Current Status 

This guideline was published in 2024 and replaces parts of SIGN 158: British guideline on the management of asthma and NICE guideline 80. It will be considered for review if there is new evidence that is likely to change the recommendations.

This is a new collaborative guideline developed jointly by British Thoracic Society (BTS), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN).

Summary

million people have asthma, which is about eight in every 100 people. Symptoms include breathlessness, coughing, wheezing and tightness in the chest.

This guideline focuses on:

• Assessment and diagnosis of asthma in adults and children
• Pharmacological management
• Monitoring control, self management and decreasing maintenance therapy
• Asthma in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Non-pharmacological management, difficult and severe asthma, management of acute asthma and occupational asthma are covered in SIGN 158: British guideline on the management of asthma.

The guideline is part of the asthma pathway, developed by BTS, NICE and SIGN, which links to tools, resources and information, and has been designed to support healthcare professionals in making accurate diagnoses, promoting good practice, and providing effective, personalised treatment to control and prevent acute asthma attacks.

Who it's for

The clinical guideline will be of interest to:

• healthcare professionals in primary care and the community secondary care and tertiary asthma services
• commissioners and providers
• people with suspected or diagnosed asthma, their families and carers

How this guideline was developed

This guideline was developed jointly by the British Thoracic Society (BTS), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) using NICE methodology. The recommendations in this guideline represent the view of BTS, NICE and SIGN, arrived at after careful consideration of the evidence available.