NEW ASTHMA GUIDELINES PUBLISHED BY NICE New guidelines published advise prescribing only combination treatments for people with newly diagnosed asthma. For the first time, the British Thoracic Society (BTS), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) have jointly produced new UK-wide guidance for diagnosing and managing chronic asthma in adults, young people and children. It recommends that healthcare practitioners should offer a low-dose combination of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and formoterol to be used as needed for patients aged 12 years and over with newly diagnosed asthma to reduce inflammation as well as relieve symptoms. Short-acting beta-2 agonists (SABA) are no longer recommended without inhaled corticosteroids to those diagnosed with asthma. The guidelines also recommend changes in investigations to simplify diagnosis. These include using FeNO breath tests and measuring eosinophil levels, alongside traditional tests such as spirometry and peak flow measurements. In drawing up the guidance, the independent guideline committee considered evidence which showed using combined ICS and formoterol inhalers led to people suffering fewer severe asthma attacks. The asthma pathway includes existing BTS/SIGN guidance on management of acute asthma, non-pharmacological management and occupational asthma. Other resources include a patient decision aid on asthma inhalers and climate change. Around 5.4 million people in the UK are believed to suffer from asthma. NRAD NATIONAL RESEARCH ON ASTHMA DEAFHS 2014 Are you Using a salbutamol inhaler alone? You may be at risk of death if you don't take the right steps. Book an appointment with your asthma nurse, doctor, or pharmacist today NRAD NATIONAL RESEARCH ON ASTHMA DEATHS 2014 Prescribing and medicines use 1. All asthma patients who have been prescribed more than 12 short-acting reliever inhalers in the previous 12 months should be invited for urgent review of their asthma control, with the aim of improving their asthma through education and change of treatment if required. 2. An assessment of inhaler technique to ensure effectiveness should be routinely undertaken and formally documented at annual review, and also checked by the pharmacist when a new device is dispensed. 3. Non-adherence to preventer corticosteroids is associated with increased risk of of poor asthma and should be continually monitored. 4. The use of combination inhalers should be encouraged. Where long-acting beta agonist (LABA) bronchodilators are prescribed for people with asthma, they should be prescribed with an inhaled corticosteroid in a single combination inhaler. #asthma #salbutamolinhaler #brownpreventerinhaler #bookanappointment #atrisk #takecareotyourhealth #salbutamol #copd #asthmaproblems #asthmacough #asthmacoughing #salbutamolo #salbutamolinhaler #asthmatic #asthmainhalers #AsthmaCare #NRADStudy #HealthTips #MedicalResearch #AsthmaAwareness #InhalerTechnique #MedicationAdherence - @therajrpatel