Kurtis S Elward

As the series title implies each Clinician’s Desk Reference is a practical resource and a daily aid for physicians in the hospital setting and in primary care. Asthma is one of the most important chronic disorders in the developed world. Evidence from around the world shows the prevalence of asthma has increased considerably since 1975, and now affects around 7.2% of the world population (about 100 million individuals). In the UK asthma is now the most common chronic disease affecting all age groups with approximately 11% of the population being diagnosed as having asthma at some time in their lives.