Revolutionizing Asthma Treatment: Implementing ICS-Based Reliever Therapies in Clinical Practice

 This live, virtual 1 hour Category I ACCME educational program, for primary care and specialty healthcare professionals, is intended to provide learners with an understanding of inhaled corticosteroid-based reliever therapeutic approaches for the management of adult asthma. 

Background: β2 agonists like albuterol have been used for more than 50 years as the main reliever to treat acute asthma symptoms. Overuse of albuterol is extensive and is now well-documented this strategy is associated with poor outcomes. Clinical studies now support using an inhaled anti-inflammatory steroid when using a reliever like albuterol or formoterol, to better target the underlying inflammation present with symptoms. Inhaled corticosteroid-based reliever therapy is now recommended by the GINA and the US NAEPP guidelines. This represents a paradigm change for prescribers and patients, which requires extensive education efforts. 

Target Audience: Primary care and specialty providers involved in the chronic or acute management of persons with adult asthma. 

Faculty: Njira Lugogo, MD (Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan) 

Date/Time: April 16th, 2025; 6pm-7pm 

Agenda: 

• Introduction (Program Overview)
• Guideline recommendations for inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)-based reliever therapies.
• Basis for ICS-based reliever therapies (Anti-inflammatory Reliever, AIR, Therapy and Maintenance and Reliever Therapy, MART) for asthma (pharmacology, inflammation across asthma severities, impact of SABA monotherapy on outcomes, overuse of systemic corticosteroids).
• AIR and MART therapy for adult asthma (Clinical studies, dosing, prescribing, barriers)
• Case scenarios employing AIR and MART therapies.

Sponsor: AstraZeneca 

Accreditation: The University of Michigan Medical School is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The University of Michigan Medical School designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category I Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

Register here: https://umich.cloud-cme.com/course/courseoverview?P=0&EID=69128