Routine asthma review

Abstract

Asthma is the most common chronic condition seen in primary care and creates a significant work load in both primary and secondary care. Mortality and morbidity remain unacceptably high as the majority of both are avoidable with optimal use of preventative medicines. It is not only good practice to regularly review every patient with a long-term condition, but when coupled with self-management regular reviews improve clinical outcomes. All patients with asthma should therefore have the opportunity of a review at least once a year in primary care, which should be structured, patient-centred and promote self-management with the aim to minimise symptoms and enable patients to live a normal life. This article aims to provide a pragmatic approach to performing this review as a primary care clinician.