TABLE 3

Treatable behaviour/lifestyle risk factors of airway diseases

Treatable traits (can coexist)	Imp.	Rec.	Diagnostic criteria	Treatment			Main expected benefit
Treatable traits (can coexist)	Imp.	Rec.	Diagnostic criteria	First choice	Efficacy	Second choice	Main expected benefit
Smoking and other exposures (biomass, workplace, others)	+++	+++	Cotinine, exhaled concentration of carbon monoxide	Cessation support, nicotine replacement, avoid environmental exposures	++	Antidepressants	S, E, P
Exposure to sensitising agents/pollution	++	++	Radio allergen absorbance test, skin-prick testing	Avoidance, desensitisation	+	Air filtration systems	S, E
Symptom perception	++	+	Mismatch between subjective and objective findings	Reassurance, breathing exercises	++		S
Side-effects of other treatments	+	++	Monitored withdrawal	Treatment optimisation	+	Change device	S
Inhaler device polypharmacy	++	++	Three or more different types of inhaler devices being used	Medication review and device rationalisation	+		S
Adherence to treatment	+++	++	Prescription refill rate, chipped inhalers	Education, self-management support	+		S, E
Poor inhalation technique	++	++	Observation, training devices	Education	+		S, E
Family and social support	++	++		Family therapy	+		S, E

Imp.: importance; Rec.: recognisability. Diagnostic criteria and treatments options in italics should be considered as experimental (under current investigation) or having an unfavourable risk–benefit ratio. Expected treatment benefits on: E: exacerbations (rate/severity); S: symptoms; P: prognosis.