Asthma: guidance and management

First published June 2018, updated July 2022 IntroductionWhat is asthma?Asthma In older peopleThe NICE Guideline (NG80)Fractional exhaled nitric oxideRecommendationsDifferences and agreements between NICE and BTS/SIGNDiscussionReferences   Introduction NICE refers to asthma as “a chronic inflammatory respiratory disease that can affect people of any age, but often starts in childhood.” With an increasingly ageing population, projections have suggested a that there may be a 20% increase in the number of older adults with asthma by 2030. Further reading: Clinical advances and asthma In November 2017, NICE issued guidance entitled: “Asthma: diagnosis and monitoring of asthma in adults, children and young people.”1