One million asthma cases misdiagnosed, watchdog warns

More than 1m people being treated for asthma may have been misdiagnosed, a health watchdog has said.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) said studies showed up to 30% of the 4.1m people treated for asthma in the UK did not show any “clear evidence” of the incurable condition.

The watchdog has drafted new guidance, its first for asthma, for doctors in England to improve the accuracy of diagnoses, including an array of tests.

Professor Mark Baker, director of clinical practice at Nice, 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.

“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,” Nice said.

Nice also said while there was no “gold standard test” available, with patients diagnosed based on a medical history, it recommended spirometry — a measure of airflow obstruction — as the primary method for children over five and adults over 16.

For children under five, doctors should monitor nitric oxide levels.