CKS is no longer commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE remains committed to providing a replacement service for CKS and is currently reviewing its options. In the meantime, although CKS content is now not being maintained, it still remains relevant and will continue to be made available. CKS content was generated under a programme of topic creation and update. To check if the topic you are viewing is current or out of date, please refer to the topic publication details by clicking on the 'How up-to-date is this topic?' link in the left hand menu on individual topic pages.
Asthma - Management
When should I admit a person to hospital?
- Admit all people with a life-threatening asthma exacerbation (peak expiratory flow rate [PEFR] usually < 33% best or predicted and/or oxygen saturation < 92%).
- Admit people with a severe asthma exacerbation (PEFR usually 33–50% best or predicted) who do not rapidly respond to initial treatment or who have a factor that warrants a lower threshold for admission.
- Admit people with a moderate asthma exacerbation (PEFR usually > 50% best or predicted) who have a factor that warrants a lower threshold for admission.
- The following factors should lower the threshold for admission:
- People under 18 years.
- Poor concordance.
- Person lives alone.
- Psychological problems such as depression, and alcohol or drug misuse.
- Physical or learning disability.
- Previous near-fatal attack or brittle asthma.
- Persistent exacerbation despite an adequate dose of oral corticosteroids before presentation.
- Presentation at night or in the afternoon.
- Pregnancy.
In depth
© NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement