From: It is time to change the way we manage mild asthma: an update in GINA 2019
Controller options | GINA 2018 | GINA 2019 | |
---|---|---|---|
Step 1 (Patients with symptoms <twice a month and no exacerbation risk factors) | Preferred | • SABA as-needed and no controller. | • As-needed low dose ICS-formoterol (off- label). |
Other options | • Daily low dose ICS. | • Low dose ICS taken whenever SABA is taken (off-label). This may involve combination (ICS-SABA) in a single or separate (ICS inhaler + SABA inhaler) inhaler/s. | |
Step 2 | Preferred | • Daily low dose ICS. | • Daily low dose ICS. • As-needed low dose ICS-formoterol (off-label) |
Other options | • Daily LTRA. • Daily low dose ICS-LABA. | • Low dose ICS taken whenever SABA is taken (off-label) • Daily LTRA. • Daily low dose ICS-LABA (better improvement in symptoms and FEV1 than when ICS is used alone but more costly, and exacerbation rate is similar to the above option). |