Respiratory medicine : Asthma

Asthma affects 5 million people in the UK (1:11 of the average practice population). The vast majority of people with asthma receive their diagnosis and therapy from primary care. The BTS/SIGN asthma guideline now suggests spirometry for all people receiving a new diagnosis and some new inhaler therapies. In the last year, the national review into asthma deaths and the all-party parliamentary report on respiratory deaths have also made recommendations for improved asthma care, with general practice being a key target audience.