Asthma Severity: What You NEED to Know for 2024

Today, we’re diving into the latest draft recommendations from the British Thoracic Society and NICE on asthma severity. If you or someone you know has asthma, this video is for you

So, what’s new in the Draft 2024 BTS/NICE guidelines? Well, these recommendations offer a fresh look at how we should assess and manage asthma severity. They emphasize a more nuanced approach, focusing on both symptom control and the risk of future attacks.

Let’s break that down. The guidelines suggest that asthma severity should be evaluated based on two key factors: how well your symptoms are controlled and your risk of having future asthma attacks or exacerbations.

First let’s look at Symptom Control. This is about how often you’re experiencing asthma symptoms like coughing, wheezing, or breathlessness, especially at night or during exercise. If your symptoms are well-managed, you’re likely in the mild category.

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Mild asthma typically means you’re not needing your reliever inhaler more than twice a week, and you’re not waking up at night due to symptoms. This level of asthma can often be managed with low-dose inhaled corticosteroids, or ICS.

Then there’s Moderate Asthma. This is when you need a bit more help to keep your symptoms under control. You might need a combination of ICS and a long-acting beta-agonist, or LABA. Your reliever use could be more frequent, but your asthma is still manageable day-to-day.

And then we have Severe Asthma. This is the most challenging category, where symptoms are persistent and require high doses of ICS, often combined with other medications. Despite treatment, you might still experience regular flare-ups that interfere with daily activities.

But it’s not just about how you’re feeling right now. The BTS/NICE guidelines emphasize considering your Risk of Future Attacks. Even if your symptoms are under control, certain factors—like having had a severe attack in the past year—can increase your risk of future exacerbations.

Some of the key risk factors include a history of severe attacks, frequent use of your reliever inhaler, and other health conditions like obesity or mental health issues. These can all signal a higher risk of future problems, meaning your asthma might be more severe than it seems.

So, what does this mean for you? The draft recommendations suggest a more individualized approach to asthma care, taking both current symptom control and future risk into account. This is crucial for tailoring your treatment plan to keep your asthma in check now and prevent issues down the line.
Your healthcare provider might adjust your treatment based on these factors. For example, even if your symptoms are mild, if you have a high risk of future attacks, your doctor might opt for a more intensive treatment plan to keep you safe.

Regular check-ups are essential to reassess both your current symptom control and any changes in your risk profile. This proactive approach can help prevent severe asthma attacks and ensure you’re getting the right level of care.

The bottom line from the BTS/NICE 2024 draft recommendations is that asthma severity isn’t just about how you’re feeling today—it’s also about preventing what could happen tomorrow. So, staying on top of your treatment plan and having open conversations with your healthcare provider.

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