The Global Initiative for Asthma 2019 recommendation for mild asthma – A critique (original) (raw)

The critique examines the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) 2019 guidelines for managing mild asthma, emphasizing that mild asthmatics face significant risks of exacerbations and mortality, which contradicts the notion of their condition being mild. It argues that the recommended treatment approach of using a rapid and long-acting beta 2 agonist (LABA) with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) as needed is suboptimal compared to regular ICS administration. Furthermore, it highlights patient behavior issues and treatment perceptions that undermine the effectiveness of patient-driven strategies, advocating instead for a step-up ICS therapy combined with LABA for optimal management.