Anne L. Fuhlbrigge|David B. Peden|Andrea J. Apter|Homer A. Boushey|Carlos A. Camargo|James E. Gern|Peter W. Heymann|Fernando D. Martínez|David T. Mauger|W. Gerald Teague|Carol J. Blaisdell
Asthma outcomes: Exacerbations
Brigham and Women's Hospital
goals asthma treatment include preventing recurrent exacerbations yet consensus terminology describing defining exacerbation characterize episodes severitynational institutes health institutes federal agencies convened expert group propose asthma exacerbation assessed standardized asthma outcome future asthma clinical research studieswe used comprehensive literature reviews expert opinion compile list asthma exacerbation outcomes classified either core required future studies supplemental used according study aims standardized emerging requiring validation standardization work discussed national institutes healthorganized workshop march 2010 finalized september 2011no dominant definition exacerbation found widely used definitions included 3 components related treatment rather symptoms 1 systemic use corticosteroids 2 asthmaspecific emergency department visits hospitalizations 3 use shortacting agonists quickrelief sometimes referred rescue reliever medicationsthe working group participants propose definition asthma exacerbation worsening asthma requiring use systemic corticosteroids prevent serious outcome core outcomes propose inclusion separate reporting several essential variables exacerbation furthermore propose development standardized componentbased definition exacerbation clear thresholds severity component