Asthma is a major health problem in the UK. The majority of UK asthmatics are managed in Primary Care by General Practitioners (GPs) and Practice Nurses. Since the introduction of Guidelines using treatment Step there has been a need to review how many patients are at each guideline step, the presence of symptoms, asthma attack and hospital admission rates.

This should enable GPs to target those patients most in need of clinical review to reassess treament.

The Asthma Research Unit, University of Dundee, has worked with GPs throughout the UK to review how and where asthma is managed.  The symptoms, treatment step, asthma attack and admission rates of 12,203 asthmatics of all ages was studied.   Results were analysed by age band to build up a picture of which patients might benefit from in depth clinical review.

On routine clinical assessment current asthma symptoms indicating a need to review management were present in under 5’s 34.1%, age 5-15 29.4%, 16-33 41.4%, 31-44 47.5%, 45-64 49.8% and aged >65 56.9%.

Despite the widespread distribution of asthma guidelines in the UK there is still widespread evidence of undertreatment resulting in poor symptom control and an unacceptably high admission rate, particularly in the under 5’s

A substantial proportion of UK asthmatics report current symptoms (Cough, Wheeze or breathlessness).

Asthma attacks are common in all age groups but a greater proportion of young children are amitted to hospital with asthma attacks than adults.

Despite the widespread distribution of Guidelines a substantial proportion of UK asthmatics deserve a detailed clinical review and consideration of alteration to therapy.