Small Airway Disease in Asthma

Small airways disease is present patients with asthma across all severity levels.¹ Moreover, studies in patients with asthma have shown that the involvement of small airways represents a crucial step in the progression of the disease.² In his presentation, Dr Richard Russell describes the importance of small airway disease in asthma, in terms of disease pathophysiology and patient outcomes, and how timely diagnosis is key for effective patient care. The impact of small airways disease on patients’ overall phenotype is also a key focus of this talk.

The different tools and measures available for the diagnosis of small airways disease and the feasibility of their use in clinical practice are also discussed.

Dr Russell contextualises the findings from the ATLANTIS study with real-world case studies, highlighting the importance of early and accurate diagnosis of small airways disease.

References

1. 1. Postma et al. Unmet needs for the assessment of small airways dysfunction in asthma: introduction to the ATLANTIS study. 2015. European Respiratory Journal: 45(6): p 1534-1538.
2. 2. Bjermer, L. The role of small airway disease in asthma. 2014. Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine: 20(1): p 23-30.

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• Dr Richard Russell

  Consultant, Clinical Director & Respiratory Clinical Lead

  Read biography
  Dr Richard Russell

  Consultant, Clinical Director & Respiratory Clinical Lead Imperial College & Nuffield Dept. of Medicine at the University of Oxford

  Role and Location 

  Dr Russell trained in London and is currently a Consultant at Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust and is the Clinical Director of the West Hampshire Integrated Respiratory Service, looking after COPD and asthma for 2.5 million people. He has recently been appointed as the Respiratory Clinical Lead for NHS South East England and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care System. In these roles he leads on delivering the NHS long term plan goals for respiratory disease.

  Education 

  His PhD at Imperial College was as a British Lung Foundation Research Fellow under the supervision of Professor Peter Barnes. The research focussed on the basic mechanisms of COPD and disease progression in a population of smokers in primary care, and this is a continuing area of study as an Honorary Senior Lecturer at Imperial. He also works as a Senior Clinical Researcher at the Nuffield Dept. of Medicine at the University of Oxford working with Professor Ian Pavord and Professor Mona Bafadhel as well as collaborating with the Oxford CLAHRC to further our understanding of airway disease phenotypes.

  Research Interests

  Dr Russell has interests in obstructive lung disease, particularly pathophysiology of COPD and how patients should be cared for across the primary/secondary care interface. He has been a member of the British Thoracic Society (BTS) Executive, Scientific Committee, and is active in the British Lung Foundation.

  Memberships

  Dr Russell is the founding Editor of the International Journal of COPD (impact Factor 3.5), and is keen to increase the global awareness of COPD and provide a platform for scientific developments from across the world.