Respiratory tracker: eHCPs respiratory conversation peaked on World Asthma Day and at ESPID2023

Each month, CREATION.co’s respiratory tracking update brings you the latest insights into the online UK healthcare professional (eHCP) conversation regarding respiratory disease. 

​​Between 21 April and 20 May 2023, CREATION Pinpoint^® tracked the online conversations of UK eHCPs discussing respiratory diseases. We identified 1,380 UK eHCPs discussing respiratory diseases, in 3,309 posts. This represents a slight increase in the average number of posts per day from 95 over the last three months, to 114 this month.

The increase in posts this month was driven largely by World Asthma Day, on 02 May. On this day, eHCPs shared the highest number of posts on a single day since 16 November 2022 (World COPD Day). eHCPs used World Asthma Day to raise awareness and share advice for asthma sufferers and their parents and carers. A GP shared a post questioning why ‘people with asthma pay for prescriptions in England,’ using the hashtag #righttobreath. Several asthma sufferers commented on her post, and it was shared by three HCPs in the UK. 

While RSV conversation decreased following the ‘tripledemic’ of flu, COVID 19 and RSV in the winter months, conversation is starting to increase as eHCPs celebrate breakthroughs in prophylaxis. This month, RSV conversation peaked during ESPID, with the release of the HARMONIE trial results for niservemab. One pharmacist described these results as beyond their wildest expectations. 

Although eHCPs spoke almost entirely positively about these results, two paediatric emergency medicine specialists discussed whether niservemab’s clinical impact will really be ‘as profound as you might believe.’ Though they were hopeful, they pointed to the timing of the study as a potential reason to be hesitant. 

eHCPs used their digital platforms to combat anti-vax sentiment that arose in the wake of vaccine developments in RSV. When a nurse argued against the severity of RSV, an eHCP came to the vaccine’s defence, sharing data for RSV’s burden of disease in children. Alasdair Munro, a Paediatric Registrar and Research Fellow at NIHR Southampton CRF, shared similar data, in response to a genomics researcher. 

🚨 Breaking news 🚨

Harmonie trial results of niservemab for term infants:

– Reduced RSV hospitalisation by 83%
– Reduced severe RSV by 75%
– Reduced ALL CAUSE LRTI admission sby 58%

This is potentially a once in a generation game changer for paediatrics 🤯#ESPID2023

— Alasdair Munro (@apsmunro) May 12, 2023

EMA’s recommendation of approval of Arexvy, GSK’s RSV vaccine for adults over 60, on 26 April, and FDA approval on 03 May, also sparked interest from several eHCPs. Following this activity, a neonatal specialist lamented her perceived lack of investment in research and development for infant vaccination. Her tweet was shared by one other HCP in the UK.

First ever RSV vaccine licensed by FDA. This one is for elderly adults. After years of no options for RSV suddenly there is about to be a plethora of tools to prevent it both in infants and old people https://t.co/LgpsJRBdTd

— Adam Finn (@adamhfinn) May 4, 2023

Each month, we track the eHCP conversation relating to respiratory disease.

You can keep up to date with this and other pharmaceutical tracking updates, including COVID-19 developments, within the Tracking section of CREATION Knowledge, or sign up to receive our monthly eJournal with all of our latest HCP insights. 

If you would like to dig deeper into what we have seen this month then please do get in touch. 

Methodology

• This article analysed the Twitter conversations of HCPs in the UK discussing respiratory disease and related terms between 21 April and 20 May 2023 using CREATION Pinpoint^®.

• Between 21 April and 20 May 2023, there were 3,309 UK eHCP mentions of respiratory disease and related terms, from 1,380 unique UK eHCP authors. 

Click here to the read the latest respiratory tracker