NATIONAL ASTHMA ATTACK AUDIT, 1991 TO 1992

Abstract

Purpose of the Study. This study takes the newly developed guidelines for asthma management and compares them to ongoing asthma management in general practice. Methods. A correspondence survey covering 218 general practices in the United Kingdom covered 1775 patients of all ages who had a total of 1805 attacks. Patient characteristics, place of management of attacks, and actual management were compared to recommended guidelines. The physicians from participating practices had attended a special one-half day course on the guidelines, largely derived from the British Thoracic Society and then took part in the survey for three consecutive months. Findings. There is extensive demographic data of interest, including level of care, incidence of hospitalization, age distribution, and other parameters—too lengthy for inclusion in this review. Hospital admissions peaked (16%) in the 0-to 9-and >69-year age ranges. Twenty-nine percent had their own peak flow meters (PPM), and 34% had been issued their own asthma self-management plan. Two deaths were reported—both were moribund upon arrival for treatment. On presentation PFM readings were obtained in 82% and asthma ratings in 97%. After this great start, things began to deteriorate when we examined therapy. Nebulization was given to only 35% of patients, and steroids to 55%. A sizable proportion of patients graded as "breathless and distressed" did not receive the recommended lifesaving antiasthma treatment with nebulization (46%) and steroids (48%). The authors stress that the standards or guidelines derived from hospital care may not necessarily be applicable to general practice. Thirty-five percent of the patients were given antibiotics.