II. Criteria
- Moderate limitation with normal activity
- Daily symptoms
- Daily Beta Agonist use
- Daily symptoms
- Nocturnal symptoms more than once per week (but not nightly)
- For age <5 years, 3-4 night awakenings per month
-
Pulmonary Function Tests
- FEV1 or PEF between 60-80% predicted
- FEV1 to FVC Ratio decreased 5% (75-80% for age 5-19, 70-75% for age 20-39, 65-70% for age 40-59, then 60-65%)
- PEF variability >30%
III. Management
- See Asthma Stepped Care
- See Asthma Education
- See Breathing Exercises in Asthma
- Long-acting (use both agents)
- Long-Acting Beta Agonists (LABA, e.g. Salmeterol, Formoterol)
- Consider weaning off in well controlled Moderate Asthma (see below)
- Formoterol when used as maintenance, may be used as rescue Inhaler as well (2020 Asthma guidelines)
- Inhaled Corticosteroids
- Start with medium dose Corticosteroid when stepping up to combine with long-acting Bronchodilator
- May decrease to a low-dose Corticosteroid once Asthma well controlled
- Avoid eliminating Corticosteroid completely
- Associated with poorer outcomes
- Lemanske (2001) JAMA 285:2594-603 [PubMed]
- Start with medium dose Corticosteroid when stepping up to combine with long-acting Bronchodilator
- Long-Acting Beta Agonists (LABA, e.g. Salmeterol, Formoterol)
- Short-acting
- Rescue with beta Agonist
- Adjunctive agents: Leukotriene agents
- Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist (e.g. Montelukast)
- Risk of Major Depression and Suicide
- Leukotriene Synthesis Inhibitors (e.g. Zileuton or Zyflo)
- Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist (e.g. Montelukast)
- Exacerbations
IV. Management: Stepping down therapy in well controlled Moderate Asthma
- Indications
- Protocol
- Step 1
- Decrease dose of Inhaled Corticosteroid
- Continue the long-acting Bronchodilator
- Step 2
- Continue the Inhaled Corticosteroid at either low dose (or at increased dose)
- Stop the long-acting Bronchodilator (e.g. Salmeterol or Serevent)
- Step 3
- Restart the long-acting Bronchodilator if Albuterol rescue Inhaler required more than 2 times weekly
- Step 1
- References
- (2012) Presc Lett 19(11): 62
V. Prevention
- See Asthma Education
- Influenza Vaccine
- Weight loss in Obesity
- Regular Physical Exercise
VI. References
- Park (2017) Asthma Updates, Mayo Clinical Reviews, Rochester, MN
- (1997) Management of Asthma, NIH 97-4053
- (1995) Global Strategy for Asthma, NIH 95-3659
- Kalister (2001) West J Med 174:415-20 [PubMed]
- Kemp (2001) Am Fam Physician 63(7):1341-54 [PubMed]
- Pollart (2009) Am Fam Physician 79(9):761-7 [PubMed]