Asthma is a common chronic airways disease with significant impact on patients, caregivers, and the health care system. Although most research and novel interventions mainly have focused on patients with uncontrolled severe asthma, most patients with asthma have mild disease. Epidemiologic studies suggest that many patients with mild asthma report frequent exacerbations of the disease and uncontrolled symptoms. However, despite its impact, mild asthma does not have either a uniformly agreed on definition for or a consensus on its clinical and pathophysiologic progression. More recently, the approach to treatment of patients with mild asthma has undergone significant changes primarily based on emerging evidence that airway inflammation in this population is important. This led to clinical research studies that explored the efficacy of as-needed inhaled corticosteroids along with the rescue medications that traditionally have been the mainstay of treatment. Despite some advancement in the field in recent years, many controversies and unmet needs remain. In this review, we examine the current understanding of the pathophysiologic features and management of mild asthma. In addition, we outline unmet needs for future research. We conclude that mild asthma contributes significantly to the morbidity and mortality of asthma and should be the focus of future research.

哮喘是一种常见的慢性气道疾病，对患者、护理人员和医疗保健系统有重大影响。尽管大多数研究和新型干预措施主要集中在未控制的重度哮喘患者身上，但大多数哮喘患者病情较轻。流行病学研究表明，许多轻度哮喘患者报告疾病频繁恶化和不受控制的症状。然而，尽管有其影响，轻度哮喘对其临床和病理生理学进展的定义或共识均未达成一致。最近，轻度哮喘患者的治疗方法发生了重大变化，主要基于新出现的证据表明该人群中的气道炎症很重要。这导致了临床研究，探索按需吸入皮质类固醇的功效以及传统上一直是治疗主要支柱的救援药物。尽管近年来该领域取得了一些进展，但仍然存在许多争议和未满足的需求。在这篇综述中，我们检查了目前对轻度哮喘的病理生理特征和治疗的理解。此外，我们概述了未来研究的未满足需求。我们得出结论，轻度哮喘对哮喘的发病率和死亡率有显着影响，应成为未来研究的重点。我们检查了目前对轻度哮喘的病理生理特征和管理的理解。此外，我们概述了未来研究的未满足需求。我们得出结论，轻度哮喘对哮喘的发病率和死亡率有显着影响，应成为未来研究的重点。我们检查了目前对轻度哮喘的病理生理特征和管理的理解。此外，我们概述了未来研究的未满足需求。我们得出结论，轻度哮喘对哮喘的发病率和死亡率有显着影响，应成为未来研究的重点。