Table 1.

Adapted Global Initiative for Asthma Severity Classification Guidelines

GINA Score	Severity Class	Symptom Frequency*	Medication Use
1	Intermittent	Symptoms 1–7 days per month or nocturnal symptoms fewer than 2 nights per month	Reliever medication† used as necessary No daily controller medication‡ needed
2	Mild Persistent	Symptoms more than 7 days but less than every day per month or nocturnal symptoms 2–7 nights per month	Reliever medication used as necessary and/or use of one controller medication per month
3	Moderate Persistent	Symptoms daily and nocturnal symptoms fewer than 14 nights per month	Reliever medication used as necessary and/or use of two controller medications per month
4	Severe Persistent	Symptoms daily and nocturnal symptoms more than 14 nights per month	Reliever medication used as necessary and/or use of three or more controller medications per month

GINA, Adapted Global Initiative for Asthma.

Data from Bracken MB, Triche EW, Belanger K, Saftlas A, Beckett WS, Leaderer BP. Asthma Symptoms, Severity, and Drug Therapy: A Prospective Study of Effects on 2205 Pregnancies. Obstet Gynecol 2003;102:739–52.

^*Symptom days are counted as any day where at least one of the following four symptoms occur: wheeze, persistent cough, chest tightness, shortness of breath.

^†Reliever medication refers to short-acting β2-agonists.

^‡Controller medications include systemic steroids, inhaled steroids, long-acting β2-agonists, anticholinergics, leukotriene inhibitors, chromones, and xanthine derivatives (eg, theophylline).