Classify Asthma Severity

The Classify Asthma Severity tool can be used for: 

• patients not currently treated for asthma or 
• the patient's treatment plan is unknown or 
• the patient is not taking asthma controller medications as prescribed for at least three months. 

The Expert Panel Report 3: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma details how to assess asthma severity and determine the appropriate treatment step during the initial visit of a newly diagnosed asthma patient. 

The Classify Asthma Severity tool can be used for: 

• patients not currently treated for asthma or 
• the patient's treatment plan is unknown or 
• the patient is not taking asthma controller medications as prescribed for at least three months. 

Assessing asthma severity and initiating therapy is based on the most severe impairment or risk category. 

• Classification of Asthma Severity (≥12 years of age and older)
  • See Figure 4-6
• Classification of Asthma Severity (5-11 years of age)
  • See Figure 3-4b
• Classification of Asthma Severity (0-4 years of age)
  • See Figure 4-2a

The new EPR-4 Asthma Treatment Guidelines stipulate that patients age 4 years old will follow treatment recommendations for ages 5-11 years old for steps 3 & 4. This decision tool will incorporate the new EPR-4 recommendations by including recommendations for ages 4-11 that involve step 3 and 4.