The next iteration of the British Thoracic Society/Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network asthma guidelines are likely to update advice on personalised risk management, allergens, acute management of attacks, breathing training and the place of immunotherapy.
The guideline development group has asked BTS members to comment on the proposed scope of the next 2018-2019 update, before they begin work on evidence search and appraisal in the New Year. A draft of the new guideline is expected in winter 2018.
BTS and SIGN has been producing joint guidelines for asthma management since 2003, updated every two to three years. However, newly published NICE guidelines on asthma – which differ in significant ways from BTS/SIGN – are likely to cause confusion.
BTS/SIGN guideline development group member Dr James Paton, presenting the questions for consultation, said he had “no idea” how the two guidelines could be brought together.
However, he said, “We’re clearly committed to producing an updated guideline for 2019. Two years from now it is likely that some things will be different from today.”