II. Criteria
- Asthma may affect activity
- Frequent symptoms (>2 days per week) but not daily- Nighttime symptoms awaken patient 3-4 times monthly
- Short-acting Beta Agonist (e.g. Albuterol) more than 2 days/week (but not daily)- For age 5 years and older, not more than once daily use
 
- Exacerbations- Age 5 years and older- Oral Corticosteroids required 2 OR more times per year
 
- Age <5 years with Asthma risk- Two exacerbations in 6 months OR Wheezing >1 day for 4 episodes/year
 
 
- Age 5 years and older
 
- 
                          Pulmonary Function Test Criteria- FEV1 or PEF > 80% predicted
- FEV1 to FVC Ratio normal (>85% for age 5-19, >80% for age 20-39, >75% for age 40-59, then >70%)
- PEF variability 20-30%
 
III. Management
- See Asthma Stepped Care
- Long-term control with one Anti-Inflammatory medication- Inhaled Corticosteroid (Low Dose)
- Inhaled Cromolyn or Nedocromil
- Do not substitute with Long-Acting Beta Agonist- Risks loss of Asthma control
- Steroids are key management of persistent Asthma
- Long-Acting Beta Agonist is in addition to steroids
- Lazarus (2001) JAMA 285:2583-93 [PubMed]
 
- Adult stable patients may taper steroids to half dose
- Combined Inhalers with Formoterol and Corticosteroids (Symbicort, Dulera) have been studied for prn use- May reduce adult severe exacerbations (esp. for those not compliant with daily Inhaled Corticosteroid)
- Expensive ($300 per Inhaler), risk of LABA Overdose, and only studied in adults
- However, compliance with Inhaled Corticosteroid daily, and prn Albuterol is still preferred strategy
- Beasley (2019) N Engl J Med 380(21):2020-30 +PMID: 31112386 [PubMed]
- O'Byrne (2018) N Engl J Med 378(20):1865-76 +PMID: 29768149 [PubMed]
 
 
- Short-term- Rescue with beta Agonist
- Increased use may indicate Moderate Persistent Asthma
 
- 
                          Asthma Education
                          - Consider Group education
 
- Exacerbations
IV. Management: As needed Inhaled Corticosteroids
- Indications- Mild Persistent Asthma well controlled on a low-dose Corticosteroid
 
- Contraindications (and reason to return back to daily Inhaled Corticosteroids)
- Advantages- May offer similar Asthma control with only one-half total Inhaled Corticosteroid dose
 
- Protocol- Discontinue daily Inhaled Corticosteroid
- Use 2 puffs of the Inhaled Corticosteroid at the same time as the rescue Inhaler
- Return to daily Inhaled Corticosteroid use if rescue Inhaler used more than twice weekly
 
- References
V. Prevention
- See Asthma Education
- Influenza Vaccine
- Weight loss in Obesity
- 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]
