Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To highlight recommendations from the Canadian Thoracic Society (CTS) 2021 asthma guideline for adults and children aged 12 years and older and to address controversies related to the update. SOURCES OF INFORMATION: The CTS 2021 asthma guideline. MAIN MESSAGE: Asthma is a common condition encountered in primary care. Poor symptom control and exacerbations contribute substantially to the burden of disease. Practice guidelines have been shifting in recent years toward more aggressive treatment of very mild and mild asthma, with goals of optimizing symptom control and reducing exacerbations. Consider underlying risk of exacerbation, extent of asthma symptoms, adherence levels, and treatment cost when choosing therapy for patients with very mild and mild asthma. CONCLUSION: The goal of this article is to briefly review the evidence and rationale behind treatment options in the CTS guideline to help physicians make patient-centred decisions.