THE APPLICATION OF AN ASTHMA SEVERITY INDEX IN PATIENTS WITH POTENTIALLY FATAL ASTHMA

The asthma severity index (ASI) is proposed as a tool to monitor the c ourse of patients with increased risk of asthma-related morbidity and mortality. The ASI is a weighted summary of the diagnostic features of potentially fatal asthma (PFA). Fifteen patients with PFA were evalua ted with ASIs calculated for the intervals 1 year prior to and 1 year following management by our allergy-immunology service. In each patien t, a reduction was noted in the ASI following management, which corres ponded to a reduction in asthma events. The ASI will have utility in t he evaluation of chronic asthma treatment and in patient education.