24 August 2026
National Asthma Week runs from 1 to 7 September 2026, providing an opportunity for general practitioners and practice teams to review the latest asthma management guidance.
The updated Australian Asthma Handbook recommends against prescribing as-needed short-acting beta2 agonist (SABA) alone for adults and adolescents with asthma. Instead, anti-inflammatory reliever (AIR) therapy is recommended as the starting treatment, helping address the underlying airway inflammation as well as symptoms.
HealthPathways Melbourne’s respiratory pathways have also been updated to reflect the latest guidance. Changes include new recommendations on SABA-only treatment and low-dose budesonide-formoterol AIR therapy, updated oral corticosteroid guidance, and revised escalation criteria for severe asthma.
What this means for your practice
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition, so treatment should address the underlying inflammation rather than symptoms alone.
For adults and adolescents:
- SABA-only treatment is no longer recommended.
- AIR therapy is the recommended starting treatment.
- Maintenance-and-reliever therapy (MART) is recommended for patients who require maintenance treatment.
These changes aim to reduce reliance on SABA, which is associated with an increased risk of asthma exacerbations and poorer outcomes. Use of three or more SABA canisters per year is associated with an increased risk of exacerbations, while 12 or more canisters per year is associated with an increased risk of asthma-related death.
AIR and MART therapies help treat underlying airway inflammation while providing better protection against severe asthma exacerbations.
For the full updated guidance, visit the Australian Asthma Handbook.
