The new SABA-free pathway

Anti-inflammatory reliever (AIR)

• AIR is licensed to treat mild asthma (for those who get symptoms less than twice a month)
• A single combination AIR inhaler containing ICS plus the fast-acting long-acting beta agonist (LABA) formoterol is used
• AIR is licensed for adults and children aged 12 years and over
• A patient only uses this inhaler if they get symptoms. This will be advantageous to many people who don’t want to use an inhaler every day
• AIR may also be prescribed for those who only get symptoms during the pollen season, or if pets or exercise are a trigger
• An AIR personal asthma action plan should be co-created with the patient
• Studies show that AIR can reduce the overall ICS dose a patient receives over a year compared with daily ICS. The dose can be titrated up following the AIR PAAP when symptoms are worse.

Maintenance and reliever therapy (MART)

• MART is used for asthma patients who have symptoms most days or who wake with asthma during the night once a week or more
• It uses the same combination as AIR (ICS plus formoterol)
• A single MART inhaler is used to reduce inflammation and open the airways
• MART is licensed for adults and children aged 12 years and over. (It is also recommended off-label for appropriate patients between the ages of five and 11 years)
• A patient uses the inhaler daily and takes additional doses of the same inhaler if they get symptoms
• Patients in England will like the fact that there will only be one prescription charge (free in other countries in the UK)
• A MART personal asthma action plan should be co-created with the patient.