Abstract
Recommendation of population-based screening guideline for asthma in Thailand
Patsri Srisuwan*, Tanunya Koopitakkajorn**, Pritaporn Kingkaew**, Sitaporn Youngkong**,
Sripen Tantivess**, and Yot Teerawattananon**
*Outpatient and Family Medicine Department, Phramongkutklao Hospital
**Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program, Ministry of Public Health
Although asthma is a disease of high prevalence, incidence and burden of disease in Thailand, no
population-based screening guideline exists for the country. The purpose of this article was to review the
recommendations of population-based screening guideline for asthma in three phases: discussing guidelines
from Thailand and international literature with clinical experts for scoping of the research; conducting
a systematic literature review; and presenting preliminary recommendations to stakeholders. We found
no recommendation for asthma screening via laboratory testing in the general population. Asthma screening
through history-taking and spirometry was cost-effective only in children with uncontrolled asthma, but
not cost-effective in unaffected children, while screening with questionnaire could detect more patients.
In conclusion, screenings were recommended only in children with uncontrolled asthma. Moreover, appropriate
questionnaire for the Thai society should be developed to increase detection.
