Another Rescue Therapy Option for Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Asthma

Since the initial guidelines of the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) were published in 1991,(1) short-acting beta(2)-agonists (SABAs) have been recommended as the preferred rescue therapy for patients with asthma of any severity. In the 2020 NAEPP update,(2) for the first time, two additional forms of rescue therapy were recommended: an as-needed SABA inhaler paired with a separate inhaled glucocorticoid for patients with mild asthma and a single inhaler containing glucocorticoid-formoterol for patients receiving maintenance therapy with an inhaled glucocorticoid-formoterol combination (single maintenance and reliever inhaler therapy [SMART]) for moderate-to-severe asthma. In this issue of the Journal, Papi . . .

Automated summary

According to the updated guidelines of the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program, a new rescue therapy approach for mild asthma includes the use of a separate inhaled glucocorticoid along with a short-acting beta(2)-agonist inhaler. Additionally, for moderate-to-severe asthma, a new single inhaler therapy containing a glucocorticoid-formoterol combination has been recommended.