The new clinical guidelines recommend that combination treatment with an inhaled corticosteroid and formoterol should be the standard first-line treatment for asthma patients aged 12 and over, rather than prescribing short-acting β2 agonists like salbutamol alone. This approach, known as anti-inflammatory reliever therapy, aims to reduce inflammation and relieve symptoms to prevent hospital admissions and deaths. The guidelines also stress the importance of prescribing an inhaled steroid along with a salbutamol inhaler for individuals already diagnosed with asthma. The British Thoracic Society, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network collaborated on the joint clinical guideline to align UK practice with global standards.
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Asthma: New UK guidelines signal “step change” in diagnosis and treatment
