Over a million people could have been misdiagnosed with asthma, a health watchdog has warned.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) said approximately one in three of the 4.1 million UK people being treated for asthma are showing no actual clinical signs that they are suffering with the lung condition and are being given unnecessary treatment. Some might have suffered with asthma in the past, NICE said.
After gathering evidence from a number of studies, the body has drafted new guidance for England’s doctors to improve levels of diagnosis.
Professor Mark Baker, NICE director of clinical practice, said: “Asthma is a long-term incurable condition that affects millions of people of all ages. If left untreated, asthma attacks can be life-threatening.
“However, with appropriate treatment and thoughtful monitoring, most people will be able to successfully control their symptoms and be spared from serious harm.
“Accurate diagnosis of asthma has been a significant problem, which means that people may be wrongly diagnosed or cases might be missed in others. Our aim with this guideline is to give clarity and set out the most clinical and cost-effective ways to diagnose and monitor asthma based on the best available evidence.
“This new draft guideline provides advice for primary, secondary and community care healthcare professionals on the most suitable tests for accurately diagnosing asthma and how to help people monitor and control their symptoms. We now want to hear from all those who provide care for people with asthma in the NHS to ensure all relevant views are considered for the final guideline.”
Asthma UK has welcomed the new guidelines, however it has warned that there is also significant evidence that many asthma cases are under-diagnosed too, with eight in 10 asthma sufferers not receiving the basic care they need.
Kay Boycott, Asthma UK’s Chief Executive, said: “Asthma has many complex causes which is one of the reasons why it is sometimes difficult to get a definitive diagnosis.
“It is also a highly variable condition that can change throughout someone’s life or even week by week, meaning treatment can change over time.
“For anyone with an asthma diagnosis, it is vital they have the right medication and a plan to better
manage their condition and any asthma attacks.”