Classify Severity of Asthma

1
Classify Severity of Asthma
Symptoms Nighttime Symptoms Lung
Function Continual symptoms Frequent FEV1 or PEF
60 predicted Limited physical activity PEF
variability gt30 Frequent exacerbations Daily
symptoms gt1 time a week FEV1 or PEF gt60 - lt80
predicted Daily use of inhaled PEF variability
gt30 short-acting beta2-agonist Exacerbations
affect activity Exacerbations 2 times a
weekmay last days Symptoms gt2 times a week
but 2 times a month FEV1 or PEF gt80
predictedlt1 time a day Exacerbations affect
activity PEF variability 20 - 30 Symptoms 2
times a week FEV1 or PEF 80 predicted Asymptoma
tic and normal PEF PEF variability 20 -
30between exacerbations Exacerbations brief
(from a fewhours to a few days) intensity may
vary
Step 4 Severe Persistent
Step 3 Moderate Persistent
Step 2 Mild Persistent
Step 1 Mild Intermittent
Reference National Asthma Education and
Prevention Program. Expert Panel Report 2
Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of
Asthma. Bethesda, Md National Heart, Lung, and
Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health
April 1997. NIH publication 97-4051.