In this PCRS Health Inequalities podcast Leslie Borrill and Rebecca Jacobs discuss suicide and suicide prevention in long-term respiratory conditions. They cover:

In this PCRS Health Inequalities podcast Noreen Grant, Lisa Cummings and Aaron Foulds (PCRS patient reference group representative) talk about the impact of respiratory disease on mental health. They cover:

In this PCRS Health Inequalities podcast Katherine Hickman (PCRS executive chair, Kaniksha Aggarwal, Martin Sutcliffe and Sue Wheatcroft discuss respiratory disease and mental health in the context of the UK prison setting. They touch on:

The new BTS/NICE/SIGN guideline, Asthma: Diagnosis, monitoring and chronic asthma management (NG245) has placed fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) early in the diagnostic algorithm, which has caused some concern. Many healthcare settings do not have access to FeNO and are not therefore familiar with its use. It also has cost implications for healthcare commissioners across the UK, at a time when they have been asked to reduce running costs. 

This document outlines a consensus recommendation based on the best available evidence and expert opinion. Its purpose is to provide guidance on a safe approach within the limitations of the evidence and devices currently available. It will be important that these recommendations are regularly reviewed and there is careful and close monitoring of patients whose care is based on this guidance, especially in younger age groups.

Respiratory disease and mental health are interlinked in many ways, with respiratory conditions often impacting mental wellbeing and vice versa. NHS England states that people with severe and enduring mental illness are at greater risk of poor physical health and reduced life expectancy compared to the general population.

Point-of-care testing of C-reactive protein (CRP) for the acute assessment of worsening symptoms in people known to have COPD can safely reduce the use of antibiotics and could help improve the diagnostic approach towards someone presenting in such a crisis. New high-quality evidence has emerged since the last NICE COPD update and we encourage re-opening and review of the current guideline to enable clinicians and system leaders to understand whether and how to implement this promising diagnostic aid.PCRS advocates that:

With the summer holidays fast approaching, many will be planning trips abroad and booking flights for warm and sunny destinations. However, flying can be a very challenging way to travel for many people with respiratory disease.Joining Katherine to discuss all things air travel and respiratory disease was Professor Robina Coker who established the BTS Air Travel Working Party and chaired the Clinical Statement on Air Travel and Lung Disease which was published in Thorax in 2022.