Commissioning summary
Key points
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Using fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) testing can improve the accuracy of diagnosis.
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Combination inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) plus formoterol inhalers when needed to relieve symptoms (anti-inflammatory reliever [AIR] therapy) should always be prescribed when asthma is first diagnosed, rather than the traditional short-acting beta 2 agonist (SABA)-only 'blue' reliever inhalers.
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Combination inhalers should also be used as maintenance and reliever therapy (MART) depending on asthma severity.
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Regular peak expiratory flow (PEF) monitoring should not be used for assessing asthma control, unless:
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there are person-specific reasons for doing so, or
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there is no local access to FeNO.
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