This shared component is designed to remind clinicians to consider spirometry when a patient has an asthma diagnosis but lacks recorded lung function testing. It ensures diagnosis is robust and in line with guideline recommendations.
This component appears dynamically when:
The patient has a recorded asthma diagnosis
There is no spirometry or peak flow measurement ever recorded
The patient does not have COPD coded (to avoid confusion in dual diagnosis)
Field | Purpose |
| Spirometry Considered | Checkbox to confirm the prompt was reviewed and addressed |
| Referral or Testing Planned | Free-text or coded entry confirming spirometry arranged or not clinically appropriate |
| Clinical Rationale | Optional field to document why spirometry isn’t required (e.g. long-standing well-controlled asthma) |
Spirometry is a key diagnostic tool and recommended in NICE NG80
Supports diagnostic accuracy, especially in patients with overlapping symptoms
Absence of spirometry can lead to misclassification or inappropriate treatment
📘 NICE NG80 recommends objective testing (e.g. spirometry, FeNO) to confirm asthma in adults and children over 5
“Have you ever had breathing tests like spirometry?”
“Would it be helpful to formally assess your lung function?”
“Would you like us to arrange testing before adjusting treatment?”
Using this prompt ensures that asthma is confirmed with objective evidence wherever appropriate — improving long-term care planning and diagnostic confidence.