New asthma guidelines aim at control

Frequent patient monitoring, education, control of allergens and proper use of medications are vital to good asthma management.

By Susan J. Landers, AMNews staff. Sept. 24, 2007.

Washington -- Asthma should not dictate how people live their lives, according to updated federal guidelines on the chronic lung disease -- the first comprehensive revamp of this document in a decade. Control is the goal, and the document offers pointers to achieve that end.

The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program released its new guidelines on Aug. 29. They were developed by an expert panel working under the auspices of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

Asthma is one of the most common health problems in the nation affecting more than 22 million people, including 6.5 million children younger than 18, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC estimates that 5,000 people die from asthma exacerbations each year.

Even when the disease is less severe, it can have a significant impact on people's lives -- "at school, at work, at play and at home," said NHLBI Director Elizabeth G. Nabel, MD. She spoke at a briefing held to release the new guidelines.

Despite its potential for disruption, there have been great gains in recent years in medications that can control the disease and prevent attacks.

"There is one truth: Asthma control is achievable for almost all patients," she said. "Health care providers and patients should accept nothing less."

Plus, the guidelines offer practical help for the primary care physician, panel members said. "What we are trying to do in this document is provide better ways within time constraints to assess as well as monitor infants, children and adults," said panel member Stuart W. Stoloff, MD, a solo practice family physician from Carson City, Nev.