1. Assessing Control & Adjusting Therapy in Youths > 12 Years of Age & Adults
*ACQ values of 0.76–1.4 are indeterminate regarding well-controlled asthma.
Key: EIB, exercise-induced bronchospasm; ICU, intensive care unit
Notes:
The stepwise approach is meant to assist, not replace, the clinical decision making required to meet individual patient needs.
The level of control is based on the most severe impairment or risk category. Assess impairment domain by patient’s recall of previous 2–4 weeks and by spirometry/or peak flow measures. Symptom assessment for longer periods should reflect a global assessment, such as inquiring whether the patient’s asthma is better or worse since the last visit.
At present, there are inadequate data to correspond frequencies of exacerbations with different levels of asthma control. In general, more frequent and intense exacerbations (e.g., requiring urgent, unscheduled care, hospitalization, or ICU admission) indicate poorer disease control. For treatment purposes, patients who had ≥2 exacerbations requiring oral systemic corticosteroids in the past year may be considered the same as patients who have not-well-controlled asthma, even in the absence of impairment levels consistent with not-well-controlled asthma.
Validated Questionnaires for the impairment domain (the questionnaires do not assess lung function or the risk domain)
ATAQ = Asthma Therapy Assessment Questionnaire© (See sample in “Component 1: Measures of Asthma Assessment and Monitoring.”)
ACQ = Asthma Control Questionnaire© (user package may be obtained at or
ACT = Asthma Control Test (See sample in “Component 1: Measures of Asthma Assessment and Monitoring.”)
Minimal Important Difference: 1.0 for the ATAQ; 0.5 for the ACQ; not determined for the ACT.
Before step up in therapy:
Review adherence to medication, inhaler technique, environmental control, and comorbid conditions.
If an alternative treatment option was used in a step, discontinue and use the preferred treatment for that step.

2. Persistent Asthma: Daily Medication
Stepwise Approach for Managing Asthma in Youths >12 Years of Age & Adults
Intermittent
Asthma
Persistent Asthma: Daily Medication
Consult asthma specialist if step 4 care or higher is required.
Consider consultation at step 3
Step up if needed
(first check adherence, environmental control & comorbid conditions)
Step 6
Preferred
High dose ICS + LABA + oral corticosteroid
AND
Consider Omalizumab for patients who have allergies
Step 5
Preferred
High
Dose ICS + LABA
AND
Consider Omalizumab for patients who have allergies
Step 4
Preferred:
Medium Dose ICS + LABA
Alternative:
Medium-dose ICS + either LTRA, Theophylline, or Zileuton
Step 3
Preferred:
Low-dose ICS + LABA
OR – Medium dose ICS
Alternative: Low-dose ICS + either LTRA, Theophylline, or Zileuton
Assess control
Step 2
Preferred:
Low dose ICS
Alternative: Cromolyn, LTRA, Nedocromil or Theophylline
Step 1
Preferred:
SABA PRN
Step down if possible
(and asthma is well controlled at least 3 months)
Each Step: Patient Education and Environmental Control and management of comorbidities
Steps 2 – 4: Consider subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy for patients who have allergic asthma
Quick-relief medication for ALL patients -SABA as needed for symptoms: up to 3 20 minute intervals prn. Short course of o systemic corticosteroids may be needed.
Use of SABA >2 days a week for symptom relief (not prevention of EIB) generally indicates inadequate control & the need to step up treatment.

3. Managing Exacerbations of Asthma
Section 5
Managing Exacerbations of Asthma

4. Key Points – Managing Exacerbations
Early treatment of asthma exacerbations is the best strategy for management:
Patient education includes a written asthma action plan (AAP) to guide patient self‑management of exacerbations
especially for patients who have moderate or severe persistent asthma and any patient who has a history of severe exacerbations
A peak‑flow‑based plan for patients who have difficulty perceiving airflow obstruction and worsening asthma is recommended
EPR -3 Pg. 373

5. Key Points – cont.
Recognition of early signs of worsening asthma & taking prompt action
Appropriate intensification of therapy, often including a short course of oral corticosteroids
Removal or avoidance of the environmental factors contributing to the exacerbation
Prompt communication between patient and clinician about any serious deterioration in symptoms or peak flow, decreased responsiveness to SABAs, or decreased duration of effect

6. Exacerbations Defined - RISK
Are acute or subacute episodes of progressively worsening shortness of breath, cough, wheezing, and chest tightness?
— or some combination of these symptoms
Are characterized by decreases in expiratory airflow that can be documented and quantified by spirometry or peak expiratory flow
These objective measures more reliably indicate the severity of an exacerbation than does the severity of symptoms

7. Classifying Severity of Asthma Exacerbations in the UC or ER Setting
Symptoms & Signs
Initial PEF (or FEV1)
Clinical Course
Mild
Dyspnea only with activity (assess tachypnea in young
children)
PEF 70 percent predicted or personal best
Usually cared for at home
Prompt relief with inhaled SABA
Possible short course of oral systemic corticosteroids
Moderate
Dyspnea interferes with or limits usual activity
PEF 4069 percent predicted or personal best
Usually requires office or ED visit
Relief from freq. inhaled SABA
Oral systemic corticosteroids; some symptoms last 1–2 days after treatment is begun
Severe
Dyspnea at rest; interferes with conversation
PEF <40 percent predicted or personal best
Usually requires ED visit and likely hospitalization
Partial relief from frequent inhaled SABA
PO systemic corticosteroids; some symptoms last >3 days after treatment is begun
Adjunctive therapies are helpful
Subset: Life threatening
Too dyspneic to speak; perspiring
PEF <25 percent predicted or personal best
Requires ED/hospitalization; possible ICU
Minimal or no relief w/ frequent inhaled SABA
Intravenous corticosteroids
P.375

8. Managing Asthma Exacerbations at Home

9. What the EPR -3 Does NOT Recommend
Drinking large volumes of liquids or breathing warm, moist air (e.g., the mist from a hot shower)
Using over-the-counter products such as antihistamines or cold remedies
Although pursed-lip and other forms of controlled breathing may help to maintain calm during respiratory distress, these methods do not bring about improvement in lung function