Asthma: smoking status (under 19)
Indicator
The percentage of patients with asthma on the register aged 19 or under, in whom there is a record of smoking status (active or passive) in the preceding 12 months.
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
This indicator aims to encourage general practice to ask children and young people aged 5 to 19 years with asthma about their exposure to tobacco and second-hand smoke. Support can then be offered to patients and the people they live with to understand the risks of smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke for those with asthma, and how to access smoking cessation services.
Source guidance
Asthma: diagnosis, monitoring and chronic asthma management. NICE guideline NG80 (2017, updated 2021), recommendation 1.5.1
Specification
Numerator: The number of patients in the denominator in whom there is a record of smoking status (active or passive) in the preceding 12 months.
Denominator: The percentage of patients with asthma on the register (see NICE indicator IND186) aged 19 or under.
Calculation: (Numerator/denominator) * 100.
Exclusions: Children under 5 years and adults over 19 years.
Minimum population: The indicator would be appropriate to assess performance at individual general practice level.
ISBN: 978-1-4731-5984-6