Asthma: objective tests

Indicator

IND187: The percentage of patients with asthma on the register (start date) with a record of spirometry and one other objective test (FeNO or reversibility or variability) between 3 months before or 3 months after diagnosis.

Introduction

Misdiagnosis of asthma can have lifelong implications and result in inappropriate treatment with the risk of adverse effects. It can also mean alternative underlying conditions are not diagnosed.

Using objective tests to confirm diagnosis can improve the accuracy of a diagnosis and reduce incidences of patients receiving inappropriate care. Results of testing should inform subsequent treatment for people with asthma and lead to improved health and wellbeing.

Resource impact

This revised indictor adds FeNO as another option of an objective test which can be recorded. Where FeNO is not currently available it is anticipated that reversibility or variability will continue to be used as the objective test in addition to spirometry.

There is a one-off cost of purchasing FeNO machines. It is estimated that 5 machines may be bought per 100,000 people, around 2,800 machines in England. Implementation of FeNO machines and operational changes to support its use is already happening.

The resource impact of the proposed indicator is therefore unlikely to be significant.