Ground-Breaking new way of treating asthma.

The MRINZ has focused much of its research over the last two decades on the prevention and management of asthma in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world.

This research has included three landmark studies that have challenged the efficacy of the single reliever inhaler, which has been the standard asthma management tool for over 60 years.

These studies have shown that as-needed use of a 2 in 1 inhaler containing a preventor and reliever medication, referred to as Anti Inflammatory Reliever (AIR) therapy, markedly reduces the risk of severe asthma attacks when compared with the traditional single reliever.

Professor Richard Beasley, MRINZ Director, says:

"AIR therapy is considered the biggest paradigm advance in the management of asthma for decades. This evidence-based practice change will undoubtedly improve the quality of life of patients with asthma and reduce the global burden of this disease.”

Using this knowledge, the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ has endorsed AIR therapy as the preferred reliever treatment across the spectrum of asthma severity. International guidelines have followed suit with recommendations made by the Global Initiative for Asthma coinciding with New Zealand’s inaugural Asthma Awareness Day — Aotearoa Te Rā Whakaarohia te Huangō on May 2, 2021.

This is a significant acknowledgement of the collective work of the New Zealand asthma research community.

Led by the MRINZ in Wellington, a new ‘AIR Algorithm Study’ involving 100 New Zealand volunteers is looking deeper into the use of AIR therapy across the spectrum of asthma for regular prevention and as-needed relief.

Dr Pepa Bruce, MRINZ Clinical Research Fellow, says:

“This study is the first to explore how people can move between different steps of AIR therapy. As such, it should provide an extremely important piece of the evidence needed to empower people with asthma to take greater control of their own treatment, making sure it is always tailored to their individual needs.”

Depending on the severity of their asthma, each volunteer will be given a ‘treatment step’ at the beginning of the study that is reviewed and changed throughout based on their symptoms. By the end of the year-long study, all 100 volunteers will be trained to use their symptoms as a guide for treatment.

This research encourages a patient-led approach to asthma management, supporting GPs and specialists as they work with their patients.

Essential to the MRINZ’s ability to conduct such groundbreaking research are community volunteers. Graeme Hansen has generously volunteered twice for MRINZ asthma research, first with the PRACTICAL study and now this latest AIR therapy study.

Graeme says:

“I’m very grateful to the MRINZ for the public health research they undertake. I've loved working with the bright people there to make a difference in the world. My grandson has asthma too and knowing that these study outcomes will impact the ways in which we manage asthma for future generations is a meaningful and tangible legacy... I know I’m helping a wonderful cause — and improving my own asthma health and understanding while doing it.”