Asthma: ABFM practice questions

9 board-style questions on asthma in the PulseMD family medicine question bank, written against current guidelines with the reference cited on each question. Two free samples below; the full set with answers, explanations, and spaced review is free to start.

Sample question 1

A 34-year-old man with mild persistent asthma currently uses albuterol as needed. His symptoms have been well controlled with this approach, but he now reports needing his rescue inhaler 3-4 times per week. He has no nighttime awakenings and his FEV1 is 82% predicted. According to current NAEPP stepwise therapy guidelines, what is the most appropriate next step in management?

  1. Start a low-dose inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) daily
  2. Start oral montelukast as monotherapy
  3. Start a medium-dose inhaled corticosteroid combined with a LABA
  4. Add a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) without an inhaled corticosteroid

Sample question 2

A 25-year-old woman presents with wheezing and shortness of breath occurring 3-4 days per week for the past 2 months. She wakes at night with coughing approximately twice per month. She currently uses an albuterol inhaler about 3 times per week with good relief. Spirometry shows an FEV1 of 85% predicted with a 14% improvement after bronchodilator administration. What is the most appropriate next step in management?

  1. Begin a daily low-dose inhaled corticosteroid such as fluticasone 88 mcg twice daily
  2. Start a medium-dose inhaled corticosteroid plus a long-acting beta-agonist combination
  3. Continue albuterol as needed only
  4. Prescribe oral montelukast as monotherapy

Create a free PulseMD account to answer these, see the explanations, and practice five minutes a day.

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