Recognition and management of severe asthma: A Canadian Thoracic Society position statement

ABSTRACTRATIONALE: While severe asthma affects approximately 5% of all individuals with asthma, this small minority of individuals accounts for a large proportion of the asthma-related costs. Greater understanding of the pathophysiology of asthma combined with the emergence of novel biologic therapies for severe asthma supported the need for a thorough review of the diagnosis, investigation, phenotyping, and management of severe asthma.OBJECTIVES: We aimed to propose a practical approach to distinguish uncontrolled asthma due to inadequate asthma management from severe asthma despite optimal asthma management. Moreover, based on emerging scientific evidence, we sought to provide guidance for characterizing individuals with severe asthma and considering a phenotype-specific management. We also aimed to review other novel new potential therapeutic approaches.METHODS: We systematically reviewed the relevant literature focusing on randomized controlled trials and when available, systematic reviews of randomiz...