VA DOD Updates Asthma Framework - Takeaways - MDSpire

VA DOD Updates Asthma Framework

The 2025 US Department of Veterans Affairs and US Department of Defense asthma guideline introduces 21 evidence-based recommendations for primary care, redefining stepwise treatment, comorbidity management, and reliever strategy.

  • By

  • Kathryn Wighton

  • February 17, 2026

  • 4 min

Share

  • 1

    The VA and DoD released a 2025 guideline for asthma management, emphasizing anti-inflammatory strategies over symptom-driven therapies.

  • 2

    The updated guideline recommends inhaled corticosteroid-containing reliever strategies, moving away from short-acting beta-agonist-only therapy.

  • 3

    Single-device maintenance and reliever therapy (SMART) significantly reduced severe asthma exacerbations by about one-third in trials.

  • 4

    Management of comorbidities, such as obesity and gastroesophageal reflux disease, is highlighted to improve asthma control.

  • 5

    The guideline suggests a combination of ICS and rapid-onset LABA for asthma control and relief, streamlining treatment approaches.

Original Source(s)

VA DOD Updates Asthma Framework

  • by Kathryn Wighton

  • February 17, 2026

Related Content

Head-to-Head Trial in Relapsing MS

The phase 3 OVERLORD-MS trial compared 2 anti-CD20 therapies in previously untreated adults with newly diagnosed relapsing multiple sclerosis and recent inflammatory disease activity.

New CDC Report Tracks US Mortality Trends

The annual provisional report summarizes changes in mortality rates, demographic patterns, and leading causes of death during 2025.

Commentary: The long-term psychological processing of an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis in parents