The G lobal Initiative for Asthma (GINA) and other
asthma management guidelines based on the GINA
guidelines have promoted remarkable improvement
in asthma management. 1-3 These guidelines, includ-ing the 2006 GINA guidelines (GINA 2006), require
the clinician to achieve current control of asthma and
decrease the r isk for future asthma exacerbation
rather than merely evaluate the severity of asthma. 4,5
Therefore, it is extremely important to evaluate
asthma control in e ach patient in order to use these
guidelines appropriately, and the G INA guidelines
provide the criteria for such e valuations.