA report, visit ginasthma.org/gina-reports For the New Zealand Respiratory Guidelines, visit nzrespiratoryguidelines.co.nz

New Medical Director for ARFNZ

Dr James Fingleton, BM, PhD, FRACP, has taken on the role of ARFNZ’s Medical Director. Dr Fingleton is a respiratory physician and Clinical Leader for Respiratory at Wellington Regional Hospital, where he runs the severe asthma service. He is also a Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Otago and Honorary Research Associate at Victoria University of Wellington.

Dr Fingleton’s research interests focus on the treatment of airways disease, particularly severe asthma and COPD, with a particular interest in personalised medicine. He has been a member of the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board since last year, and as Medical Director will take on the Board Chair role.

“I’m excited about taking on the Medical Director role,” says Dr Fingleton. “With the COVID-19 pandemic ongoing, it’s more important than ever for New Zealanders to have the tools and knowledge they need to look after their respiratory health. I look forward to supporting the Foundation to continue to be the leading New Zealand authority on respiratory conditions.”

Dr Fingleton takes over the role from respiratory physician Dr Stuart Jones, who held the role for four years.