Asthma: annual review (higher risk patients)

Indicator

IND315. The percentage of patients with asthma on the register with a risk factor for poor outcomes*, who have had an asthma review in the preceding 12 months that includes an assessment of asthma control, a recording of the number of exacerbations, an assessment of inhaler technique and a written personalised action plan.

* Any of the following in the year preceding the current reporting period: 6 or more short-acting beta-2 agonist (SABA) inhalers, 2 or more oral corticosteroids, 2 or more visits to an emergency department for asthma, any hospital admission for asthma.

Resource impact

The indicator is a subset of the following existing indicator:

IND273: The percentage of patients with asthma on the register who have had an asthma review in the preceding 12 months, that includes an assessment of asthma control, a recording of the number of exacerbations and a written personalised action plan.

The proposed indicator is therefore not expected to lead to any additional annual assessments for people with asthma. The additional requirement for patients with asthma on the register with a risk factor for poor outcomes to have an assessment of inhaler technique as part of their annual review is not expected to lead to a significant resource or capacity impact.

However, carrying out asthma reviews for people with a risk factor for poor outcomes may lead to improved asthma control and a reduction in adverse events such as asthma exacerbations and emergency department attendances. They may also lead to some people changing their inhalers used to help control their asthma.