Asthma diagnosis and monitoring, and asthma management evidence-based clinical guidelines, commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), developed by the National Guideline Centre (NGC) and hosted by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), have been published. This is the first ever NICE clinical guidance on asthma to be published.
The Asthma Diagnosis and Monitoring guideline has been created in a bid to encourage the use of objective tests to help support diagnosis and reduce misdiagnosis. The Asthma Management guideline reinforces the importance of inhaled steroids for people with the condition. According to the authors, both guidelines will support health care professionals to deliver high quality evidence-based care for people with asthma.
Key recommendations include
- Do not use symptoms alone without an objective test to diagnose asthma
- Take into account the possible reasons for uncontrolled asthma, before starting or adjusting medicines for asthma in adults, young people and children. These may include: alternative diagnoses; lack of adherence; suboptimal inhaler technique; smoking (active or passive) and occupational exposures.
The full guidance and recommendations are available at: https:// www.nice.org.uk/ guidance/ng80?
