This shared component appears when a patient with an asthma diagnosis has not been issued an inhaler in the past 12 months. It prompts clinicians to reassess whether the diagnosis is still active and consider applying a dormant or resolved code.
This alert appears when:
The patient has a current asthma diagnosis
No inhaler has been prescribed or issued in the last 12 months
Field | Purpose |
| Review of Inhaler Use | Confirms discussion of whether patient still requires inhaler therapy |
| Asthma Dormant Code | Used if clinician believes asthma is inactive but not fully resolved |
| Asthma Resolved Code | Used if asthma is no longer clinically present (and after patient agreement) |
| Reason Not Coded | Optional note for clinical rationale if neither code is applied |
Avoids incorrect inclusion in QOF asthma registers
Prevents inappropriate medication prompts
Ensures accurate clinical records and performance reporting
Supports QOF AST011 criteria which require inhaler use to validate diagnosis
⚠️ Always confirm with the patient before applying dormant or resolved coding — some patients self-manage or use over-the-counter inhalers
“Have you used an inhaler in the last year?”
“Do you still feel you need treatment for asthma?”
“Would you say your asthma has gone away, or is it just very mild now?”
Using this alert correctly ensures your coding reflects the patient’s current clinical status and helps maintain accurate QOF registers and treatment decisions.