In severe persistent asthma, what is the frequency of needing to use a short-acting inhaler?

In severe persistent asthma, individuals often experience significant airway obstruction and inflammation, which leads to frequent symptoms that can be debilitating. As a result, they frequently rely on short-acting beta-agonist (SABA) inhalers to manage their acute symptoms. In this case, using a short-acting inhaler throughout the day is indicative of how severely asthma impacts their daily activities and quality of life.

People with severe persistent asthma typically experience symptoms on a daily basis, including shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness. This necessitates the frequent use of their rescue inhalers to alleviate symptoms, making it a critical management tool. In contrast, other options indicate infrequent or limited use of the inhaler, which does not align with the clinical characteristics of severe persistent asthma. Such individuals need more consistent management strategies and are often prescribed daily controller medications in addition to their rescue inhalers.