Allergists proposes a higher standard for controlling asthma

• Every year, nearly 500,000 Americans with asthma are hospitalized, and more than 4,000 die from disease-related causes.
• James Li, M.D., Ph.D., Mayo Clinic allergist and lead author of the paper says they are revising the old classification of asthma patients by disease severity to determine treatment and moving to a new expectation for all asthma patients: excellent symptom control.
• He says people with asthma can expect to control the asthma, not to have the asthma control them.
• Dr. Li representing the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology and the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology contends this is not just an ideal and the new goals can align with patients' disease reality.
• Previous national practice guidelines for physicians treating asthmatics, have patients classified as having mild, moderate or severe asthma, and treatment was based on disease severity.
• Dr. Li says this is a limited approach as asthma changes over time and individuals require different treatment, and there is a need for continual reassessment of a patient's asthma and the possible medication adjustment of medication.
• According to Dr. Li, asthma treatment should be individualized to achieve the target symptom control, because not all patients respond similarly to medication.
• Asthmatics who have not attained well or completely controlled asthma should see their doctors for a detailed assessment of asthma control (including lung function tests), confirmation of the diagnosis of asthma, assessment of asthma triggers (including allergy) and individualized treatment.
• Asthma symptoms twice a week or less Rescue bronchodilator used twice a week or less No night or early morning awakening due to asthma symptoms No limitations on exercise, work or school due to asthma Well-controlled asthma by patient and physician assessment Normal or personal-best pulmonary function tests The authors also insist that with proper symptom assessment and treatment, complete or total control is possible for a significant group of asthmatics.