5 Oct 2023
New guidelines for asthma evaluation: PEF measurement
Traditionally, asthma has been diagnosed through spirometry combined with bronchodilation testing. Recently, the Swedish Medical Agency introduced new guidelines that stress the importance of more comprehensive diagnosis methods.ย
Rather than relying on a single test, it's recommended to carefully monitor the patient's lung function over time. Logging PEF measurements over two weeks achieves a much more nuanced picture of a patient's respiratory health. Why is this important? If a patient happens to be experiencing a period where their condition is stable and symptoms are minimal when a single test is carried out โ the results may miss signs of asthma, even if you suffer from the disease.
"To truly understand asthma, we must consider lung function over time, not just at a specific moment." - Dr. George Grantson