Asthma Guidelines Asthma Canada
Resource: https://asthma.ca/get-help/understanding-asthma/asthma-guidelines/
Comprehensive resource page linking to evidence-based asthma guidelines from Canadian and international organizations for healthcare professionals managing asthma care.
Key Guidelines¶
Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) - Global strategies for asthma management and prevention - Updated regularly (2022 Main Report and Pocket Guide available) - Comprehensive coverage from diagnosis to long-term management
Canadian Thoracic Society (CTS) - 2021 Guideline Update - National guidelines for diagnosis and management in preschoolers, children, and adults - Individualized, stepwise treatment based on control assessment - Quick reference guides, medication decision aids, and educational slide decks - Inhaler technique videos and spirometry guides
Provincial Guidelines (e.g., British Columbia) - Tailored for primary care managing mild to moderate asthma - Diagnostic protocols including spirometry recommendations - Medication steps and asthma action plan templates - Environmental considerations (air pollution, climate change)
Core Management Principles¶
- Personalized Asthma Action Plans: Written plans for daily management and exacerbation handling
- Diagnosis: Spirometry gold standard for ages 6+; trial of reliever medication for younger children
- Stepwise Treatment Approach: Inhaled corticosteroids as mainstay controller, regular reassessment
- Trigger Avoidance: Identifying and minimizing allergens, smoke, air pollution
- Education: Ensuring correct inhaler technique and patient understanding
Additional Resources¶
- Lung Health Foundation: Care maps, diagnostic/management algorithms
- Canadian Lung Association: Patient and caregiver information
- Canadian Paediatric Society: Practice points for mild asthma in children