National Asthma Guidelines Updated

The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) this week issued the first comprehensive update in a decade of clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma.

By Consulting Specifying Engineer Staff August 30, 2007

The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP)ed section on childhood asthma (with an additional age group), new guidance on medications, new recommendations on patient education in settings beyond the physician’s office, and new advice for controlling environmental factors that can cause asthma symptoms.

The issue of environmental factors will be

Coordinated by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) [] of the National Institutes of Health, NAEPP convenes an expert panel when there is sufficient science to warrant a rigorous, systematic review of the published medical literature to ensure that the asthma guidelines reflect the latest scientific advances.

“Asthma is one of the most common health problems in the United States — and it can significantly affect patients’ lives — at school, at work, at play, and at home,” said NHLBI Director Elizabeth G. Nabel, M.D.

More than 22 million people in the United States have asthma, including 6.5 million children under age 18, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Without appropriate treatment, asthma can significantly limit individuals’ activities and result in asthma exacerbations, which can lead to hospitalization and even death. The CDC estimates that 4,000 Americans die from asthma exacerbations each year.

“The goal of asthma therapy is to control asthma so that patients can live active, full lives while

Expert Panel Report 3 (EPR-3): Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma — Full Report, 2007 provides new guidance for selecting treatment based on a patient’s individual needs and level of asthma control. The guidelines emphasize that while asthma can be controlled, the condition can change over time and differs among individuals and by age groups.

For the full report, click here .