Asthma Management Reference for adults, adolescents and children

GINA
At-A-Glance Asthma
Management Reference
for adults, adolescents and children 6–11 years


Updated 2016

This resource should be used in conjunction with the
Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention
(updated 2016 ) - www.ginasthma.org
.

Health professionals should use their own professional
judgment in assessing and treating patients, and should
take into account any local regulations or guidelines.
©Global Initiative for Asthma COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL-DO NOT ALTER OR REPRODUCE

2
DEFINITION & DIAGNOSIS OF ASTHMA
Asthma is a common and potentially serious chronic disease
that can be effectively treated to control symptoms and
minimize the risk of flare- ups (exacerbations). Asthma is
usually characterized by chronic airway inflammation.
The two key defining features of asthma are:
• A history of variable respiratory symptoms such as
wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, cough
• Variable expiratory airflow limitation.
When making the diagnosis of asthma, document:
• A typical pattern of symptoms, e.g. more than one
type of respiratory symptom; often worse at night or early
morning; varying over time and in intensity; triggered by
colds, exercise, allergen exposure, laughter or smoke
• Physical examination: often normal, but may show
wheezing on auscultation, especially on forced expiration
• Expiratory airflow limitation: c onfirm that when FEV
1 is
reduced, FEV
1/FVC ratio is reduced (this ratio is normally
> 0.75–0.80 in healthy adults, and >0.90 in children)
• Excessive variation in lung function: for example,
o Bronchodilator reversibility, i.e. FEV
1 increases by
>12% and 200mL (in children, by >12% of predicted
value) after inhaling a bronchodilator
o FEV1 increases by >12% and 200mL (or PEF by
>20% on same meter), after 4 weeks of anti-
inflammatory treatment

For abbreviations, see page 5 . COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL-DO NOT ALTER OR REPRODUCE

3
ASSESSMENT OF ASTHMA
Box 1. Assessing the two domains of asthma control
A. Asthma symptom control in the last 4 weeks
Daytime symptoms more than twice/week? Yes No
Any night waking due to asthma? Yes No
Reliever needed more than twice/week?
Yes No
Any activity limitation due to asthma?
Yes No
None of these = asthma symptoms well-controlled
1–2 of these = asthma symptoms partly -controlled
3–4 of these = asthma symptoms uncontrolled
2. Risk factors for poor asthma outcomes
• For exacerbations: uncontrolled symptoms; no ICS, or
poor adherence, or incorrect inhaler technique;
excessive reliever use; low FEV
1 especially if <60%
predicted; major psychological or socioeconomic
problems; smoking; blood eosinophilia; pregnancy
• For fixed airflow limitation: lack of ICS treatment; low
initial FEV
1; smoking or occupational exposures; chronic
mucus hypersecretion; blood eosinophilia
• For medication side-effects: frequent oral steroids;
long-term high dose ICS; use of P450 inhibitors; (local:
high dose or potent ICS; incorrect inhaler technique)
For every person with asthma, also check:
• Inhaler technique, adherence, medication side-effects
• Do they have a written asthma action plan (p.7)? COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL-DO NOT ALTER OR REPRODUCE

4-5

Consider stepping up if: uncontrolled symptoms, exacerbations or risks, but first check diagnosis, inhaler technique and adherence
Consider stepping down if: symptoms controlled for 3+ months and low risk for exacerbation. C easing ICS is not advised for adults
Box 2. Stepwise asthma management
*Not for children <12 years
**For children 6– 11 years,
preferred Step 3 treatment is
medium dose ICS.
#Low dose ICS/formoterol is
reliever for ICS/formoterol
maintenance and reliever
therapy (see p.7).
Tiotropium by mist inhaler
is an add-on option for
patients ≥12 years with a
history of exacerbations
ABBREVIATIONS
DPI: dry powder inhaler
FEV
1: forced expiratory
volume in 1 second
FVC: forced vital capacity
HFA: hydrofluoroalkane
propellant
ICS: inhaled corticosteroid
LABA: long- acting beta
2-
agonist
LTRA: leukotriene receptor
antagonist
OCS: oral corticosteroids
PEF: peak expiratory flow
SABA: short-acting beta
2-
agonist
Theoph: theophylline COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL-DO NOT ALTER OR REPRODUCE

6
GENERAL ASTHMA MANAGEMENT
The long-term goals of asthma management are symptom
control and risk reduction. Management includes:
• Medications: Prescribe an inhaled reliever for every
patient with asthma, and a controller medication for most
adults and adolescents with asthma. Start with a low
dose ICS (see Boxes 2 and 3), and review response.
• Treating modifiable risk factors such as smoking.
• Providing non-pharmacological strategies if relevant,
e.g. physical activity; avoid occupational exposures.
Important issues for all patient s with asthma include:
• Training in inhaler skills and adherence
• A written asthma action plan (see p.7)
• Advice about self-monitoring of symptoms and/or PEF
• Regular medical review.
Patients should be reviewed 1–3 months after starting
controller treatment, and every 3– 12 months after that.
Review pregnant women with asthma every 4–6 weeks.
Box 3. I nhaled corticosteroid doses for adults (mcg/day)
Inhaled corticosteroid Low dose High dose
Beclometasone propionate (HFA)
Budesonide
Ciclesonide
Fluticasone furoate
Fluticasone propionate (HFA or DPI)
Mometasone furoate
Triamcinolone acetonide
100–200
200–400
80–160
100
100–250
110–220
400–1000
>400
>800
>320
200
>500
>440
>2000
For a complete list, see GINA 2015 report COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL-DO NOT ALTER OR REPRODUCE

7
ADJUSTING ASTHMA TREATMENT
Stepping up asthma controller treatment
• Sustained step-up (for at least 2–3 months) if symptoms
and/or exacerbations persist despite 2–3 months of
controller treatment. First check for common causes ,
particularly incorrect inhaler technique, poor adherence,
incorrect diagnosis, or symptoms not due to asthma.
• Short-term step -up (for 1– 2 weeks) with a written asthma
action plan, e.g. during colds or allergen exposure.
• Day-to-day adjustment by patient, for patients prescribed
low dose beclometasone/formoterol or budesonide/
formoterol as maintenance and reliever therapy.
Stepping down asthma controller treatment
Consider stepping down when asthma is well-controlled for
3 months. Choose an appropriate time ( e.g. not travelling, no
respiratory infection, not pregnant). Reduce ICS dose by 25–
50% at 2– 3 month intervals. Confirm patient has a written
action plan, monitor closely and book a follow-up visit.
Written asthma action plans
Provide all patients with asthma with a written asthma action
plan appropriate for their level of health literacy, including:
• Their usual asthma medications
• When and how to increase their reliever and controller
medications and start oral cortico steroids if needed
• How and when to access medical care if symptoms fail to
respond COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL-DO NOT ALTER OR REPRODUCE

8
MANAGING ASTHMA EXACERBATIONS
Assess exacerbation severity while starting SABA, and
oxygen if needed. Assess dyspnea, respiratory rate, pulse
rate, oxygen saturation and lung function.
Consider alternative causes of breathlessness
Arrange immediate transfer for patients with severe or life-
threatening asthma (e.g. drowsy, confused, or silent chest).
Start treatment with repeated doses of inhaled SABA (by
puffer and spacer, or by nebulizer if exacerbation is life-
threatening or FEV
1 <30% predicted); give oral cortico-
steroids early, and give controlled flow oxygen if needed to
achieve target saturation of 93–95% in adults and
adolescents (94–98% in children 6– 11 years).
Monitor symptoms and oxygen saturation frequently,
and measure lung function after one hour.
For severe exacerbations, add ipratropium bromide, and
consider giving SABA by nebulizer. In acute care facilities,
consider giving intravenous magnesium sulfate if the patient
is not responding to intensive initial treatment.
Do not routinely perform chest X-ray or blood gases or
prescribe antibiotics.
Arrange ongoing treatment before discharge. M ost
patients with an exacerbation should be prescribed regular
ongoing controller treatment containing ICS to reduce risk of
further exacerbations. Provide follow-up for all patients after
an exacerbation, preferably within a week or less.

See full details in GINA 2016 resources at www.ginasthma.org
COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL-DO NOT ALTER OR REPRODUCE