Determinants of asthma control and exacerbations in moderate to severe asthma

Asthma patients remain susceptible to severe exacerbations even when their condition is seemingly brought under control,1 potentially suggesting an element of disconnect between exacerbations and asthma control. It has recently been shown that combining oscillometry and spirometry measurements of pulmonary function identifies patients with worse asthma control and more frequent severe exacerbations requiring oral corticosteroids (OCS).2 Moreover, those with combined elevation of peripheral blood eosinophil (PBE) counts and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) subsequently have higher asthma exacerbation rates across all asthma severities but especially in those with more severe disease.