National asthma education and prevention program: Expert panel report 2. Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma: Translating research for clinicians and patients

Abstract

Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the airways that exacts a large burden of illness among patients, their families, and the health-care system. Yet advances in research have generated the means for addressing this public health problem. The challenge is to bridge the gap between excessive asthma morbidity and the science that holds the promise of reducing it; that is, to translate the scientific advances into meaningful recommendations for clinical care and to promote adoption of the recommendations. This paper will demonstrate how national asthma education programs, founded on science-based clinical practice guidelines, meet this challenge and help reduce illness and improve the quality of life for people with asthma.