“Health research in Asthma: challenges and opportunities”
The XXXII Winter Meeting of the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (Separ) recently took place, providing an ideal platform to discuss asthma, a complex and rapidly changing pulmonary condition. Carlos Almonacid, the vice president of Separ, emphasized the role of digital environments in the treatment and management of asthma. He pointed out that less than 20% of SNS hospitals could provide telecare in 2020, but the situation has significantly improved since then, allowing patients to access video consultations and their medical history. However, Almonacid stressed that there’s an urgent need to update and improve the applications developed for monitoring patients with asthma.
Marina Blanco, the secretary of Separ and responsible for the Asthma Unit of the University Hospital of A Coruña, highlighted the importance of maintaining patient records based on appropriate methodology to ensure reliable results. She called for regulations to avoid biases in patient records, emphasizing the need for accurate and trustworthy data.
David Ramos, a member of Separ, addressed the use of in vivo animal models in asthma research. Ramos emphasized the importance of these models in understanding disease mechanisms, despite ethical constraints surrounding their use.
Sandra Dorado, coordinator of the Sepa Pulmonary Rehabilitation Area, underlined the significance of collaboration between different medical specialties and health professions in the comprehensive treatment of asthma. She emphasized the benefits of integrating various perspectives to provide holistic care for patients suffering from the condition.
Iñigo Ojanguren, coordinator of the Separ Emerging Asthma Group (GEA), expressed concerns about the underrepresentation of research work during Specialized Sanitary Training (FSE). However, he highlighted the facilitation provided by the GEA and other Separ initiatives in fostering a network of professional contacts for young researchers.
The Winter Meeting saw experts come together to address the various challenges and opportunities in asthma research, emphasizing the need for a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach. The event shed light on the ongoing efforts to improve the treatment, understanding, and management of this complex pulmonary condition.