Asthma: register
Indicator
The contractor establishes and maintains a register of patients with asthma aged 5 or over.
Indicator type
General practice indicator suitable for use in the QOF.
This document does not represent formal NICE guidance. For a full list of NICE indicators, see our menu of indicators.
To find out how to use indicators and how we develop them, see our NICE indicator process guide.
Introduction
Asthma is a long-term condition affecting the airways in the lungs in children, young people and adults. Symptoms include breathlessness, tightness in the chest, coughing and wheezing. QOF data for 2017/18 shows around 3.5 million people in England are currently on a general practice asthma register. Asthma UK estimate that the NHS spends £1bn a year treating people with asthma, and 3 people die every day from an asthma attack.
Rationale
The aim of this indicator is to encourage practices to record the diagnosis of asthma and to use that register of patients to inform the care they deliver. The register will provide a denominator to inform additional indicators that could be developed.
The indicator acknowledges that it can be difficult to confirm a diagnosis of asthma in children under 5 years of age. The lower age for the indicator has been included to reflect uncertainty in diagnosis and to reduce the risk of overdiagnosis and overtreatment. An incorrect diagnosis of asthma may result in lifelong implications, and unnecessary treatment with the potential risk of adverse effects.
Source guidance
This indicator is focused on establishing a register of people therefore it is not underpinned by specific guideline recommendations.
Specification
A register of people with a diagnosis of asthma.
Exclusions: Children under 5 years.
ISBN: 978-1-4731-5981-5