Patient safety at the heart of forthcoming WHO asthma guidelines

What was announced

On 17 September 2026 the World Health Organization (WHO) published an article on patient safety in its forthcoming asthma guidelines. The guidelines themselves have not yet been published. The WHO estimates that asthma affected about 363 million people in 2023 and caused 442,000 deaths.

What the article says about care

It says overusing reliever inhalers is linked to more asthma attacks and deaths. It also cites a Global Asthma Network survey in which 45% to 60% of people with severe symptoms were not taking inhaled corticosteroids, with larger gaps in lower-income settings. The WHO says the forthcoming guidance aims to strengthen evidence-based care and reduce avoidable harm.