Asthma: diagnosis and management in adults

Asthma is a common respiratory disorder characterized by chronic airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness. It typically presents with a constellation of symptoms including wheeze, shortness of breath, chest tightness and cough, varying in intensity over time. It is a heterogeneous disease with distinct clinical and molecular phenotypes based on clinical, inflammatory cell and cytokine profiles. Historically, diagnosis has been clinical but misdiagnosis is common, leading to a growing emphasis on objective evidence of variable airway obstruction and/or airway hyperresponsiveness.