According to the Asthma In America survey:
- 70% of doctors report regular spirometry use to measure patient airflow on an ongoing basis, but only 35% of patients report having spirometry in the past year.
- While more than 9 out of 10 of doctors stressed the importance of anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of asthma, less than 2 out of 10 of asthma patients reported anti-inflammatory medication use in the prior four weeks.
- While more than 8 out of 10 of doctors report prescribing peak-flow meters to their asthma patients, only 6 out of 10 patients have ever heard of a peak flow meter. However only 3 out of 10 asthma patients actually have a peak flow meter and only 1 in 10 actually use it at least once a week.
- While 7 out of 10 physicians report developing asthma action plans for their patients, less than 3 out of 10 patients report receiving an asthma action plan from their asthma care providers.
As a practicing physician that sees both adults and kids with asthma, this is pretty disturbing to me. Why do you think there is such a discrepancy between what physicians and their patients report? What do you think can be done to improve these numbers? What would you suggest
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Hmm… I thought most anti-inflammatories were contraindicated for asthmatics? Or does this mean, specifically, anti-inflammatory *lung* drugs?
Also, to be honest, having lived with asthma most of my life, I know when I don’t feel good, and using a peak flow meter just doesn’t tell me that much.
I do find it odd that either doctors or their patients are being less than truthful about some of these things. I mean, if 70% of doctors are saying they gave all of their patients spirometry tests at their appointments, but only 35% of asthma patients say they got it… well, something is way off there.
E, as far as I know, it’s only certain non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) that are contraindicated for asthma. Steroidal anti-inflammatories are okay, from everything I’ve read (mind you, I’m no doctor, just a super-curious patient with enough of a science background to be interetested enough to read the medical journals on occasion).
As for peak flow: I find the PEF isn’t so much good at identifying when I’m flaring, but rather how worrying a flare is. Usually, I get symptoms way before I ever hit the yellow zone, but if I’m in the yellow zone long enough, I know I need to go to a clinic for a step-up prescription, whereas if I’m not in the yellow zone, unless I’ve got a cold or something, I’m usually good to manage it on my own.
As for spirometry, I get PEF every visit, but I’ve only had FEV once or twice.