Check Asthma Severity

All patients should have an initial severity assessment based on measures of current impairment and future risk in order to determine type and level of initial therapy needed.

EPR-3 recommendations

The Expert Panel recommends that once a diagnosis of asthma is made, clinicians classify asthma severity using the domains of current impairment and future risk for guiding decisions in selecting initial therapy.

The Expert panel recommends that spirometry measurements—FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC%—before and after the patient inhales a short-acting bronchodilator should be undertaken for patients in whom the diagnosis of asthma is being considered, including children ≥5 years of age.

Patient Handouts