Asthma exacerbation classification

 

Moderate	Increasing asthma symptoms PEFR >50-70% of best or predicted
Severe	PEFR 33-50% of best or predicted RR \(\geq\) 25 breaths/min HR \(\geq\) 110 Inability to complete sentences in one breath
Life-threatening	PEFR <33% of best or predicted SpO2 <92% Silent chest, cyanosis, poor respiratory effort, bradycardia, hypotension, confusion, exhaustion, coma
Near-fatal	Raised PaCO2 and/or requiring mechanical ventilation with raised inflation pressures