New guidelines published today (November 27) advise prescribing only combination treatments for people with newly diagnosed asthma.

For the first time, the British Thoracic Society (BTS), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) have jointly produced new UK-wide guidance for diagnosing and managing chronic asthma in adults, young people and children.

It recommends that healthcare practitioners should offer a low-dose combination of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and formoterol to be used as needed for patients aged 12 years and over with newly diagnosed asthma to reduce inflammation as well as relieve symptoms.

Short-acting beta-2 agonists (SABA) are no longer recommended without inhaled corticosteroids to those diagnosed with asthma.

The guidelines also recommend changes in investigations to simplify diagnosis. These include using FeNO breath tests and measuring eosinophil levels, alongside traditional tests such as spirometry and peak flow measurements. 

In drawing up the guidance, the independent guideline committee considered evidence which showed using combined ICS and formoterol inhalers led to people suffering fewer severe asthma attacks.

The asthma pathway includes existing BTS/SIGN guidance on management of acute asthma, non-pharmacological management and occupational asthma. Other resources include a patient decision aid on asthma inhalers and climate change.

Around 5.4 million people in the UK are believed to suffer from asthma.