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Tiew PY, Tay TR, Chen W, Price DB, Ong KY, Chotirmall SH, Koh MS. Predictors of persistent poor control and validation of ASSESS score: Longitudinal 5-year follow-up of severe asthma cohort. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY. GLOBAL 2024; 3:100188. [PMID: 38173699 PMCID: PMC10762473 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacig.2023.100188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Background Longitudinal predictors of persistent poor asthma control in severe asthma (SA) cohort remain scarce. The predictive value of the asthma severity scoring system (ASSESS) in the SA cohort outside the original study and in the Asian population is unknown. Objective We sought to determine the 5-year longitudinal outcome of patients with SA and validate the use of ASSESS score in predicting future outcomes in SA. Methods A prospective longitudinal observational study of patients with SA attending the multidisciplinary specialist SA clinic of the Singapore General Hospital from 2011 to 2021 was conducted. The number of exacerbations and asthma control test results were recorded yearly for 5 consecutive years. The ASSESS score was computed at baseline, and the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve for predicting persistent poor asthma control was generated. Results Of the 489 patients recruited into the study, 306 patients with 5-year follow-up data were analyzed. Seventy-three percent had type 2 inflammation with increased overall exacerbations over 5 years (rate ratio, 2.55; 95% CI, 1.31-4.96; P = .006) relative to non-type 2 SA. In the multivariate model, bronchiectasis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and an asthma control test score of less than 20 were significantly associated with persistent poor asthma control over 5 years. ASSESS scores were good at predicting persistent poor asthma control with an area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of 0.71 (95% CI, 0.57-0.84). Conclusions Bronchiectasis and gastroesophageal reflux disease are predictors for persistent poor asthma control and targeted traits for precision medicine in SA. The ASSESS score has a good prediction for persistent poor asthma control over 5 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Yee Tiew
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Tunn Ren Tay
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Changi General Hospital, Singapore
| | - Wenjia Chen
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - David B. Price
- Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, Singapore
- Division of Applied Health Sciences, Centre of Academic Primary Care, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Kheng Yong Ong
- Department of Pharmacy, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
| | - Sanjay H. Chotirmall
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
| | - Mariko Siyue Koh
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
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Pfeffer PE, Rupani H, De Simoni A. Bringing the treatable traits approach to primary care asthma management. FRONTIERS IN ALLERGY 2023; 4:1240375. [PMID: 37799134 PMCID: PMC10548136 DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2023.1240375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Asthma continues to be a major cause of illness with a significant mortality, despite its increasing range of treatments. Adoption of a treatable traits approach in specialist centres has led to improvements in control of asthma and reduced exacerbations in patients with severe asthma. However, most patients with this illness, particularly those with mild-to-moderate asthma, are cared for in primary care according to guidelines that emphasise the use of pharmacotherapeutic ladders uniformly implemented across all patients. These pharmacotherapeutic ladders are more consistent with a "one-size-fits-all" approach than the treatable traits approach. This can be harmful, especially in patients whose symptoms and airway inflammation are discordant, and extra-pulmonary treatable traits are often overlooked. Primary care has extensive experience in patient-centred holistic care, and many aspects of the treatable traits approach could be rapidly implemented in primary care. Blood eosinophil counts, as a biomarker of the treatable trait of eosinophilia, are already included in routine haematology tests and could be used in primary care to guide titration of inhaled corticosteroids. Similarly, poor inhaler adherence could be further assessed and managed in primary care. However, further research is needed to guide how some treatable traits could feasibly be assessed and/or managed in primary care, for example, how to best manage patients in primary care, who are likely suffering from breathing pattern disorders and extra-pulmonary treatable traits, with frequent use of their reliever inhaler in the absence of raised T2 biomarkers. Implementation of the treatable traits approach across the disease severity spectrum will improve the quality of life of patients with asthma but will take time and research to embed across care settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul E. Pfeffer
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
- William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hitasha Rupani
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Anna De Simoni
- Wolfson Institute of Population Health and Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
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3
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Carstens D, Maselli DJ, Mu F, Cook EE, Yang D, Young JA, Betts KA, Genofre E, Chung Y. Real-World Effectiveness Study of Benralizumab for Severe Eosinophilic Asthma: ZEPHYR 2. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY. IN PRACTICE 2023; 11:2150-2161.e4. [PMID: 37146880 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2023.04.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Benralizumab is an mAb therapy for severe eosinophilic asthma. Real-world data on its clinical impact in various patient populations such as patients with varying eosinophil levels, previous biologic use, and extended follow-up in the United States are limited. OBJECTIVE To determine the effectiveness of benralizumab in different asthmatic patient cohorts and its long-term clinical impact. METHODS Patients with asthma treated with benralizumab from November 2017 to June 2019 with 2 or more exacerbations in the 12 months before benralizumab initiation (index) were included in this pre-post cohort study that used medical, laboratory, and pharmacy US insurance claims. Asthma exacerbation rates in the 12 months pre and post index were compared. Nonmutually exclusive patient cohorts were defined by blood eosinophil counts (<150, ≥150, 150-<300, <300, and ≥300 cells/μL), a switch from another biologic, or follow-up for 18 or 24 months post index. RESULTS There were 429 patients in the eosinophil cohort, 349 in the biologic-experienced cohort, and 419 in the extended follow-up cohort. In all eosinophil cohort subgroups, the asthma exacerbation rate decreased from 3.10-3.55 per patient-year (PPY) pre index to 1.11-1.72 PPY post index (52%-64% decrease; P < .001). Similar decreases were observed in patients switching from omalizumab (3.25 to 1.25 PPY [62%]) or mepolizumab (3.81 to 1.78 PPY [53%]) to benralizumab and those followed up for 18 months (3.38 to 1.18 PPY [65%]) or 24 months (3.38 to 1.08 PPY [68%]) (all P < .001). In the extended follow-up cohort, 39% and 49% had no exacerbations in the 0 to 12 months and the 12 to 24 months post index, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Benralizumab achieved significantly improved asthma control in real-world patients with different blood eosinophil counts, including eosinophil counts ranging from less than 150 to greater than or equal to 300 cells/μL, switching from other biologics, or treated for up to 24 months.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donna Carstens
- BioPharmaceuticals Medical, AstraZeneca, Wilmington, Del
| | - Diego J Maselli
- Division of Pulmonary Diseases & Critical Care, University of Texas Health, San Antonio, Tex
| | - Fan Mu
- Analysis Group, Boston, Mass
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Yen Chung
- BioPharmaceuticals Medical, AstraZeneca, Wilmington, Del.
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4
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Mohan A, Lugogo NL. Mild asthma: Lessons learned and remaining questions. Respir Med 2023:107326. [PMID: 37328016 DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2023.107326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Patients living with mild disease represent the largest proportion of asthma patients. There are significant challenges in proposing a definition that would best describe these patients, while also accurately identifying at-risk individuals. Current literature suggests considerable inflammatory and clinical heterogeneity within this group. Research has shown that these patients are at risk of poor control, exacerbations, lung function decline, and death. Despite conflicting data on its prevalence, eosinophilic inflammation appears to be a predictor of poorer outcomes in mild asthma. There is an immediate need to better understand phenotypic clusters in mild asthma. It is also important to understand factors that influence disease progression and remission, as it is evident that both vary in mild asthma. Guided by robust literature that supports inhaled corticosteroid-based strategies over short-acting beta-agonist (SABA) reliant regimens, the management of these patients has evolved considerably. Unfortunately, SABA use remains high in clinical practice despite strong advocacy from the Global Initiative for Asthma. Future mild asthma research should explore the role of biomarkers, develop prediction tools based on composite risk scores, and explore targeted therapies at least for at-risk individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjun Mohan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Njira L Lugogo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Mohan A, Lugogo NL, Hanania NA, Reddel HK, Akuthota P, O’Byrne PM, Guilbert T, Papi A, Price D, Jenkins CR, Kraft M, Bacharier LB, Boulet LP, Yawn BP, Pleasants R, Lazarus SC, Beasley R, Gauvreau G, Israel E, Schneider-Futschik EK, Yorgancioglu A, Martinez F, Moore W, Sumino K. Questions in Mild Asthma: An Official American Thoracic Society Research Statement. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2023; 207:e77-e96. [PMID: 37260227 PMCID: PMC10263130 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202304-0642st] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Patients with mild asthma are believed to represent the majority of patients with asthma. Disease-associated risks such as exacerbations, lung function decline, and death have been understudied in this patient population. There have been no prior efforts from major societies to describe research needs in mild asthma. Methods: A multidisciplinary, diverse group of 24 international experts reviewed the literature, identified knowledge gaps, and provided research recommendations relating to mild asthma definition, pathophysiology, and management across all age groups. Research needs were also investigated from a patient perspective, generated in conjunction with patients with asthma, caregivers, and stakeholders. Of note, this project is not a systematic review of the evidence and is not a clinical practice guideline. Results: There are multiple unmet needs in research on mild asthma driven by large knowledge gaps in all areas. Specifically, there is an immediate need for a robust mild asthma definition and an improved understanding of its pathophysiology and management strategies across all age groups. Future research must factor in patient perspectives. Conclusions: Despite significant advances in severe asthma, there remain innumerable research areas requiring urgent attention in mild asthma. An important first step is to determine a better definition that will accurately reflect the heterogeneity and risks noted in this group. This research statement highlights the topics of research that are of the highest priority. Furthermore, it firmly advocates the need for engagement with patient groups and for more support for research in this field.
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Abstract
Asthma is one of the most common chronic non-communicable diseases worldwide and is characterised by variable airflow obstruction, causing dyspnoea and wheezing. Highly effective therapies are available; asthma morbidity and mortality have vastly improved in the past 15 years, and most patients can attain good asthma control. However, undertreatment is still common, and improving patient and health-care provider understanding of when and how to adjust treatment is crucial. Asthma management consists of a cycle of assessment of asthma control and risk factors and adjustment of medications accordingly. With the introduction of biological therapies, management of severe asthma has entered the precision medicine era-a shift that is driving clinical ambitions towards disease remission. Patients with severe asthma often have co-existing conditions contributing to their symptoms, mandating a multidimensional management approach. In this Seminar, we provide a clinically focused overview of asthma; epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management in children and adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celeste Porsbjerg
- Department of Respiratory and Infectious Diseases, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark; Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Erik Melén
- Department of Clinical Science and Education Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet and Sachs' Children and Youth Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lauri Lehtimäki
- Allergy Centre, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland; Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Dominick Shaw
- National Institute for Health and Care Research Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Division of Respiratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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7
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Bleecker ER, Al-Ahmad M, Bjermer L, Caminati M, Canonica GW, Kaplan A, Papadopoulos NG, Roche N, Ryan D, Tohda Y, Yáñez A, Price D. Systemic corticosteroids in asthma: A call to action from World Allergy Organization and Respiratory Effectiveness Group. World Allergy Organ J 2022; 15:100726. [PMID: 36582404 PMCID: PMC9761384 DOI: 10.1016/j.waojou.2022.100726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic corticosteroids (SCS) are a highly effective treatment for acute exacerbations and long-term symptom control in asthma. Long-term SCS use is highly prevalent across all asthma severities, occurring in over 20% of patients with severe or uncontrolled disease globally. It is now well known that exposure to both long-term and repeated acute courses of SCS is associated with a high risk of serious adverse effects (AEs), such as osteoporosis, and metabolic and cardiovascular complications, especially when prescribed onto a background of other corticosteroids. The aim of this call-to-action article, endorsed by the World Allergy Organization and the Respiratory Effectiveness Group, is to review the accumulating evidence on the burden of SCS on patients with asthma and provide an overview of potential strategies for implementing SCS Stewardship. Primary prevention of exacerbations and improvement of asthma control is a key first step in achieving SCS Stewardship, by optimizing maintenance asthma medications and addressing modifiable risk factors, such as adherence and inhaler technique. Other key elements of SCS Stewardship include increasing appropriate specialist referrals for multidisciplinary review, assessment of biomarkers, and consideration of oral corticosteroid-sparing add-on therapies (eg, biologics). In cases where SCS use is deemed clinically justified, it should be tapered to the lowest possible dose. In addition, patients receiving long-term SCS or frequent acute courses should be closely monitored for emergence of SCS-related AEs. Because of the extensive data available on the costly and burdensome AEs associated with SCS use, as well as the range of treatment options now available, there is a need for healthcare providers (HCPs) to carefully evaluate whether the benefits of SCS outweigh the potential harms, to adopt SCS-sparing and Stewardship strategies, and to consider alternative therapies where possible. Development of a structured and collaborative SCS Stewardship approach is urgently required to protect patients from the potential harm of SCS use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene R. Bleecker
- Division of Genetics, Genomics and Precision Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Mona Al-Ahmad
- Microbiology Department, College of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait
| | - Leif Bjermer
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Marco Caminati
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Giorgio Walter Canonica
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Italy
- Personalized Medicine, Asthma and Allergy, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, IRCCS, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Alan Kaplan
- Family Physician Airways Group of Canada, Stouffville, ON, Canada
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nikolaos G. Papadopoulos
- Division of Infection, Immunity & Respiratory Medicine, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Allergy Department, 2nd Pediatric Clinic, Athens General Children's Hospital ‘P&A Kyriakou’, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Nicolas Roche
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, APHP. Centre Université Paris Cité, Cochin Hospital (AP-HP) and Institute (UMR1016), Paris, France
| | - Dermot Ryan
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Yuji Tohda
- Kindai University Hospital, Osaka, Japan
| | - Anahí Yáñez
- Center for Research on Allergies and Respiratory Diseases (InAER), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - David Price
- Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, Singapore
- Centre of Academic Primary Care, Division of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
- Corresponding author. Professor David B Price, Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, 22 Sin Ming Lane, #06 Midview City, Singapore 573969
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8
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Price D, Uthaman T. What have we learnt from real-life research in asthma and COPD? Standards and novel designs for the future. Respirology 2022; 27:1018-1021. [PMID: 36172950 DOI: 10.1111/resp.14381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David Price
- Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore.,Optimum Patient Care Global, Cambridge, UK.,Centre of Academic Primary Care, Division of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Thendral Uthaman
- Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore
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9
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Paoletti G, Pepys J, Casini M, Di Bona D, Heffler E, Goh CYY, Price DB, Canonica GW. Biologics in severe asthma: the role of real-world evidence from registries. Eur Respir Rev 2022; 31:31/164/210278. [PMID: 35675922 DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0278-2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Asthma is one of the most common noncommunicable diseases; in the majority of patients it is well controlled with inhaled bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids, but the management of severe asthma has been a significant challenge historically. The introduction of novel biologic drugs in the past few decades has revolutionised the field, presenting physicians with a variety of biologic drugs with different mechanisms for the treatment of severe asthma.It is of crucial importance to evaluate the effectiveness of these drugs by following their "real-life" effectiveness rather than relying solely on their efficacy, established in carefully designed clinical trials, which therefore do not necessarily match the profile of the real-life patient. Understanding the actual effectiveness of the specific drugs in real-life patients is a crucial part of tailoring the right drugs to the right patients. Registries serve as an important tool in obtaining real-life evidence, since they are in effect observational studies, following the entire patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Paoletti
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy.,Dept of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
| | - Jack Pepys
- Dept of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Casini
- Dept of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
| | - Danilo Di Bona
- School and Chair of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Dept of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Enrico Heffler
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy.,Dept of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
| | - Celine Y Y Goh
- Optimum Patient Care Global, Cambridge, UK.,Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore
| | - David B Price
- Optimum Patient Care Global, Cambridge, UK.,Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore.,Centre of Academic Primary Care, Division of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Giorgio Walter Canonica
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy .,Dept of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy
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10
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Thomson NC, Polosa R, Sin DD. Cigarette Smoking and Asthma. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY. IN PRACTICE 2022; 10:2783-2797. [PMID: 35533997 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2022.04.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Globally, around half the adult asthma population are current or former cigarette smokers. Cigarette smoking and asthma interact to induce an "asthma-smoking phenotype(s)," which has important implications for diagnosis, pathogenic mechanisms, and management. The lack of progress in understanding the effects of smoking on adults with asthma is due in part to their exclusion from most investigative studies and large clinical trials. In this review, we summarize the adverse clinical outcomes associated with cigarette smoking in asthma, highlight challenges in diagnosing asthma among cigarette smokers with chronic respiratory symptoms, particularly in older individuals with a long-standing smoking history, and review pathogenic mechanisms involving smoking- and asthma-related airway inflammation, tissue remodeling, corticosteroid insensitivity, and low-grade systemic inflammation. We discuss the key components of management including the importance of smoking cessation strategies, evidence for the effectiveness of the Global Initiative for Asthma recommendations on treatment in cigarette smokers, and the role of treatable traits such as type 2 eosinophilic airway inflammation. Lastly, we provide an algorithm to aid clinicians to manage current and former smokers with asthma. In the future, controlled and pragmatic trials in real-world populations should include cigarette smokers with asthma to provide an evidence base for treatment recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil C Thomson
- Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
| | - Riccardo Polosa
- Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy; Centre for the Prevention and Treatment of Tobacco Addiction (CPCT), Teaching Hospital "Policlinico-V. Emanuele", University of Catania, Catania, Italy; Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of HArm Reduction (CoEHAR), University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Don D Sin
- Division of Respirology, Department of Medicine, Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St. Paul's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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